BYOS bring your own straw (Disney removing straws and more in 2019)

[Nancyg56]

Well, an alternative is non-disposable straws just like at Starbucks you can use reusable cups

Or just not using a straw at all - I know that is not practical for some drinks and for some people .... that is why I would almost prefer the method of just not automatically giving straws, but having them available for request - that would cut down on a lot of straw usage but also be there for people that needed them

My DD and I were just discussing this yesterday. WE buy the reusable cups at Starbucks. I like them for more than coffee, so they are a good value for me. This Summer they offered a reusable cold beverage cup with some sort of hard plastic straw, and I use it daily. We are going to buy one for the crew to use this December. The fam will have a choice, carry this in their bag, or use a cup without a lid. Makes no difference to me, but I do not want to hear any complaining over what I cannot change. This would be in reference to my DH. LOL

I know this is not a solution for everyone, and honestly I wish there was one. I am no fan of all or nothing mentality, so this notion that we must do away will all plastic straws and offer no viable alternative in senseless to me. Most people understand the impact to the environment these specific plastics have, and given a choice we will choose to make the difference if at all possible, however in this instance there is no choice for many. I honestly wish that there was some sort of mechanism in place to provide a real straw to people who need one, and to give folks trying to slurp their shakes, Frappuccino's and smoothies something that will not melt into the drink.

 

[afan]

Compostable lids, straws and eating utensils exist and I don't understand why Disney isn't using them. But I also don't understand why Starbucks is also going strawless and not using them either especially when the Seattle based, PNW fast food chain Taco Time has been using them for several years. They compost almost everything and only have little like 15 inch tall trash cans for the few things they have that can't be composted. I would think Starbucks would be aware. Their prices are also in line with what you'd pay at other fast food places so I can't see it costing a ton more to have these and the straws aren't paper. Paper straws are awful though I understand the point of them. I'll adapt at WDW by not getting ice in any drink I get so that I don't need the straw.

 

[AurumPunzel]

Compostable lids, straws and eating utensils exist and I don't understand why Disney isn't using them. But I also don't understand why Starbucks is also going strawless and not using them either especially when the Seattle based, PNW fast food chain Taco Time has been using them for several years. They compost almost everything and only have little like 15 inch tall trash cans for the few things they have that can't be composted. I would think Starbucks would be aware. Their prices are also in line with what you'd pay at other fast food places so I can't see it costing a ton more to have these and the straws aren't paper. Paper straws are awful though I understand the point of them. I'll adapt at WDW by not getting ice in any drink I get so that I don't need the straw.

I went to a national park in the South Coast of England a few months ago, and when I had a milkshake in their café, I was impressed with the fact they used plant-based bioplastic (probably the same compostable type) for their milkshake cups, lids and straws. Plant allergy downsides notwithstanding (I only have hay fever, but that doesn't get triggered by plant-based bioplastic; science will hopefully make them hypoallergenic someday), it's virtually indistinguishable from normal plastic, and has the same neutral taste, so this is something that Disney should be aiming more for that than paper because of the aforementioned environmental issues paper has, not to mention their weaknesses.

 

[Nohal]

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

 

[AurumPunzel]

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

That was just someone who was mocking California, even though it was just that one municipality that proposed 6mth jail sentences for issuing plastic straws. It's not as if the security CMs are going to go all Kenya with the straws.

 

[The Pho]

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

Animal Kingdom isn't supposed to let you in with plastic straws.

 

[superme80]

I haven't been to WDW or DAK, so I can't comment on that. I do go to Disneyland every few years. No straw I can deal with . I switched myself and my kids occasionally to reusable straws at home. My husband uses regular straws since he is always forgetting his drink at work or in his car. If Disney sold reusable drinks, I would be fine with it. With no lid, I can easily see myself just purchasing sodas and flavored waters at Target or Walmart and just bringing them in. As much as I like fancy coffee drinks, I can easily live without them for the 3 days I am at Disneyland. I am a klutz and my boys tend to bump into me a lot. I need a lid.

 

[ellbell]

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

You can bring your own reusable straws with you

 

[KNovacovschi]

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

I would say yes except AK if it is a plastic disposable straw. I've read that someone had it confiscated by security at AK but they've never allowed plastic straws and lids.

 

[AurumPunzel]

I would say yes except AK if it is a plastic disposable straw. I've read that someone had it confiscated by security at AK but they've never allowed plastic straws and lids.

Was going to say the same thing. I completely overlooked that until now, even though I knew AK never had plastic straws and lids, despite the bumping-in risk being far less than, let's say MK, which is where lidmageddon is already becoming a massive issue there. I'm going to have to be weary when I'm there in March in case I grab a quick drink on the go, since I'd have my camera out on me most of the time.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

My DD and I were just discussing this yesterday. WE buy the reusable cups at Starbucks. I like them for more than coffee, so they are a good value for me. This Summer they offered a reusable cold beverage cup with some sort of hard plastic straw, and I use it daily. We are going to buy one for the crew to use this December. The fam will have a choice, carry this in their bag, or use a cup without a lid. Makes no difference to me, but I do not want to hear any complaining over what I cannot change. This would be in reference to my DH. LOL
.

I have mine and I love it, but in Disney it was a huge pain in the butt. We are mainly pockets and a tiny purse family and that is probably why, we added a backpack with napkins to our daily routine (napkins to dry them out after using) but near the end of the night, no one wanted to carry the stinking backpack! LOL.

Near the end of the trip, the reusable straws were just tucked into my tiny purse and it was perfect!

Can you take your own straws into the park with you? I thought I read somewhere that they were taken by security.

*Raises Hand* Yes, they wanted to take and toss my straws and when I explained that they were metal/reusable the security guy had to check with someone else and I was allowed through. This was on the walk from the Contemporary to MK before opening.

At AK before opening, security said "Smart thinking on the straws!"

We did bring them in a long ziplock type bag, because security really pulls them out and touches them! LOL

 

[Nancyg56]

I have mine and I love it, but in Disney it was a huge pain in the butt. We are mainly pockets and a tiny purse family and that is probably why, we added a backpack with napkins to our daily routine (napkins to dry them out after using) but near the end of the night, no one wanted to carry the stinking backpack! LOL.

Near the end of the trip, the reusable straws were just tucked into my tiny purse and it was perfect!



*Raises Hand* Yes, they wanted to take and toss my straws and when I explained that they were metal/reusable the security guy had to check with someone else and I was allowed through. This was on the walk from the Contemporary to MK before opening.

At AK before opening, security said "Smart thinking on the straws!"

We did bring them in a long ziplock type bag, because security really pulls them out and touches them! LOL

My daughter ordered metal straws for us already. I am glad to know how to manage them with security. . The cups will be more for the resort I think. I hate water in that reuseable mug after I put coffee in it. My niece or my DSIL may carry a back pack, and if they do and want to drag the cup they can.

 

[KaptKaveman]

Not a rabid environmentalist by any means but I think this is a great movie on Disney's part. Read a story the other day that Kroger is phasing out plastic bags by 2020, in the story they mentioned the number of plastic bags that get thrown away per year and the number was staggering.

Best part about this is Disney did not wait for cover from some kind of govt mandate or legislation. They decided this is would be good for the environment(and lets not lie... potentially the bottom line) and they made a policy change. They may take some flack for it but this is really the best way to make a change.

Again not a rabid environmentalist but in our household we have been trying to get away from straws entirely for the last couple of months. It doesn't always work as some places stick a straw in before handing you a drink but we are trying. For several months I have also been limiting myself to 1 or 2 plastic grocery bags a week(they are useful for cleaning out litter boxes). I go through the self check out line and if it doesn't require a bag I just toss it back in the cart. We also recycle as much as we can as well(though the county recently stopped taking glass for recycling which is mind boggling).

This is how you can make a change starting with yourself. Don't wait for some govt. body(state or local) to ban something, take action yourself. Like Disney has here. People actually see companies that they support doing stuff like this and they jump on board as well.

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait.... I know Disney isn't providing straws. Are they confiscating them out of bags (other than AK)?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Again not a rabid environmentalist but in our household we have been trying to get away from straws entirely for the last couple of months. It doesn't always work as some places stick a straw in before handing you a drink but we are trying. For several months I have also been limiting myself to 1 or 2 plastic grocery bags a week(they are useful for cleaning out litter boxes). I go through the self check out line and if it doesn't require a bag I just toss it back in the cart. We also recycle as much as we can as well(though the county recently stopped taking glass for recycling which is mind boggling).

That is one thing I would like to see everywhere do - not just automatically give you a straw but have them available if you want / need one - I think that along would cut down a lot on wasted straws

My issue at home with recycling is our sanitation department give us large bins for us to use, a larger one for trash and a smaller one for recycling. The trash they pick up twice a week but recycling only once and ours is always overflowing/can't fit everything. I called to see if we can bring the excess somewhere and they said no, the only thing you can do with recycling is the one bin that they pick up once a week. If it doesn't fit, too bad

 

[KaptKaveman]

My issue at home with recycling is our sanitation department give us large bins for us to use, a larger one for trash and a smaller one for recycling. The trash they pick up twice a week but recycling only once and ours is always overflowing/can't fit everything. I called to see if we can bring the excess somewhere and they said no, the only thing you can do with recycling is the one bin that they pick up once a week. If it doesn't fit, too bad

I went out to Walmart and got the biggest plastic bin I could find. Then stuck recycling stickers all over them. At this point we probably run about 40% trash - 60% recycling. It was better until the county stopped accepting glass(which is BS) but what can you do?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I went out to Walmart and got the biggest plastic bin I could find. Then stuck recycling stickers all over them. At this point we probably run about 40% trash - 60% recycling. It was better until the county stopped accepting glass(which is BS) but what can you do?

yeah, unfortunately we have to use the bins provided by the company as they use the trucks that have the mechanical arm that lifts up the bin and dumps it in the top of the truck

When it first started I once had an extra back infront of the bin and the driver got out, moved the bag so it wasn't blocking the bin, got back up and used the arm to dump from the bin and just left the bag

 

[jade1]

I went to a national park in the South Coast of England a few months ago, and when I had a milkshake in their café, I was impressed with the fact they used plant-based bioplastic (probably the same compostable type) for their milkshake cups, lids and straws. Plant allergy downsides notwithstanding (I only have hay fever, but that doesn't get triggered by plant-based bioplastic; science will hopefully make them hypoallergenic someday), it's virtually indistinguishable from normal plastic, and has the same neutral taste, so this is something that Disney should be aiming more for that than paper because of the aforementioned environmental issues paper has, not to mention their weaknesses.

Seems like a good current solution to me.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Seems like a good current solution to me.

Lego has started to do that as well as releasing a line of lego trees and plants that use plant-based bioplastic

The issue is currently that is way more expensive to produce than existing forms of plastic - definitely an avenue to pursue but I think it would be really, really hard (from a cost and from an ability to produce enough) to switch over to that for everything today

 

[AurumPunzel]

Not a rabid environmentalist by any means but I think this is a great movie on Disney's part. Read a story the other day that Kroger is phasing out plastic bags by 2020, in the story they mentioned the number of plastic bags that get thrown away per year and the number was staggering.

Best part about this is Disney did not wait for cover from some kind of govt mandate or legislation. They decided this is would be good for the environment(and lets not lie... potentially the bottom line) and they made a policy change. They may take some flack for it but this is really the best way to make a change.

Again not a rabid environmentalist but in our household we have been trying to get away from straws entirely for the last couple of months. It doesn't always work as some places stick a straw in before handing you a drink but we are trying. For several months I have also been limiting myself to 1 or 2 plastic grocery bags a week(they are useful for cleaning out litter boxes). I go through the self check out line and if it doesn't require a bag I just toss it back in the cart. We also recycle as much as we can as well(though the county recently stopped taking glass for recycling which is mind boggling).

This is how you can make a change starting with yourself. Don't wait for some govt. body(state or local) to ban something, take action yourself. Like Disney has here. People actually see companies that they support doing stuff like this and they jump on board as well.

Problem is that the timing of these announcements seems to be nothing more than a virtue-signalling exercise done purely for show just to please the keyboard eco-warriors, while ignoring the wider picture of the whole plastics debate, and the amount of unintended consequences these moves cause, such as an increase in paper waste caused by people having to use multiple paper straws due to their weaknesses, which of cause leads to even more environmental damage due to the way paper products are produced, not to mention the greater amount of logistics required to transport paper products vs plastic, oh, and the amount of plastic that's still present in product packaging. However, as for Kroger's announcement re the bags, I must say that it is about time, because whenever I shop in any supermarket in the USA that isn't in an ordinance area (eg. San Francisco or Los Angeles), I often find the plastic bags to be of inferior quality compared to in Europe, where most stores nowadays use thicker reusable plastic bags in lieu. I often worry about carrying heavier items in them, which is when the dubious practice of double-bagging, triple-bagging or even quadruple-bagging comes into play. By the time I get back to my hotel room or Airbnb, I end up with more bags than even a typical splurge in Disney or the mall, though I do try to reuse them for other things such as lining up trash cans, which is the argument the pro-plastic camp tends to use to counter claims from anti-plastic greenies regarding waste. I was very surprised that the supermarkets in the US didn't offer the same ordinance-friendly bags as in those areas, which are far superior and are very much like the bags we use here in the UK, which we have to pay a small fee for (around 5p/10p; 7c/14c).

Lego has started to do that as well as releasing a line of lego trees and plants that use plant-based bioplastic

The issue is currently that is way more expensive to produce than existing forms of plastic - definitely an avenue to pursue but I think it would be really, really hard (from a cost and from an ability to produce enough) to switch over to that for everything today

Not until either companies start to adopt them en-masse or the existing plastics companies start to transition to plant-based bioplastics, particularly once they feel the pressure of their products being boycotted through phaseouts and bans. As I've mentioned before, it'll only be a matter of time before the shift from petroplastics to bioplastics starts to gain momentum, since some do feel that plastic is still very useful and has managed to afford the convenience that pretty much everyone takes for granted.