Just back and holy wah did someone get over served!!!!

[Capang]

Lots of great opinions on this thread. The fact is that it is not as simple as pour less/police more/charge more...
First thinking that Disney World is aimed at little kids is NOT true. Saying that Epcot is geared to little kids is even less true. Epcot is the more grown up driven of all 4 parks.
Disney makes a TON of money off of alcohol sale, that's why these "festivals" keep popping up and adding more and more food and drink options
There is a much heavier and visible presence of Orange County police, not Disney security, but actual police, during F&W. For example the other day I watched Illuminations standing right next to 2 police officers (I was behaving, I promise )
I can tell you that horrible, drunken behavior is NOT the norm. You can see people being tipsy, loud and a bit rowdy, but on a day to day basis you won't see people puking in bushes or dropping down drunk.
I have seen 3 drunk young guys actually going int the Fountain of Nations area (not the actual water) and getting caught almost instantly by Disney security and police
I think the problem with the OP situation was that they were inside a bus, no options to walk away or head in the other direction. There should be more security presence at the bus stop, especially during F&W and not allow people to use the buses if they are this drunk, it is endangering everyone in there.

I agree with you that epcot is the most grown up park. But then they also have Akershus and Frozen which is definitely geared toward the under 7 set. We skipped it as I've heard from lots of folks recently that some nights were out of hand. But I have to say they definitely are trying to gear things to the little kids too. Which is why it is such a weird mix.

 

[Oswin]

I have had to use my passport when I didn't have a drivers license due to a brain injury. Did they scan passport ids? That's interesting.

Yep! There is a way to use passport id# in the system. It's not really done often but we've had it come up a few times the past year.

Problem is that F&W booths have drinks that are Dixie cup sized so that should not count as just 1 drink. On my recent trip, SIL and I would share a bottle of wine at dinner...which was basically two glasses each....do they scan our ID and count that as two then?

Cruise lines offer a drink package and you are allowed 15 drinks per day. And that's a lot...but again the drinker isn't driving...just like many of us at WDW. Six Flags, everyone has to drive home.

There's many reasons why a point system works at a local Six Flags and not large scale at a place like Disney, so I def. understand why there isn't one in place at WDW. And as a 21 year old, I do like to drink at Disney and I have gotten tipsy there before drinking around the world and elsewhere on property. I'm definitely not saying take away drinking, especially for responsible drinkers - people like you and your SIL, and people who know when to stop and don't act up when they're tipsy. It's the minority, the irresponsible ones that need to be cut off. For their own safety more than the comfort of other guests. Thankfully, drinking and driving isn't always an issue at WDW!

 

[amberpi]

I've heard that the new F&W special is popular - Mission Space Orange with jello shots

I have puked in Epcot, several times, due to thinking "Mission Space won't get me this time," but not for being drunk.

 

[amberpi]

I don't think its the most expensive drunk you can get.
I see people at concerts all the time that paid $300 for the VIP experience and then pay $20 each for one shot of rum in a small glass of coke. Just having 5 its $100+tax.
Some of these people buy 10 because 5 of them were spilled due to their own drunkenness or someone bumping them.

Most martinis at restaurant outside of WDW are what $13-$18? WDW prices aren't that shocking.

And, I totally agree about concerts and drink prices. Concerts are far pricier than a day at Epcot, and that's for just a few hours of entertainment.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Well, my son puked in the bushes in Epcot last year.
He wasn't drunk, though.
He was only 10. Poor kid! LOL.

If I did see adults puking in the bushes, I'd be pretty unimpressed! Yuck!

Maybe I am taking this the wrong way.

But it seems perfectly fine that your poor kid was sick and threw up in the bushes. But if an adult throws up, well, yuck.

Guess what? Adults get sick too. And it isn't always from drinking.

 

[TeresaWen]

Someone on their way to Frozen in heat that feels 112 degrees and then to another endless character meal with watery lemonaid might see a laughing group with beers or a giggling couple with Margaritas and quickly assume DRUNKS. In reality it is just people having a great time.

 

[DVC4US]

Someone on their way to Frozen in heat that feels 112 degrees and then to another endless character meal with watery lemonaid might see a laughing group with beers or a giggling couple with Margaritas and quickly assume DRUNKS. In reality it is just people having a great time.

^^^This - we've had it happen to us several times. We are a group of about 5-6 mature adults(mostly in our 50's) who love Disney and love Epcot. We enjoy having a few drinks while in WS and love having a great time at Disney. Do we get drunk? Not usually, but we do have a few drinks and do like having fun - we might burst out into a Disney song, or just be laughing at something one of us said and I always sing to the song in Illuminations. We've had our fair share of looks by people assuming we are stumbling drunks but all we are doing is having a great time at Disney. We will be there this next week to enjoy F&W so hopefully I don't offend anyone when I belt out the song in Illuminations and the exit song, "Promise" - they are my favorites.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Someone on their way to Frozen in heat that feels 112 degrees and then to another endless character meal with watery lemonaid might see a laughing group with beers or a giggling couple with Margaritas and quickly assume DRUNKS. In reality it is just people having a great time.

That might have been my friend and me. At one point I was laughing so hard that there were tears running down my face. And I made an old lady comment about bathroom frequency and then my friend started laughing. Then we both went to the ladies room, laughing all the way.

I had consumed one sample size hard cider. She had some water. Neither of us were drunk. In fact, I consumed a grand total of 3 drinks, she 2 drinks during our week long stay at Disney. But according to some here, we were both out of control. Gee wiz, laughing at Disney, HOW COULD YOU.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

We were at F&W 4 weeks ago with our 3 and 6 yo daughters. Once on a weeknight, the other on a Saturday night. No obnoxious drunks that we noticed. What we did notice, just once was a loud guy dropping the F bomb to his wife, in front of his small kids. I said something. “Hey buddy, can you watch the language? These little girls are here for fun. Not to learn new words”. I was nice, he was shocked but he toned it down.

 

[Miumiu4me]

I used to think that visibly drunken guests in the parks were a myth. I never saw it--until last year's F&WF, and it was worse this year.

It's a shame really. I enjoy getting a buzz on in Epcot, but I can see that Disney needs to crack down on rowdy drunks.

I saw a lady climbing a pole at Food and Wine last year. She was having a grand time. The cast members trying to persuade her to stop looked like they were engaging in hostage negotiations, but we were entertained.

I don't care if people are visibly drunk. I don't care if people are loud in the parks. Just keep it PG.

 

[Miumiu4me]

This is the minority. Majority of patrons are not obnoxiously drunk and making a scene.

I say that because those that have never been to the F&W festival might interpret it as it's just a park full of plastered people throwing up everywhere and making scenes.

Yeah, that's Halloween Horror Nights.

 

[FastPasser.]

We will be there this next week to enjoy F&W so hopefully I don't offend anyone when I belt out the song in Illuminations and the exit song, "Promise"

I'll only be offended if you sing it off key.

 

[Yarbogash]

At the Six Flags I work at now, you are allowed 6 drinks from park open (10 am) to park close (10 pm). Basically one every 2 hours if someone does want to drink all day, or they can go through all 6 at once. This goes for beer, wine and the hard liquor/mixed drinks they sell. They scan your drivers license every time you buy a drink, and it pulls up how many drinks the person has purchased that day on that ID. You can only purchase 1 drink at a time. When someone purchases their first 5, they let you know you only have one drink left that day. This system follows the guest from the Six Flags theme park to the water park which is a separate ticket entry and 2-3 miles away from the theme park. I'm all for drinking (hey, I'm 21 a girl likes to have fun at that age!) but I think like 6-8 drinks in a 12 hour operating period is pretty fair! People doing a few double shots here and there aren't the problem. It's the binge drinkers that stay trashed that are the problem.

Brilliant. Love that system. Kudos to them.

We have learned to avoid taking our kids to EPCOT on Friday and Saturday nights any time of year. With or without kids being stuck on the bus with obnoxious drunks is the worst. Fully sympathize with the op.

 

[sharadoc]

Back in November, my DS (15) and friend were on a bus from Epcot to OKW with a bunch of drunken folks. They were doing gymnastics on the bars where you hold on when standing. The bus driver did nothing. She texted with me the whole way home to feel safer, they were scared and I was scared for them.

 

[CAS239]

Yeah, that's Halloween Horror Nights.

I'd agree way more intoxicated people at HHN.

As long as there's no fights or someone running someone else's night, the more adult catered event is a nice change of pace

 

[danikoski]

We did F&W in 2013 the Sunday after the marathon... wouldn't do that again. Lots of runners who were letting be loose. I don't blame them, just bad timing on our part. We ran into two people who were basically passed out (one out cold). We got a CM in both cases, who contacted others and got them some help. The out cold guy was really concerning and may or may not have been drink related. He had set down during Illuminations on the ground and then didn't move after. The other guy was on a bench and smelled of alcohol and could communicate somewhat. Even said I think I had too much. There were also a lot of groups that were enjoying the libations, and some were rather rowdy, but only a couple of groups were belligerent. We just tried to avoid them. Sadly, on a bus, that wouldn't be possible.
F&W isn't necessarily the issue though. Mom and I were at Epcot this past February. We were there during the new Festival of the Arts, and people were enjoying their drinks. We had no issues, until dinner. There was a couple at dinner that had had too many drinks and we're downright rude to everyone around them. We were at Spice Road Table, and the staff handled it well (imo they are some of the best on property). But if people are normally rude and obnoxious, they will continue to be obnoxious, whether it's F&W or not. And as others have mentioned, some folks use a drink of alcohol as an excuse for bad behavior. You get all kinds at WDW.
Now, that being said, if I went to F&W again, I probably wouldn't go on a weekend evening, especially if I had kids with me, and definitely not the night after the big race. As @yulilin3 said, I'd like to see a bit more security around the busses. If people are behaving badly at the bus stops, they can always get a Minnie Van, at their expense, and F&W would be a good use of those Vans. It'd also be nice if bus drivers would radio ahead for security in bus situations.

 

[cindyfan]

Could be either one I suppose. The loudest woman was bragging about how she was at some country music festival in Boston and got kicked out three times due to her behavior and just kept coming right back in the front door. I guess an argument could be made that they weren't drunk at all that they were just super obnoxious and inconsiderate sober people but I think that's a big stretch.

I don't think drinking creates the behavior.... but it certainly enhances it! These are probably obnoxious people no matter what!
The sad thing is that drinking in a place like Epcot is difficult to control. But they need to come up with way to deal with the unruly ones!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'd agree way more intoxicated people at HHN.

As long as there's no fights or someone running someone else's night, the more adult catered event is a nice change of pace

And even if HHN didn't have alcohol it's meant to be scary and that in itself is going to deter younger kids. I believe Universal says it's not recommended for under age 13 but that's not to do with alcohol present (like another poster mentioned Epcot should have adults only events) but because of the themes and how they handle Halloween. The equivalent to that at Disney is if they made it scary rather than not so scary Halloween party.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Don't come to Mardi Gras, people.

 

[ShadeDK]

I agree with you that epcot is the most grown up park. But then they also have Akershus and Frozen which is definitely geared toward the under 7 set. We skipped it as I've heard from lots of folks recently that some nights were out of hand. But I have to say they definitely are trying to gear things to the little kids too. Which is why it is such a weird mix.

It's a bit of a mixed message, for sure. And one that'll get more muddled as the Remy dark ride goes in over at France. This discussion won't go away any time soon. I've also wondered if having the Alice/Mary Poppins M&G within stumbling distance of R&C was done on a bet or as a joke. (I get the England connection - but it'd have been a brilliant sly nod to develop a new M&G there with the pink elephants from Dumbo).

The Six Flags policy is interesting. I don't believe Cedar Fair (which owns my home park) has anything similar. I'm guessing it deters a lot of people - but a determined drunk will still find a way - whether by getting loaded in the parking lot (Cedar Fair bans readmittance during special events for this reason) or having a non-drinker buy the drinks for them on their ID. As for HHN - well, that's the first time I saw an open bar set up in the actual line while you're waiting.