We just the chance to step inside Beak & Barrel, the new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom, and we have a ton to show you, from the food to the interiors. This shares 60+ photos & videos of the new buccaneer bar, plus a few recommendations and more.
To say Walt Disney World fans have been anxiously awaiting the Beak and Barrel bar would be a massive understatement. This venue was first announced two years ago at Destination D23 (which is coming up again next week!), and the news was met with a mix of excitement and confusion. The latter about where, specifically, it would go.
Back then, it was only known as the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, and the big reveal was that the famed Barker Bird would return. There’s been a slow trickle of news and concept art since, we learned that the Beak and Barrel (as it would come to be called) would replace the old Pirates League, unused stockrooms, and a portion of the exit area gift shops (as opposed to Tortuga Tavern), and Disney started to tease the interiors.
Most recently, Walt Disney World announced that the Beak and Barrel Bar opens on August 29, 2025. ADRs were supposed to open on August 14. That didn’t happen. In case you missed it (lucky you!), we cover the problems plaguing launch day in Walt Disney World’s Beak & Barrel Bar ADRrrr Drop Day Debacle. The short version of the story is that Disney IT was unprepared for the sky-high demand, and the entire Advance Dining Reservation system crashed and went into maintenance mode for a couple of hours.
Thankfully, Walt Disney World got that right on the second go-round, implementing a virtual queue that better pulsed demand. Even so, over two full months of reservations booked up within minutes. Many guests were still unable to score ADRs for their desired dates, but at least the system was fair and not as frustrating. Those who got shut out might disagree with that assessment, but there’s no perfect solution when there’s this extreme of a supply-demand imbalance.
In any case, this further reinforces how much Walt Disney World fans have been anxiously awaiting the Beak & Barrel Bar. We fully expect this to be one of the very few Advance Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World that remains incredibly competitive, and practically requires booking 60+10 days out. It won’t just be the launch day that’s a challenge; it’ll be every morning ADRs go live for the foreseeable future.
Before we start the photo tour, here are some important policies & protocol for Beak & Barrel:
Pirates (Bar) Code
Eat, drink and be entertained at The Beak and Barrel, a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind. Grab a quick bite and quench your thirst. The menu features tasty options for pirates of all ages—as well as refreshing cocktails for Guests ages 21 and up. Check back later for menu details. This is Walt Disney World’s way of saying that, unlike GEO-82, kids will be allowed at Beak and Barrel.
Advance Dining Reservations are strongly recommended. Because space is extremely limited, the Beak and Barrel is limited to 45 minutes per party. As you’re likely aware, Walt Disney World long ago crossed the rubicon with alcohol in Magic Kingdom. It had only been in table service restaurants, and limited to a two drink maximum, until now. This is a lounge, so not quite the same, but we’d expect the drink limit to persist-in addition to the 45 minute stay limit. Rules on top of rules! And unlike the Pirate Code, these rules are more what you’d call rules than guidelines.
All of this positions the Beak and Barrel as a Magic Kingdom and pirates-themed counterpart to Oga’s Cantina at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That Star Wars bar has a similar time constraint due to space, and for many guests, it’s a one and done due to the rushed nature of the experience. We hope that’s starting to change over at Oga’s Cantina, but keep in mind that it’s taken over 5 years for demand to die down there. Beak and Barrel might prove even more popular given its location in Magic Kingdom and potentially more appealing theme.
Beak & Barrel Backstory
The Beak and Barrel bar extends the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Established by the legendary pirate rumrunner, Captain Meridian “Merry” Goldwyn, and her talkative first mate, Rummy, this lively pirate pub will soon welcome bandits and buccaneers of all ages from every corner of the seven seas. The Beak and Barrel is a haven for all pirate-kind—from seasoned scoundrels to small swashbucklers. While you sip and snack, you’ll be immersed in the Tortuga world through sing-alongs, storytelling and surprises.
As Merry’s trusted companion and first mate, Rummy serves as the tavern’s quartermaster keeping an eye on the place from his roost high atop the bar. Although retired from seafaring life, Rummy is a dutiful crewman to his beloved Merry, ensuring everything is ship-shape, sharing tales of piracy and leading the bar in a rousing toast or two.
Eagle-eyed Disney fans may notice that Rummy bears a striking resemblance to the original Barker Bird, also known as Peg-Leg Pete, that previously sat at the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean but flew the coop some time ago. The Barker Bird was an Audio-Animatronics figure stationed outside the entrance to the attraction that, as its name suggests, was a ‘barker’ who used lines and lyrics to attract guest attention.
The Barker Bird was removed in 2006 during the ride reimagining that added Jack Sparrow and other elements from the hit film franchise. The Audio Animatronics figure’s return has been rumored many times over the years, but it’s finally happening (albeit as a newer and presumably modernized AA). The new Barker Bird will make his triumphant return to Pirates of the Caribbean when the Beak & Barrel opens!
With that background out of the way, on with the photo tour from our media preview of the Beak & Barrel. Since the space is currently a bit full, I wasn’t able to capture empty bar photos (or a tripod for low light shots), and instead will use the stock images provided by Walt Disney World, along with descriptions of each space followed by my own series of 60+ detail shots.
The Mess
The largest and central space at The Beak and Barrel was once the mess hall for Spanish soldiers and is now known appropriately as “The Mess.” It’s since been claimed and repurposed by a cunning crew of pirates. Be sure to look up as ye enter to see a ship’s bell. Rumor has it this bell was from Captain Redd’s first ship gifted to Merry at the tavern’s founding.
Long tables span the room, allowing for pirates to gather ‘round and tell their own tales, while an imposing anchor covered in candles and dripping wax hangs high above. These tables offer communal seating in the Mess, meaning you’ll be seated alongside buccaneer from other ports of call–but at least you’ll have a chair with a proper back here.
At the far end of the room, the dark corner known as The Brig still bears the bars and framework of its past life – though the door rests nearby, pried off its hinges long ago.
Cursed Bar
Brimming with an impressive collection of rare bottles and prized spoils kept behind lock and key, the massive skull-shaped bar – anchored to the side of The Mess – is the eye-catcher of the space and has heard many, many shanties sung in its shadow.
At its heart rests the Enchanted Rum Bottle, an ornate bottle of grog, which sits in a place of honor in its own special cove. Gifted by a powerful enchantress, the tavern’s barrels and the pirates’ cheer will never run dry as long as the bottle stays full. Let’s hope ye won’t be left asking, “Why is the rum gone?”
Perched atop the bar, Rummy welcomes patrons and keeps an eye on the crew, quick with a story, joke, or song as the Audio Animatronics figure wobbles out from his main roost in the hollow of the skull’s eye.
Mapmaker’s Room
Approaching the entrance to this room, guests will find cannonball damage in the walls, with the backstory being that the pirates had to blast their way into the previously-locked Mapmaker’s Room. Cleaning up after themselves apparently violates the Pirate Code, so there’s damage, destruction, and even cannonballs still smashed into the walls.
The Mapmaker’s Room is filled to the brim with rolled up maps, pieces of parchment, spilled ink and many treasured secrets that belonged to a crazed pirate cartographer. The Mad Mapmaker, if you will.
On the side wall is a large painted map of the known pirating world, with many pirating secrets to be discovered. In the middle is a sprawling worktable where the Mapmaker would have spread out his tools and set to work. Note that this worktable standing room only, meaning that the Mapmaker’s Room is a shared ‘leaning space.’ May want to avoid this one, if at all possible.
Captains’ Quarters
Inside the Captains’ Quarters, visiting pirates can enjoy a taste of the finer life, which was once the living quarters of the Spanish Comandante. However, the fine artwork and drapery hasn’t escaped slashing blades or burn marks over the years by rambunctious pirates, and in some places, faded spots on the wall are all that remains of now plundered portraits.
Above the fireplace are mounted five miniature ships in glass bottles, rumored to represent pirates from every corner of the world banding together to defeat tyranny. Keep a weathered eye out, as these mysterious bottles have been known to come alive and engage in a fearsome battle.
Captains’ Booths
Along the wall in the Captains’ Quarters, find four grand booths with intricately carved wooden panels. Each booth tells stories of the exploits of notorious pirates, whose legends still echo across the seas.
For those keeping score at home, “The Mess” is the former Pirates League and the “Captain’s Quarters” is the portion of the gift shop that’s been annexed for the Beak & Barrel. At least, that’s what I’ve surmised from the location of the doors and images of the former Pirates League (I never had occasion to step inside that venue). You can also see elements that have been repurposed from Pirates League.
Pirates League’s closure was announced back in January 2020 (so this was not a COVID cut). We reported at the time that it was “unclear what is motivating the Pirates League closure, or if Walt Disney World has different plans for this location.”
Fast-forward over 5 years, and the Beak & Barrel is the answer. We’re curious as to whether this was planned back then and got delayed, or if the idea to reimagine the space came along after Pirates League was already defunct.
Now let’s take a look at some of the details in Beak & Barrel Bar via the photos I’ve taken thus far in the new Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern.
Our Photo Tour of Beak & Barrel Bar
Here’s a full video tour of the Beak & Barrel Bar via Walt Disney World:
Our initial reaction to the Beak & Barrel bar is largely positive. The underlying design, craftsmanship, lighting and audio design is all fantastic. Imagineering nailed the core thematic work, clearly learning lessons from Oga’s Cantina and iterating on those for this Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern. You could literally spend all 45 minutes of your time here just wandering around drinking in the details and looking for Easter eggs, and still not spot them all.
However, this first impression comes with the (massive) caveat that we experienced this during a media event during which capacity was much more limited than during daily operations. Since the guest experience here is so dependent upon operational realities, and because the rules here won’t be like the ‘guidelines’ style of the Pirates’ Code, we’re going to refrain from offering more in-depth reactions until actually experiencing the Beak and Barrel as paying guests on a regular operating day. We’ll be back very soon for that, so stay tuned!
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Your Thoughts
Thoughts on any of these rooms or specific details? What do you think the new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern? Are you excited to experience the Beak & Barrel? What do you think about Magic Kingdom getting a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
