Disney's also switching up a couple of quick-service menus over at Epcot, adding a "Surf and Turf" crab-cake-topped burger and "Red, White, and Blue" salad with craisins and blue cheese at the Liberty Inn. Disney's also dropped the mac and cheese burger at the Electric Umbrella in favor of a "French Dip" burger, topped with brisket, crispy onions and Muenster cheese. (How those toppings constitute a "French Dip," I have no idea. Maybe a dry version of a French onion soup?) There's also a new Italian sausage sandwich and veggie Naan sandwich to try.
Did you know that the Walt Disney World Resort was one of the top 10 honeymoon destinations in the United States? USA Today reported on data provided by Facebook on check-ins to find that Lake Buena Vista — home of Disney World — was the 10th-most checked in location in the country by people who'd just gotten married. Las Vegas topped the list, which was otherwise dominated by locations in Hawaii.
Tokyo Disney has announced its entertainment schedule for 2015 [Google Translate link], including a new Tangled float for Tokyo Disneyland's Dream Lights electrical parade. The big new attraction at the park for 2015 will be the previously announced Stitch Encounter, coming to Tomorrowland. It's a clone of the "Turtle Talk"-like attraction from Hong Kong Disneyland.
Here's an interesting study that might provide a thoughtful twist to the controversy that flared when Walt Disney World started serving alcohol in the Magic Kingdom, at the Be Our Guest restaurant in the evenings. A Washington Post report claims that 30 percent of American adults never drink alcohol and that another 30 percent consume less than one drink per week, on average. Extrapolating from that data, this suggests that the average American is more likely not to drink any alcohol than to drink in any given week. So who's consuming all this booze? The report says that it's the top 10 percent of drinkers, who, on average, are consuming more than 10 servings of alcohol per day.
How does this apply to theme parks? If these data are accurate, it suggests that the majority of the adult American public is perfectly satisfied with avoiding alcohol. But for the fewer than 20 percent of American adults who do drink daily, a substantial percentage of them probably find it difficult to modify their habits and to go an entire day without a drink. Now, how does the profile of theme park visitors compare with the profile of the American public when it comes to drinking? I don't know, but given the widespread popularity of theme parks, I suspect that the profiles are similar. Anyway, I thought that this report might provide some interesting data for anyone who wishes to keep debating how much, if any, alcohol theme parks should serve.
Update: Universal Orlando announced this afternoon that it will close the NASCAR Sports Grille in CityWalk on November 1, to replace the restaurant with another, as-yet-unannounced concept.
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Well, unless you're living a very, very good life. ;^)
Having each bar on the same level as the monorail encourages bar hopping and binge drinking before entering the drink free zone and enhances the magic of the park for some people. Pirates is more fun when you are drunk like one.
I think in time more sit down restaurants at Magic Kingdom will add beer and wine because people expect to at least have the option when they are paying over $100 a meal.
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As always, I think the greatest indicator of how much theme park fans drink can be found in the Disney Company's bank account :P.