Is Mickey Mouse the reason this wine glass was redesigned?

When the merchandise for the 25th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was unveiled it included a special Tervis wine glass for annual passholders featuring Mickey Mouse’s face.

Within a few days, the wine glasses were sold out and there was no indication at the time they would return. But they have come back with a major makeover. Mickey’s face was replaced with flowers.

On the original glass, Mickey’s image had the word passholder underneath, similar to the passholder magnets being handed during the event. The new glass contains a set of flowers surrounded by the word passholder above and below.

But why the change? Disney is not saying. Cast members have said that it is because  Mickey Mouse’s image is not something that was to be overtly associated with alcohol. Some threads on various social media platforms have speculated that there was a safety issue with the glass so it was held back. But that would not answer the question of why the design change.

We know that Mickey’s image is a money maker. Mickey Mouse & Friends branded merchandise still accounted for 10 percent of Disney’s total retail sales as late as 2015, according to ProMarket.org.

We also know that Mickey’s image is highly protected. Disney will not put Mickey on everything. But wine glasses? In fact, all of the wine glasses sold through shopDisney.com use the Mickey icon and not his face.

Mickey’s actual image is used on flutes by Arribas Brothers depicting Mickey Mouse as a groom with a matching one with Minnie Mouse as the bride.

Disney could have an exclusive deal with Arribas Brothers, who also sells pilsner glass steins, normally associated with beer, with Mickey’s face. Disney also sells mini glasses (or known by many people as shot glasses) with Mickey’s face on it.

These might be the small exceptions to the greater rule that makes sure Mickey stays away from alcohol.

If you’re curious whether Mickey has ever drunk alcohol on screen, you’ll have to go back to 1928. In the short “Gallopin’ Gaucho,” Mickey downed a beer at a bar where Minnie Mouse is the barmaid.

This was before Walt Disney revamped Mickey to move from a character that would appeal to adult sensibilities to one that was more wholesome.