Underage drinking

[Lesley Wake]

An interesting incident happened this afternoon. I was in line at Smokejumpers and there was a couple in the line next to me. They were both drinking frozen margaritas but not drawing any attention to themselves. Suddenly a Disney security CM came over and asked to see the girl's ID. She sort of hesitated and was flustered. The CM pulled them aside and another security person came over. It became apparent the girl was underage and couldn't provide an ID. They escorted them out of the restaurant and started walking in the direction of the entrance. I'm assuming they were kicked out of the parks and had their tickets confiscated. Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Geemo]

An interesting incident happened this afternoon. I was in line at Smokejumpers and there was a couple in the line next to me. They were both drinking frozen margaritas but not drawing any attention to themselves. Suddenly a Disney security CM came over and asked to see the girl's ID. She sort of hesitated and was flustered. The CM pulled them aside and another security person came over. It became apparent the girl was underage and couldn't provide an ID. They escorted them out of the restaurant and started walking in the direction of the entrance. I'm assuming they were kicked out of the parks and had their tickets confiscated. Anyone else have a similar experience?

We've seen plain clothes (dressed as tourists) security CM escorting people out of DCA a few times now. It's their ear pieces that give them away.
It's amazing how fast they move in and control the situation. If you're not paying attention you'd probably miss it.

Geemo

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Disney takes underage drinking VERY seriously. They deal with it quickly. If the couple had APs, there is a good chance those passes were revoked. Breaking Disney's rules regarding alcohol carries serious consequences even for those over 21. I know someone whose pass was suspended because she was drunk at DL.

 

[Whistlebee]

We saw an older gentleman get escorted out of DL because his dog wasn't really a service dog.

 

[Whistlebee]

We saw an older gentleman get escorted out of DL because his dog wasn't really a service dog.

It was DCA not DL.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

We saw an older gentleman get escorted out of DL because his dog wasn't really a service dog.

Could you tell how they determined the dog wasn’t a service dog? I’m curious because it seems like so many people abuse this issue. It’s really become an issue at our kids’ sporting events and a friend of ours was actually badly bitten by a “service” dog at her daughter’s softball game when she stood up to cheer in the bleachers in front of the dog. I love dogs and get why people want to bring them to Disneyland. My own dog is about as spoiled as a dog can get, but he doesn’t get to go where he’s not allowed. People who truly have service animals because of a real need just don’t need the distractions. But the law is pretty vague and doesn’t require documentation. It only allows you to ask “Is your dog a service animal because of a disability?” and “What task has it been trained for?”

I’m glad Disney security is so good about catching underage drinking and even service dog misrepresentation!

 

[Whistlebee]

The older man and his wife were sitting on a bench near California Screamin and security approached them and asked them questions about the dog. Service dogs behave a certain way and I think security had observed the dog and could tell it wasn't a security dog.

 

[Sergio S]

We saw an older gentleman get escorted out of DL because his dog wasn't really a service dog.

I've seen many dogs come by the front gate that you can CLEARLY tell that they are NOT service dogs. And to be clear, theraphy dogs are not considered service dogs (but thats for another debate). Anyone can buy a vest online that says "service dog" written on it but it doesn't make the animal a true service dog. Here's the problem though...That is a really sticky slope that no one wants to deal with.

Get it right and you found a fraudster.
Get it wrong and you potentially have a lawsuit and bad PR.

No business wants to take that risk or even ask the two questions required by law because they can get it wrong.

Now there can be obvious signs a dog is not a service dog by its actions...grawling, acting aggressive, out of control, etc. If these actions are seen, then they can ask the customer to leave.

 

[audrianna890]

I seriously didn't know it was possible to trick DL into giving minors alcohol. I figured they had that stuff locked down.

However, I have seen dogs that I believe are not service dogs at DL. I'm not going to say they absolutely weren't, because I don't know, but they certainly didn't act like service dogs that I've seen that I know are certified. Like a PP said, we spoil put dogs but I don't take them where they don't belong (it especially drives me crazy when I'm in the grocery store and someone brings their little dog in).

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I used to work in the amusement park industry and sold alcohol. There are very strict restrictions and repercussions. My guess is that whoever sold those drinks is being firmly reprimanded or fired, too. It's a serious issue that could result in loss of liquor license and major fines. I'm actually surprised Disney parks don't have designated areas where you're allowed to drink your beverage and cannot leave since one of the most common offenses is someone with an ID buying for people who don't have one and giving it to them out of sight.

 

[colormegreen]

I've boughten beer at DCA two at a time ( for the hubby didn't want to wait in line twice) and they really don't manage where you drink it as long as you don't get out of DCA. So an adult could easily give it to an underage person...they also don't manage how many you buy during the day which I know can be hard and it's not their job to babysit, but we've gotten to the parking lot with a couple barely being able to walk...I didn't get their license plates due to having my kids with me..

 

[az4boys]

It became apparent the girl was underage and couldn't provide an ID.

I can't help but wonder if a parent or another "responsible" adult bought the drink initially... some parents think it isn't a big deal. I'm glad Disney takes it very seriously.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I can't help but wonder if a parent or another "responsible" adult bought the drink initially... some parents think it isn't a big deal. I'm glad Disney takes it very seriously.

It more seemed like a boyfriend/girlfriend situation. Girl appeared to be in the 18-20 age range but definitely looked young.

I do have to say Disney doesn't try to make a big deal and humiliate them. If I hadn't been standing right next to them I wouldn't have realized what was going on.

And yes, fake service dogs really make me mad. Definitely see them nearly every trip. I understand that people love their dogs, but do they not realize how stressful a situation it would be for a dog that is not trained? And in the summer that concrete gets hot! I saw a family with a dog that didn't have a vest at all. Obviously a young dog with his tail between his legs. They were boarding the tram going back to the parking garage and the dog obeyed them and wasn't causing problems but it still bugged me!

You have to wonder, at what point will they change the law so you do have to show some sort of certification? I understand not wanting to hassle people who have legit service animals but I would also imagine those people would also be willing to deal with it in order to reduce the occurance of fake dogs who could hassle their own working dogs. Though people are jerks and would just fake any certification anyways...

 

[bumbershoot]

The older man and his wife were sitting on a bench near California Screamin and security approached them and asked them questions about the dog. Service dogs behave a certain way and I think security had observed the dog and could tell it wasn't a security dog.

There is no one way a service dog acts.

You're confusing a service dog with a Seeing Eye Dog.

Service dogs are trained to do a service for someone with a disability. Hopefully they are good dogs with obedience training but there is NO certification to make a dog a service dog, so that's not a requirement.

There are no legal questions they can ask that, if answered smartly, would get someone kicked out. They either asked illegal questions OR the guy answered legal questions incorrectly.

OR something else was going on.

Get it wrong and you potentially have a lawsuit and bad PR.

From what I've read, no business has ever lost a case. They can be scared all they want, but as long as they are following the laws (which protect the business and other people too) they are fine.

 

[Malcon10t]

Here is the real standard. A person has to be disabled. Without being classified disabled, the dog has no rights. By that I mean, my daughter is hearing impaired. She has a service dog. She legally can take her dog almost anywhere. While her dog is a service dog and can go with her anywhere, this same dog does not have any rights to go to the store with me. So many people do the "I need my dog at all times" and buy fake service vests. The questions that can be asked of a service dog/handler pair-
To determine if an animal is a service animal, you may ask two questions:

1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

If the handler answers "Therapy animal" or "Emotional Support", these are not classified service dogs. If they are not disabled, visit is ended.

They can also be asked to leave if the dog is barking, acting aggressive, is out of control, is not properly potty trained, etc...

And as much as people will say "My dog loves being with me", a place like Disneyland is very hard on a dog, even one well trained for crowds. It mentally wears them out. There are so many scents to process, so many visuals, it really does wear them out.

 

[Malcon10t]

Back to the OP, Disneyland is very strict regarding underage drinking. It sounds like someone of age passed a drink to underaged drinker and they got caught. This happens more often than you'd think. And when caught, both guests will be escorted out and trespassed, meaning they can't come back. Passes/tickets are revoked. Which can get expensive if you are on your first day of a 5 day ticket, or first visit of an AP.....

 

[Kender]

They were boarding the tram going back to the parking garage and the dog obeyed them and wasn't causing problems but it still bugged me!

Not that I don't agree people do falsely claim their dogs as service dogs, but did you only see the dog go on the tram? Or did you see them exit the parks with the dog? That situation could have been one where the dog had been in the kennel. Animals are allowed on the tram if they are going to or from the kennels.

They can also walk through DTD if they so choose. You just have to declare going through security you have an animal that is going to be boarded at the kennel.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Not that I don't agree people do falsely claim their dogs as service dogs, but did you only see the dog go on the tram? Or did you see them exit the parks with the dog? That situation could have been one where the dog had been in the kennel. Animals are allowed on the tram if they are going to or from the kennels.

They can also walk through DTD if they so choose. You just have to declare going through security you have an animal that is going to be boarded at the kennel.

That is true, I forgot that the kennels were right outside the parks.

 

[onlyoneash]

I can't help but wonder if a parent or another "responsible" adult bought the drink initially... some parents think it isn't a big deal. I'm glad Disney takes it very seriously.

Yeah, they are pretty strict with IDs, so I bet someone older bought the drinks. The bartender or whoever can't possibly monitor where that said older/legal person goes from that point on or who he/she eventually gives the drinks to. Glad security caught it.

 

[ashley0139]

Interesting to read about this today, as I read about a similar incident yesterday on a Disneyland FB group. A guy had a friend buy him a drink because he couldn't find his ID (even though he had been using it and was far over 21) and security asked him for his ID. When he couldn't find it, he was escorted out of the park and his AP revoked. Or so he says. Kind of crazy.

I personally don't think drinking is as big a deal as we Americans make it out to be, but on Disney property you better be following their rules (and US laws of course).