Courting Europe (1992)

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When it was announced that a new “EuroDisneyland” was to be built near Paris, the French public practically revolted.

Prominent French intellectuals and writers at once denigrated Disney’s planned resort, with the unfortunate label of a “cultural Chernobyl” becoming a common refrain. Critics called the plans a radical move of cultural imperialism – an American invasion meant to force the unhealthy consumerism of the U.S on France. One reporter for a conservative French daily paper wrote, “I wish with all my heart that the rebels would set fire to Disneyland."

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French labor unions attacked the company over an appearance code limiting makeup, facial hair, tattoos, and jewelry, seemingly imported from American parks with no consideration of French culture or the fact that such restrictions are illegal under French law unless it could be demonstrated that the restrictions were requisite to the job responsibilities and do not exceed what’s necessary. (Instead of relenting, Disney countered that the restrictions were necessary, as employees not adhering would undermine the company’s identity and thus the park’s success.)

Like the Eiffel Tower a century before, the French were determined to oppose the garish Disney resort at all costs, blockading its construction and protesting its development. It seemed that nothing Disney could do would quell the anger and hatred that the French felt toward what would surely be an American blight in the French countryside.

Disney had already learned by way of Epcot that the pavilions dedicated to Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy needed to include alcohol if they were to sincerely celebrate the culture and cuisine of those countries... 

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So imagine what it was like when the fairytale kingdom opened to audiences who were from the real Germany, U.K., France, and Italy, welcoming them into lavish restaurants... that didn't serve alcohol.

Attendance at the resort was a fraction of what Disney had budgeted for, and the faltering of their new, overbuilt European resort lead to a decade of closures, cost-cutting, and cancellations across Disney Parks.

Without much pomp or circumstance, Disney announced just a year after the resort’s opening that EuroDisneyland would now serve alcohol. “It's mainly in response to our non-French European visitors," a spokesperson said. "Visitors from Germany or England want wine because it's part of the French experience."

Just like that, the first “castle” park’s alcohol defenses were toppled.

Kingdom Falls (2012 - 2018) 

The next followed two decades later.

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Back in Florida, 2012 saw the opening of Magic Kingdom's historic New Fantasyland expansion. Among its most talked-about offerings was the lavish Be Our Guest Restaurant, allowing guests to dine in scenic locations from Beauty and the Beast (most notably in the castle’s gold-encrusted ballroom). Despite its opulence, Disney left the location accessible by making it a quick service dining option at lunch, only transitioning to a full service, prix fixe dinner option in the evening.

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And during that evening transition each day, wine and beer would magically appear on the menu. While one could suggest that the change was merely to match the upscale French theme of the restaurant, it was also the end of Magic Kingdom’s standalone forty-year ban on alcohol. And naturally, that wasn’t the end.

In 2016, the highly anticipated Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen opened in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland. Bridging the gap between the park’s “World Famous” Jungle Cruise and S.E.A.: The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, the Skipper Canteen was noted for its truly exotic menu… including wine and beer.

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At the same time, three other Magic Kingdom table service restaurants - Tony’s Town Square, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Liberty Tree Tavern – added wine and beer to their menus as well.

In May 2018, The Plaza Restaurant, The Crystal Palace, and The Diamond Horseshoe joined. Now, every table service restaurant at Magic Kingdom serves wine and beer. At least so far, the alcoholic offerings end there, and are confined to table service dinners. They’re not available at carts or quick service locations like they are at “non-castle” parks. But, for Magic Kingdom, the “no alcohol” era is most certainly over.

Oga’s Cantina (2019)

Image: Disney / Lucasfilm

That brings us to Oga’s Cantina, one of the spectacular “alien” eateries that populates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Naturally, the inclusion of the restaurant was hardly newsworthy for Walt Disney World’s installation of the land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But for Disneyland, this venue does do something no other publicly accessible restaurant at Disneyland has before: it offers alcoholic beverages. Does that mean it “changes everything?” Well, technically, it changes something with a lot of history behind it.

Disney’s been careful to note that even in this outpost for galactic scum, the drinks will be pre-mixed, and must be consumed in the restaurant. In other words, alcoholic alien slushes are limited to the premises; you won’t find guests carrying rum-and-Cokes through Fantasyland… yet.

Image: Disney / Lucasfilm

Plus, Disney has gone through great and expensive lengths to ensure that Galaxy’s Edge is separate from the rest of Disneyland (including isolating it behind its own literal mountain range to hide it from the rest of the park, purposefully placing it beyond the Disneyland Railroad). By all accounts, Galaxy’s Edge follows the “Wizarding World” precedent of leaving LEGO sets, hamburgers, and Coca-Cola out. So there’s at least some potential that – just as Coke is kept out of this hyper-realistic new land, alcohol may be kept in.

But like Magic Kingdom, don’t be surprised if – before long – you can pair your breakfast at the Carnation Café with a mimosa or your dinner at the River Belle Terrace with a draft beer. Would it really be so unexpected if the new Tropical Hideaway in Disneyland's Adventureland eventually offers the rum-infused Dole Whip Disney is developing for Trader Sam's at the nearby Disneyland Hotel? A leak has sprung in the dam, and it’s likely that the rest of Disneyland won’t be dry for long.