Walt Disney had some very exact ideas on how people should have fun.
He also had some practical rules that made it easier to keep his theme parks in tip-top condition. When the company opened Disneyland in California, that theme park banned gum, ice cream, and cotton candy. That wasn’t because the company’s founder was against sugar; it was because those items are sticky and created a mess that was difficult to clean up.
Walk around any Disney theme park today and you will see workers with scraping tools to remove gum, which is no longer banned.
The Walt Disney (DIS) founder also had another rule in place when Disneyland opened in 1955 that carried over to when the company opened Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 1971, five years after his death. He was against alcohol at his theme parks.
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“No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element. That brings people that we don’t want and I feel they don’t need it,” he said in a famous Saturday Evening Post interview.
The company, of course, has wildly departed from that philosophy. Epcot had been partially built around alcohol, and Walt would likely not love the “Drink around the world” games people play when visiting what he saw as his “experimental prototype city of tomorrow.”
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Walt’s EPCOT saw a sober future, not the celebration of international drink favorites the current Epcot offers.
Magic Kingdom, however, retains a bit of Walt Disney’s ethos. It has very limited alcohol offerings and only offers alcoholic beverages at sit-down restaurants.
Epcot has a lot of opportunities to get a drink.
Image source: Daniel Kline/TheStreet
Disney Magic Kingdom gets its drink on
Disney World has shared plans for a new bar and pub that will be near the iconic “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Adventureland. You can argue that “Pirates” might be Magic Kingdom’s signature ride (“Space Mountain” and “The Haunted Mansion” would get some consideration as well), so building a bar next to it seems like a mild slap in Walt’s face.
The company shared some details of the space on its website.
“Ahoy! Drop anchor and raise a toast at this spirited pirate tavern serving seaworthy sips and snacks for all ages. Eat, drink, and be entertained at The Beak and Barrel, a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind — from seasoned swashbucklers to budding buccaneers,” it posted.
The pub will offer an a la carte food and drink menu when it opens in late 2025.
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“Grab a quick bite and quench your thirst. The menu features tasty options for pirates of all ages — as well as refreshing cocktails for Guests ages 21 and up,” it added.
It’s not clear if the space will offer a full bar or a limited cocktail and beer menu. Most Magic Kingdom locations that serve alcohol offer a limited selection.
Disney World plans massive U.S. theme park spending
CEO Robert Iger shared plans for a seventh Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. He also made it clear that Walt Disney has massive plans for its home markets.
“As we prepare to embark on this exciting new addition to our experiences portfolio, we already have more expansion projects underway domestically and around the world than at any time in our history. That includes investing more than $30 billion in our theme parks in Florida and California to enhance our offerings, create jobs, and support the U.S. economy,” he shared.
Iger also made it clear that he was happy with the performance of the business segment, Experiences, which house the theme park division.
“Our Experiences segment delivered strong results this quarter, driven by the outstanding performance from our domestic businesses. Investments in this segment have delivered impressive returns on invested capital with returns from our experiences businesses at all-time highs. Experiences is obviously a critical business for Disney and also an important growth platform,” he added.
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Iger also made it clear that Comcast’s Universal Studios adding the Epic Universe park to its Florida resort was not hurting Disney World.
“Despite questions around any macroeconomic uncertainty or the impact of competition, I’m encouraged by the strength and resilience of our business, as evidenced in these earnings and in the second half bookings at Walt Disney World,” he said.
