Walt Disney World has introduced a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge coming to Adventureland in Magic Kingdom. This put up shares every little thing we all know up to now, with idea artwork and full particulars–plus complete commentary about how this compares to Oga’s Cantina and the place this tavern is prone to be situated. (Up to date November 9, 2024.)
A brand new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This primary-of-its-kind expertise will prolong the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. Imagineers are within the design course of now and extra particulars are coming sooner or later.
This was first introduced throughout Vacation spot D23 final 12 months. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro supplied a sneak peek at idea artwork for the longer term as well as and teased what was to return in a number of years.
The one large element that was shared by Imagineer Chris Beatty throughout Vacation spot D23 is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will convey again the Barker Chicken, also referred to as Peg-Leg Pete. The Barker Chicken was an Audio-Animatronics determine stationed exterior the doorway to the attraction that, as its identify suggests, was a ‘barker’ who used traces and lyrics to draw visitor consideration.
The Barker Chicken was eliminated in 2006 in the course of the journey reimagining that added Jack Sparrow and different parts from the hit movie franchise. The Audio Animatronics determine’s return has been rumored many occasions over time, however that is the primary time that Imagineering has said the Barker Chicken will make its triumphant return to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Now for some newer updates on the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern. Let’s begin with a brand new idea artwork launched by Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro in the course of the Disney Experiences panel at D23 Brazil on November 9, 2024:
What’s most attention-grabbing to me about this November 2024 artwork is that it seems completely completely different from the final spherical of idea artwork launched by Disney only a couple months in the past. So both the inside design has ‘developed’ or the bar goes to be quite a bit bigger than initially anticipated. Actually, my cash is on the latter. There’s a deep effectively of demand for an idea like this in Magic Kingdom.
This new idea artwork truly jogs my memory of the brand new bars on the Disney Treasure cruise ship. It seems related in ‘seafaring spirit’ to the Haunted Mansion Parlor, and likewise vaguely paying homage to a pair different lounges on that upcoming Disney Cruise Line ship. Clearly, the underlying theme is completely different, however the design ethos look related.
Distinction this with the earlier new idea artwork launched by Walt Disney World just some quick months in the past:
This was shared in the course of the 2024 D23 Expo, with Walt Disney World additionally including that this rambunctious watering gap will provide a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, large and small, and everybody in between.
Inside this Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, bandits and buccaneers-to-be from each nook of the seven seas are welcome to hitch collectively and lift a toast to the pirate life! Within the newly launched paintings, X marks the spot for a seaworthy collection of grogs and grub inside this tavern location coming to Magic Kingdom.
Walt Disney World additionally introduced that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will open someday in 2025. No particular date (or perhaps a month or season) was given. Our expectation is that Disney will open it ASAP, because it’s a direct income generator–there’s no motive for delay.
Along with this, we’ve seen a lot of adjustments within the final couple months that recommend work is starting on the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge. Partitions went up across the reward store area on the exit to Pirates of the Caribbean, whereas close by Tortuga Tavern closed. This resulted in lots of followers assuming that Tortuga Tavern would quickly be reworked into the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge.
Much more particulars and building permits have come to mild, and now it’s all beginning to make sense. A couple of month after closing, the Tortuga Tavern restaurant has been renamed Tortuga Treasures and reopened as a present store. It’s unclear whether or not that is momentary, however our guess is that it in all probability is–a minimum of in its present incarnation.
In the meantime, building has kicked into excessive gear on the primary reward store on the exit to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction within the Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar throughout the walkway. With partitions up encompassing a big swath of this space, there’s much less area for merchandise–therefore the Tortuga Treasures reward store.
Right here’s a have a look at building across the exit space and reward outlets of Pirates of the Caribbean as of Fall 2024:
Though Walt Disney World hasn’t formally introduced a location, it’s all however sure that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge shall be on the exit to the attraction. It’s probably that more room is required than is obtainable by the moderately intimate former Pirates League area (see under). Accordingly, work is being finished to create an expanded seating space that may enhance the footprint of the lounge and reduce the retail area.
Except for Pirates League, there’s lots of unused area in Caribbean Plaza, so it’s probably that there’s enough area for the lounge and reward store on this facet of the promenade as soon as the mud settles and building is accomplished. As such, it in all probability won’t be crucial for Tortuga Treasures to exist in the long run.
We expect it’s probably it is a multi-phase undertaking, and one that may ultimately contain reimagining or a minimum of mild refreshes to the Pecos Invoice/Tortuga Tavern complicated along with the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge. Whether or not that’s Tiana’s Palace Restaurant, Nation Bear Jamboree BBQ or one thing else completely stays to be seen.
By way of commentary, my response to that is pleasure. Partially for the lounge itself and what I feel shall be a preferred addition to Magic Kingdom and a very good love letter to the attraction. It’ll virtually actually be like Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto with tie-ins to S.E.A. and nods to different extinct sights, however largely a tribute to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Past that, I’m additionally excited for what the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge represents. That is one other latest instance of treating the theme parks as their very own mental property, and increasing that universe or no matter you need to name it.
Parks IP isn’t inherently good and the outcomes bear that out–and there might be points with extreme fan service. However typically, I’m so joyful to see the corporate begin treating the parks as their very own factor of worth, moderately than only a promotional automobile for Disney+ or the studios.
I additionally know that there are a ton of tremendously gifted Imagineers who even have nice appreciation for the long-lasting sights. Passing the baton to this youthful era and letting them work on tasks for which they maintain nice reverence could be very a lot a very good factor.
Belief me on this–Imagineers are largely not the issue. (Generally there are inventive shortcomings, however that’s normally not the explanation for dangerous outcomes.) There’s nonetheless a ton of expertise at WDI and the present era of Imagineers are greater than able to inventive and superior issues. If given the possibility, I feel the can nail a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge. But it surely in all probability additionally helps that this needs to be comparatively low-hanging fruit.
There’s quite a bit that may be mined from the Archives, with the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge drawing upon volumes of Marc Davis artwork and a treasure trove of unused or retired concepts for Adventureland and different lands prefer it. Once more, quite a bit like Dealer Sam’s and even close by Skipper Canteen. Then there’s the Barker Chicken, who will mainly be this lounge’s model of DJ R-3X at Oga’s Cantina, the centerpiece leisure of the expertise. Mainly, lots of alternatives for pulling from the previous and current, whereas additionally bringing to life new concepts and lore for Pirates of the Caribbean.
The massive query is the place the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will go. Imagineers have referred to this as a tavern, resulting in the logical inference that it will change Tortuga Tavern. Frankly, even within the absence of that suggestion, Tortuga Tavern is the apparent location for the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge.
Nevertheless, there are a few different potentialities based mostly upon nearer inspection of the idea artwork. The primary is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge would change the again eating room of Pecos Invoice–the one which abuts the bottom of Tortuga Tavern. That is actually a bit outlandish, and I’d put the probabilities of it taking place at below 5%.
The opposite is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will change the Pirates League, which was mainly Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique…for boys! It opened at a time when Walt Disney World was large on the pirate/princess dichotomy.
Pirates League’s closure was introduced again in January 2020 (so this was not a COVID reduce). We reported on the time that it was “unclear what’s motivating the Pirates League closure, or if Walt Disney World has completely different plans for this location.”
I’m considering that now we’d have the reply to that. There’s a fairly good likelihood that the Pirates League is about to carry out one ultimate transformation…itself! My cash is on this for a number of easy causes. First, the idea artwork seems like the within of Pirates League greater than the rest, so there’s that.
Second, the inside of Pirates League is already stunning and it’s the identical type of intimate area as Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto or Oga’s Cantina. That is actually the massive one. The opposite apparent choices–Tortuga Tavern or a portion of Pecos Payments–all have logistical hurdles. Though Tortuga Tavern may simply be transformed right into a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed restaurant, it’s completely large.
One “answer” to that might be letting Pecos Invoice annex extra of Tortuga Tavern. And actually, I feel that’s prone to occur. Though it wasn’t introduced at Vacation spot D23 for some motive, there’s a excessive chance that Pecos Invoice will develop into Tiana’s Palace Restaurant.
When that inevitably happens, Walt Disney World would possibly need extra seating for it–and that might simply be pulled from the Tortuga Tavern facet (it’s a shared area/kitchen). That’s additionally why it’s loopy to assume that this Pirates of the Caribbean lounge is a eating room in Pecos Invoice. It simply isn’t.
That additionally hints at why the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge in all probability isn’t Tortuga Tavern. Though it’s underutilized now, turning that colossal counter service venue right into a lounge could be shortsighted. Magic Kingdom wants extra eating capability, and that might be doubly true when Vehicles Land and Villains Land open.
Setting apart Tortuga Tavern for future growth or retaining it as a seasonal area might be savvy. In all chance, this Pirates of the Caribbean lounge gained’t really want the infrastructure that Tortuga Tavern may provide. That is very a lot going to be following the Oga’s Cantina blueprint, with mass-produced drinks and solely the lightest of snacks. It actually gained’t want a full kitchen.
Not solely that, I query what kind of “love” Tortuga Tavern would get if reworked right into a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge now. It’s a enjoyable restaurant with nice bones, structure, and themed design…but it surely simply doesn’t strike me as lending itself effectively to a lounge.
After I take into consideration this, it jogs my memory of the Diamond Horseshoe. That when-great venue has been decreased to a shell of its former self by being misused and underutilized as, primarily, overflow for Liberty Tree Tavern.
I can’t assist however assume that Tortuga Tavern as a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge could be an analogous story. As a substitute of becoming themed design in an immersive and enjoyable setting, I’m guessing it’d really feel like a retrofit. It will probably solely use a portion of the seating space, with momentary partitions, view of the skin world, and a scarcity of intimacy.
I simply can’t see Walt Disney World taking the time or spending the cash to show Tortuga Tavern into a extremely well-done Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge. Maybe I’m flawed. Frankly, hopefully I’m flawed, as Tortuga Tavern has the dimensions benefit and if it have been reimagined proper, it probably might be one thing particular.
The factor is, Pirates League already is one thing particular. Including the Barker Chicken to that may take that to the following degree–quite a bit just like the Adventureland reply to Oga’s Cantina, proper right down to the Audio Animatronics centerpiece. Producing an ornately-themed, detailed, and flat-out enjoyable Pirates of the Caribbean lounge needs to be comparatively low-hanging fruit for Imagineers.
Frankly, Walt Disney World may spend a number of months and a comparatively insignificant sum of money to rework Pirates League into an intimate lounge with spot-on themed design that actually felt like an extension of the attraction’s story…as a result of it type of already is. They should add the bar space, create backstory, and supply extra props to strengthen the brand new lore. The muse is all there. It’s a house run concept that might flip right into a grand slam with the appropriate inventive execution.
The most important query for me is capability. Regardless of the way you slice it, Pirates League is far smaller than Tortuga Tavern. With that stated, there may be the potential for it to be bigger. I do know there are a bunch of merchandise inventory rooms over on this space, so it’s actually a query of whether or not there’s the flexibility and urge for food to relocate them and convert them into seating for the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge.
I can already hear the grousing about this to return when ADRs for the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge are extraordinarily aggressive and visitor curiosity far outstrips capability. That Disney was “too low cost” or “oblivious to demand” and would’ve made far more cash by investing a bit extra to start with.
On the one hand, all of that’s (probably) true. However, that is all a fragile stability. A lounge themed to Pirates of the Caribbean is a distinct segment idea, and recognition is a self-fulfilling prophecy. However so too is an abundance of availability. Put the very same factor into Tortuga Tavern and have capability for everybody who desires to do it…and perhaps it’s not extremely popular. However make it unique and a highly-coveted ADR, and the hype machine does its factor.
The underside line is that I can respect Walt Disney World’s place right here in terms of capability selections and attempting to drive demand. Additionally, all of that is completely speculative, and I don’t have any inside data telling me that that is coming to Pirates League.
Suffice to say, I’m bullish on the thought of a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge in Pirates League, and actually excited to step foot in right here. A giant a part of that’s the potential for restoring a minimum of a few of what’s been misplaced to time in Caribbean Plaza at Magic Kingdom. Previously, we’ve lamented how most of the stunning fountains in Caribbean Plaza that existed from the Nineteen Seventies by way of 90s have develop into planters or are hid completely from visitor view.
This lounge gained’t essentially repair that by itself, however probably repurposing area that has been underutilized or completely deserted for many years may breathe new life into Caribbean Plaza. It’s not simply getting again inside these former outlets–a lot of which nonetheless retain their unique Imagineering to at the present time–though that actually is an enormous factor.
It’s additionally about restoring an space of Magic Kingdom that was purpose-built for the Florida model of Pirates of the Caribbean. So many diehard Disney followers complain in regards to the shorter model of the attraction, but it surely wasn’t speculated to be “simply” a journey. This complete space as much as Frontierland was conceived as its personal Pirates of the Caribbean mini-land within the Nineteen Seventies, and was actually nice in its prime. (So yeah, Imagineering has been constructing one-ride minilands for some time!)
Finally, the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge has lots of standalone potential and will additionally convey new life to uncared for areas of Caribbean Plaza. I don’t need to let myself get too carried away, however I may see this resulting in a bonafide buccaneeraissance.
Is it actually an excessive amount of to ask for dwell pirate performers and a metal drum band, retail revival, in addition to a full transformation of Tortuga Tavern and the addition of this Pirates of the Caribbean lounge? Okay, maybe so. However it is a good step in the appropriate path, particularly given every little thing on the horizon for this facet of Magic Kingdom.
This sleepy nook of Adventureland may quickly develop into a lot busier. Investing in Caribbean Plaza to enhance its capability and utilization could be a savvy forward-thinking, however nonetheless comparatively low-cost transfer for the corporate. It’s additionally one thing friends and diehard Walt Disney World followers would love, so additionally there’s that!
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Your Ideas
What do you concentrate on Magic Kingdom getting a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge? Would you favor to see this change Tortuga Tavern and have an abundance of seating that might make it simpler to entry? Or would you favor the intimacy, exclusivity, and difficult ADRs that might include the Pirates League? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
