Too many people risk throwing away future experiences for the sake of a few minutes of stupidity while drinking around the world at EPCOT. In the latest example to go viral, a man in his twenties reportedly jumped out of his boat during the Gran Fiesta Tour and dove headfirst into the water while a group of friends cheered him on. The consequences were immediate, with the guest and his friends reportedly being trespassed from Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, this is far from the first time someone has taken things too far at EPCOT. Over the years, guests have faced bans after jumping into fountains, entering restricted areas, and engaging in other disruptive behavior after drinking too much. What might seem like a hilarious story to share with friends in the moment can quickly turn into a mistake with lasting consequences.
Of course, some people will argue that getting banned from Disney World isn’t exactly a life-ruining consequence. It’s not like these guests are being sent to prison, and plenty of people go their entire lives without visiting a Disney theme park. That’s true. Nobody needs Disney World to live a happy or fulfilling life, and losing the ability to visit a theme park isn’t the end of the world. But I think that argument misses a bigger point. When you’re in your twenties, it’s easy to focus on the immediate consequences of a decision without considering how it might affect the experiences you could have years down the road.
For some people, Disney World is more than a vacation destination. It’s a place where they grew up making memories with their families, a place they might one day want to bring their own children, or somewhere they hope to visit with a future spouse who shares that same love of Disney. Getting yourself banned over a few drinks and a moment of bad judgment could mean giving up those opportunities. Maybe you don’t care about Disney now, and maybe you never will. But it’s impossible to know how your interests and priorities might change over the next 10, 20, or 30 years. The thought of losing the opportunity to share a place you once loved with your own kids because you couldn’t control yourself on one afternoon is honestly pretty sad.
And while the public embarrassment of going viral for doing something ridiculous is bad enough, that’s probably the part these guests are least concerned about in the moment. Their friends are cheering, they’re getting attention, and they may think they’re creating a funny memory. What they aren’t thinking about is the possibility that the video will follow them online or that their behavior could result in a permanent ban from Disney property. A few drinks and a dare aren’t worth risking years of future experiences, especially when there are plenty of ways to have fun at EPCOT without turning yourself into the next viral example of what not to do.
The whole point of going to Disney is to have a good time and make memories, so don’t let one day of drinking turn into something you’ll regret for years. You may not be thinking about a future spouse or kids while you’re walking around World Showcase, and that’s perfectly understandable. But you also don’t want to look back one day and realize you gave up the chance to share those experiences because you thought doing something reckless would make a funny story. Have your drink, enjoy the food, take your time and make some good memories with your friends. Just make sure you’re still going to remember them the next day.
The post Drinking Around the World at EPCOT Can Have Lasting Consequences first appeared on The DIS.
