Walt Disney envisioned Disneyland as a beautiful place where fairy tales would magically come to life. “Disneyland is like Alice stepping through the Looking Glass,” he explained. “Stepping through the Disneyland portals will be like entering another world.”
However, his concept did not include adult beverage service. In fact, he prohibited the selling of alcoholic beverages in the sprawling California amusement park.
He was convinced that serving beer, wine, and spirits would deprive Disneyland of its wholesome family appeal. On the other side, Disney opposed the sale of gum, ice cream, and cotton candy.
Those limitations were lifted over time, but it wasn’t until 2019, some 65 years after Disneyland originally opened its doors, that alcoholic beverages became available – albeit on a limited basis.
The experiment must have been a success because Disneyland is increasing its alcoholic beverage program again four years later.
According to a July 26th Disney Parks tweet, Carnation Café, River Belle Terrace, and Café Orleans at Disneyland will introduce new menus on September 12th, including wine, beer, and specialty cocktails.
A Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
In 2019, Disneyland opened the door to alcoholic beverage service with the addition of Oga’s Cantina to its “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” ride.
According to Disney Dorks, the cantina was created to embody the mood of a galactic bar “serving pilots, bounty hunters, smugglers, locals, and galactic travelers alike,” so it made sense to provide both kid-friendly beverages and alcoholic beverages for those over 21.
While the launch of Oga’s Cantina in 2019 was significant news, it wasn’t actually the first time alcohol was served in Disneyland.
The original strategy included self-imposed prohibition. “No booze, no beer, nothing.” “Because it adds a rowdy element,” Walt said to the Saturday Evening Post on the park’s first anniversary.”
That brings people we don’t want, and I feel they don’t need it.”He soon reversed his position, allowing plans for Club 33, a membership-only lounge adjacent to the original Pirates of the Caribbean rollercoaster.
However, because one-year access cost more than twice the annual income of most American families in 1957, alcohol options were limited to an exceptionally exclusive group.
This tradition may be carried on with the new offers. According to SFGate, a Hurricane at Disneyland’s Blue Bayou presently costs $17. The cheapest wine on the menu is $13 per 5-ounce glass, and the cheapest beer is a stunning $12.50.
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