Walt Disney, the man who created the modern template for theme parks, had some very specific rules about how people are supposed to have fun. He wanted people to have a good time, but he did not allow a lot of things in his Disneyland park in California that seem ridiculous now.
The first Walt Disney (DIS) -) theme park did not allow 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.
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Disney has, of course, relented on ice cream and cotton candy, but it has not compromised on its cleanliness standards, If you walk around the company's parks, you will always see cast members (workers) cleaning surfaces and scraping errant pieces of gum off the ground.
Walt Disney, the man, also had another rule that has mostly stayed in place at Disneyland since its 1955 opening. He was vehemently against selling alcohol at his company's theme parks.
“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.
That rule actually carried over to Disney World's Magic Kingdom, although it was most certainly not used at Florida's Epcot, where alcohol and "drinking the world" is a major part of the park experience. The company also openly serves alcohol at its two other Florida parks and its second gate at Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure.
Disney World has loosened up its alcohol policy in recent years with a number of sit-down restaurants adding beer, wine, and even liquor. Now, Disneyland, which was fully dry except for the private Club 33 until 2019, has big plans to expand its alcoholic beverage offerings.
Image source: Walt Disney
Disneyland Adding More Alcohol
Disney first added alcohol at Disneyland when it opened "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" in 2019. That immersive new land serves a variety of Star Wars-themed alcoholic options at Oga's Cantina. The theme park followed by adding alcohol to the menu at Blue Bayou, a Cajun restaurant adjacent to the iconic "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride.
Now, the theme park company has greatly expanded the options for people visiting its original California theme park.
"Disneyland will add alcohol sales at Café Orleans, River Belle Terrace, and Carnation Café, with wine, beer, and specialty cocktails available. Disneyland made the announcement today, but the new menus at those restaurants will not debut until September 12," Theme Park Insider reported.
Disney already sells alcohol at all of the areas that surround Disneyland including the California Adventure theme park, its on-site hotels, and at the Downtown Disney entertainment district.
Magic Kingdom Has Slowly Added More Alcohol
The increase of alcohol sales at Magic Kingdom has paved the way for the changes at Disneyland. The company has kept its first Florida Park as its most-dry family-friendly option. You can still only get an alcoholic beverage at sit-down restaurants.
That's a bit hypocritical given that its second Florida park has devoted half of its space to the World Showcase, a series of pavilions that celebrate countries. That area has a heavy focus on alcohol with kiosks selling all sorts of beer, wine, and cocktails from the countries being celebrated.
In addition, Epcot hosts a "Food & Wine" Festival each year, which offers a number of special alcoholic beverage choices all across the park.
Disney also sells walk-around (not at sit-down restaurants) beer, wine, and cocktails at its Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom parks.
