According to the Orlando Sentinel, four more Magic Kingdom restaurants will begin serving wine and beer starting December 23, 2016.
Cinderella Castle
Starting next week, guests dining at Tony’s Town Square, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Skipper Canteen, and Liberty Tree Tavern will be able to indulge while dining.
Magic Kingdom made headlines in 2012 when Be Our Guest Restaurant, home to the Beast and continually one of Disney World’s toughest reservations to book, became the first location ever to serve alcohol in the park.
Chimay Blue at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Why such a big deal? Walt Disney himself famously prohibited alcohol in his original park, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California (which is still a dry park, save for the ultra-exclusive. members-only Club 33); and it was his wish to not serve alcohol in the Magic Kingdom, either. So many Disney traditionalists protest the addition of beer and wine to the menus in these parks.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
As was the case with Be Our Guest, Disney will introduce alcohol that suits the themed menus in the four no-longer-dry Magic Kingdom restaurants. Tony’s Town Square will offer Italian wines and beers to complement its Italian menu; Liberty Tree Tavern will showcase American products like New England lagers, ciders, and domestically-produced wines; Skipper Canteen sticks to its explorer-themed menu with wines and beers from around the world; and Cinderella’s Royal Table stays regal with champagne and sparkling wines.
Jungle Skipper Canteen Sign
According to Disney, beer and wine will be sold only in these table-service restaurants for lunch and dinner, and will not be sold at any pop-up or external locations in the parks.
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about this unprecedented expansion of alcohol options in the Magic Kingdom.
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Once this is a hit (which it will be) and these restaurants see an uptick in ADRs, I’d expect to see all restaurants in MK to offer alcohol within a year. Disney cant say no to an extra buck these days.
I’m torn about this, I like to have the occasional drink with dinner but the Magic Kingdom is not necessarily the place to do it, when I’m there with my daughter, that’s just it, I’m there with her making memories and having fun with her. I’m not putting anyone down who decides to have a drink in the Magic Kingdom, I personally won’t, I understand not everyone who goes has kids so for them, enjoy yourself, have a drink, just don’t get sloppy drunk. I’ve had a few run ins with people who had too much to drink in Epcot, it made for an unpleasant experience, thankfully this was before my daughter was born so she was unaffected by it obviously, regardless, dealing with people who have had too much to drink can get nerve wracking!! I don’t like how confrontational someone who is drunk can get!! Please remember the kids and their families when having a drink in the Magic Kingdom.
I’m glad that they are serving beer and wine. It’s nice to be able to sit down for lunch or dinner and have a glass of wine or beer. Glad to see this.
This is an outrage to Walt Disney’s Legacy It was the mans wishes not to have alcohol in the Parks why can’t you honor that. Why on earth does any part of Disney Properties need alcohol. Adults don’t need to have a drink all the time. If you want that go to Vegas!!!
This is all we need a bunch of drunks running around the park especially the kids in their 20s. You should be ashamed of yourselves!!!!
No Alcohol should ever be sold at Walt Disney World unless it’s in Wine then it’s fine but otherwise no alcohol drinks should be sold period because someone might get drunk and do terrible things to other people so I think it should never be sold unless it’s in wine.
This makes me sad. I guess as long as they don’t start selling alcohol at kiosks I can deal with it, but come on. Walt didn’t want alcohol inside Magic Kingdom, so it’s sad that the possibility of turning a profit overrides his wishes.
Let me rephrase that: the possibility of turning more of a profit on just alcohol. We know they’re definitely turning a profit in that place lol.
I DO NOT agree with this decision!! There was a reason Walt didn’t want alcohol served in the MK and I think it’s a travesty to do this. (and I myself drink). This is all about Disney wanting to make more money. Shame on you Disney!
What is the big deal if they sell at outside areas too, all the other parks sell beer and wine, and doesn’t mean people are going crazy getting drunk and attacking mickey! I’m a mother of two and have been a pass holder for over 16 years and let me say after five hours at the magic kingdom I could use a beer, most of the time we will leave to go eat at Epcot so we can have a drink!
Bad enough you have to deal with the drunks during the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, now they’ll be spilling beer on the Dumbo ride and puking in the Teacup ride at Magic Kingdom
Of course they added alcohol to these restaurants to make money, but this likely also what people wanted. Some people appreciate being able to have a glass of wine when dropping $50-100 per meal.
I hate this idea – our vacation was ruined by those in Epcot that overindulged – Disney is a magical place for everyone – it should stay that way…
Sad, these places are for the kids (in all of us), don’t remember being a kid and thinking about getting buzzed.
I was going to say almost word-for-word what Courtney said.
So I guess I will say instead:
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Courtney!
I can’t help thinking that this would make Walt sad.
Boo! I think it’s s bad choice. What has really changed in 45years? Less guests? Less dining reservations? I don’t have kids, I enjoy cocktails, one of my favorite things about WDW is pretty much going anywhere w/ a drink & never having to drive, but this was really unnecessary.
How sad, to go against Walt’so wishes!! It is so upsetting!! Magic Kingdom is more a family Park, WELL IT USE TO BE, until now. There is enough places people can drink around the property they do not need to proceed. I am so disgusted!!
Honestly, I could care less. I’ve got bigger fish to fry than caring if someone has a beer with their steak at Skipper Canteen.
Is it what Walt would have wanted? Who knows. He’s been gone for 50 years. But he was also an advocate for change and a shrewd businessman.
In the end, we all don’t know if he would or would not “give his blessing” in the year 2016 for the opportunity of a paying guest to pay for a beer or glass of wine at a sit-down restaurant.
At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world to introduce this to sit-down restaurants at the MK.
And no, it’s not going to turn MK into Epcot on the weekends at Food & Wine Festival as so many people constantly refer to.
Well, you know, Walt always wanted to have more $$$ coming in so he could do all the things he wanted to do, and Roy told him that he had to charge guests more in order to do all the new stuff he wanted to do, and since Disney is certainly growing now, with all the new stuff that’s in the works, I guess the $$$ has to come from somewhere.
I’ll be the first to say it….It’s about time!
I think this is great. Having a beer or wine with dinner is no harm to the park or the experience. It has worked well in EPCOT and will work well in the Magic Kingdom. Cheers!
Why did my comment disappear?
Sad….not what Walt wanted !!!
This is a pure profit move. My wife and I love our date nights at EPCOT so we can have some drinks, but Magic Kingdom has always been a safe place. I never had to worry about my kids seeing ugliness especially when the crowds are extreme around closing or during Wishes. Bad move Disney.
I truly believe that WDW Management is loosing sight of the attraction of the Magic Kingdom: family inclusive, morally wholesome, let your imagination be your guide, loose your cares and just have a magical day. This decision to serve alcohol is very regrettable.
Very bad decision ….too bad for kids
I couldn’t be happier!!! Walt was not only an imagineer, but a business man too. He would understand this evolution. I go to WDW 6-8 times per year and have been waiting for 8 years for this to happen. 12 hours of walking and lines and other people’s kids whining warrants a relaxing cocktail with dinner! Great job WDW! See u in March!
I’m very happy they have made this decision, as an adult, a Disney fan and someone who enjoys dining its nice to be able to have a meal in The Magic Kingdom and have it paired with a beer or wine that compliments the flavor of the food. The best meal my Wife and I had on property in February was at Be Our Guest where we had Steak paired with a nice French Wine , if it was Steak and a Coke it would not have been anywhere near the best experience.
I agree they do not need beer stands in the park that would invariably lead to public drunkenness but alcohol service with food in the sit down restaurants is really a requirement.
After just comming home from a vacation there. First since 2009 I can say my favoret place on earth has gone to the dogs. I is not clean as it was they have ruined animal kingdom with junk. no longer a high class animal sancuary with realistic displays of african culture. Junk junk every where the quality of all has diminished and like I said dirty. Dont get me started on the new down town disney. A fake Rodaeo Drive A money pit and rhe prices are through the roof familys need to hit the lotto to vacation there. Now your adding more booze poor Walt. He did not plan a place for money grubing he wanted to give people especially children pleasure, clean up the act or more people will reject the the place of happiness and dreams
Very sad …I thought Walt Disney never wanted alcohol at the Magic Kingdom
Having a glass of beer or wine with your meal isn’t about getting buzzed or drunk. It is about having a meal with an appropriate beverage.
I’m OK with with beer and wine in the Magic Kingdom–so long as it stays in the restaurant and at the table while you’re having a table service meal. I don’t want to see bands of young adults walking around getting their buzz on. That’s something very different.
I think this is great. Coming to Florida every year for the past 4 years on holiday from UK it is nice on the other parks to sit down enjoy a meal and a glass of wine. I for one will visit Magic Kingdom more as have never had a bad meal and I will now be able to compliment my mral with a nice glass of vino
I agree with most of the above comments. It’s one thing to have it in the parks that weren’t touched by Walt. I understand that he passed well before the MK was truly underway, but this is directly against Walt’s wishes. Yes, I understand that Walt would have made changes with the times, but I don’t think that this would have been a change that he would have made because he created the park for families.
I seriously doubt they’re trying to meet any demand for alcohol in the MK so once again it looks like money is the deciding factor. Profit is being put before Walt Disney’s wishes for his parks. This screams of greed. As for the comment about alcohol being okay if it stays in the restaurants: alcohol may stay at the tables but people who are drunk will not. They’re the problem, not the alcohol. It’s like cell phones. They’re not the cause of accidents. It’s the people that use them while driving that are. This is truly shameful.
The article threw the zinger of Walt’s original wishes of no alcohol and so many people bit on it and vehemently stuck to the tradition and memory of Walt. I purposefully challenge this ideal, because throughout history traditions have molded and been adapted to new societal norms, ways of life, as well as cultural shifts. Although Walt may have been passionate about no alcohol, we must recognize that Walt’s dream has been fulfilled and expanded further than imagined! Although a brilliant man of his time, Walt was from a different time, and grew up through different experiences. Just as his ideals were singular (meaning his own) the leadership and drive is no longer singular, and as such, is meant to focus on what will allow the experience to be enhanced for more people. Considering this only enhances the menus for dine-in restaurants, then the concerns of drunken escapades seems unrealistic, as Disney also does a fair job of timely meal preparation and client throughput. Many clients would not have the time to consume the amount of alcohol needed to act in ways expressed by others. If an alcoholic beverage is not what you wish to drink, then simply turn the page and find a nice cola, tea, or lemonade that will refresh your spirits.
I just hope that MK doesn’t become EPCOT. The number of over served guests there are taking the fun out of the evening. The last few times my family was there we left early. There is a fine line between buzzed and drunk. When drunken behavior spoils my fun I’m not happy in the happiest place on earth.
Drunken guests are spoiling the EPCOT food and wine festival. I don’t know why Disney hasn’t realized this as law suits will soar as it gets worse. I love WDW and I hope drinking doesn’t take over other events or areas.
Walt would be horrified!!! Disney is suppose to be the one place that drinking and drunken behavior should not be allowed or tolerated. Bad choice people… if someone wants to drink alcohol there are plenty of bars to serve them off-site of Disney World and Disneyland. Keep this special place a no-alcohol zone as Walt intended! Family before profit!!!
As a looooog time beer drinker, I for one do not again with this at all. Walt didn’t want it, so neither do I.
It is a very sad day when even the higher-ups there at WDW put further profits over the fact that WDW is first and foremost a place for children. I have taken my kids to WDW numerous times and I had a fantastic time regardless of whether there was beer or not. We can now anticipate the occasional “Jerk” who will ultimately leave a bad taste in others’ mouths as they remember their vacation at “The Happiest Place on Earth”. Certainly not a good idea, but a sure sign of our times. Too bad!
I think its a great Idea, sit in the castle have a great meal with a glass of wine. Not everyone has a drinking problem, If some people abuse it they can be taken care of. Lets be fair many couples enjoy Disney, and love going for the food and a drink, don’t let a few spoil it for everyone.
All our adult family were disgusted at the drunks bumping in to us at epcot during our last visit during the food & wine fest. Disney shud stop alcoholic consumption not enable it. Respect Walts wishes and make sure tipsy adults dont spoil the magic for the young and young at heart
Walt set the Magic Kingdom as free of alchol and it shud remain that
a bad decision to offer any alcohol in the parks. this will lead to additional problems and it will cause those of us who do not drink to have to be more cautious knowing that the alcohol could lead drinkers to act irresponsibly.
Sad sad. This was a big no no with Walt. I believe they should honor his wish.
Walt would never have done this and I’m sure is so disappointed
Poor Walt! Pretty soon they’ll change the name of the resort to “Money Making World”. EPCOT has already been ruined for many people by the great emphasis on drinking your way around the World during the Food and Wine Festival. It doesn’t seem that people missed the alcohol for the last 45 years. Why change now.
I agree with previous poster’s comments. I have always admired the standards set by Walt so many years ago to prohibit alcohol in the Magic Kingdom. It’s an unfortunate and disappointing compromise for the sake of more profits. Excessive consumption of alcohol in Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival has changed this park’s atmosphere to a degree that we will no longer visit during this time of year. I hope the decision makers don’t loose sight of Walt’s vision.
Why would anyone want to spend $30+ on a dinner entree and not be able to order a glass of wine? If you think this is about getting buzzed, you have the mentality of a child.
Love it.
Times change.
Glad they’ve finally come around.
I think it’s fantastic!!!!!
I think it’s a good decision. We ate at Skipper Canteen on our last visit and a glass of wine, a beer or a themed cocktail would have been totally appropriate with the experience.
I would not like to see kiosks selling beer and wine or adults roaming the park with alcohol but having a glass of wine with dinner will not fundamentally ruin the magic kingdom experience.