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 to this point, with idea artwork and full particulars–plus complete commentary about how this compares to Oga’s Cantina and the place this tavern is more likely to be situated. (Up to date September 8, 2024.)
A brand new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge is coming to Adventureland at Magic Kingdom. This primary-of-its-kind expertise will lengthen 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 long run as well as and teased what was to come back in just a few years.
The one massive element that was shared by Imagineer Chris Beatty throughout Vacation spot D23 is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will carry again the Barker Chicken, also called 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 experience reimagining that added Jack Sparrow and different components from the hit movie franchise. The Audio Animatronics determine’s return has been rumored many occasions through the years, however that is the primary time that Imagineering has acknowledged the Barker Chicken will make its triumphant return to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Right here’s new idea artwork launched by Walt Disney World in Fall 2024 that accommodates a whole lot of little particulars that advantage nearer inspection:
This was shared in the course of the 2024 D23 Expo, with Walt Disney World additionally including that this rambunctious watering gap will supply a welcoming haven for all pirate-kind, massive 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 art work, 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 purpose for delay.
Along with this, we’ve seen a number of adjustments within the final couple months that counsel work is starting on the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge. Partitions went up across the reward store house 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 remodeled into the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge.
Much more particulars and development permits have come to gentle, 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 most likely is–at the least in its present incarnation.
In the meantime, development has kicked into excessive gear on the principle 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 house for merchandise–therefore the Tortuga Treasures reward store.
Right here’s a take a look at development across the exit space and reward retailers of Pirates of the Caribbean as of September 2024:
Though Walt Disney World hasn’t formally introduced a location, it’s all however sure that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge can be on the exit to the attraction. It’s probably that extra space is required than is obtainable by the relatively intimate former Pirates League house (see beneath). Accordingly, work is being finished to create an expanded seating space that may improve the footprint of the lounge and reduce the retail house.
Except for Pirates League, there’s a whole lot of unused house in Caribbean Plaza, so it’s probably that there’s enough house for the lounge and reward store on this facet of the promenade as soon as the mud settles and development is accomplished. As such, it most likely won’t be vital for Tortuga Treasures to exist in the long run.
We predict it’s probably it is a multi-phase challenge, and one that may ultimately contain reimagining or at the least gentle refreshes to the Pecos Invoice/Tortuga Tavern advanced 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 fully stays to be seen.
When it comes to commentary, my response to that is pleasure. Partially for the lounge itself and what I believe can be a well-liked addition to Magic Kingdom and a very good love letter to the attraction. It’ll nearly definitely be like Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto with tie-ins to S.E.A. and nods to different extinct sights, however principally 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 wish to name it.
Parks IP isn’t inherently good and the outcomes bear that out–and there will be points with extreme fan service. However basically, I’m so glad to see the corporate begin treating the parks as their very own factor of worth, relatively than only a promotional car for Disney+ or the studios.
I additionally know that there are a ton of tremendously proficient Imagineers who even have nice appreciation for the enduring sights. Passing the baton to this youthful era and letting them work on tasks for which they maintain nice reverence may be very a lot a superb factor.
Belief me on this–Imagineers are largely not the issue. (Generally there are inventive shortcomings, however that’s normally not the rationale for unhealthy 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 believe the can nail a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge. Nevertheless it most likely 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 principally be this lounge’s model of DJ R-3X at Oga’s Cantina, the centerpiece leisure of the expertise. Mainly, a whole lot 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 substitute 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 primarily based upon nearer inspection of the idea artwork. The primary is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge would substitute 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 possibilities of it occurring at below 5%.
The opposite is that the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will substitute the Pirates League, which was principally Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique…for boys! It opened at a time when Walt Disney World was massive on the pirate/princess dichotomy.
Pirates League’s closure was introduced again in January 2020 (so this was not a COVID minimize). We reported on the time that it was “unclear what’s motivating the Pirates League closure, or if Walt Disney World has totally different plans for this location.”
I’m considering that now we would have the reply to that. There’s a fairly good probability that the Pirates League is about to carry out one ultimate transformation…itself! My cash is on this for just a few easy causes. First, the idea artwork appears like the within of Pirates League greater than the rest, so there’s that.
Second, the inside of Pirates League is already lovely and it’s the identical form of intimate house as Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto or Oga’s Cantina. That is actually the large one. The opposite apparent choices–Tortuga Tavern or a portion of Pecos Payments–all have logistical hurdles. Though Tortuga Tavern might simply be transformed right into a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed restaurant, it’s completely large.
One “resolution” to that might be letting Pecos Invoice annex extra of Tortuga Tavern. And actually, I believe that’s more likely to occur. Regardless that it wasn’t introduced at Vacation spot D23 for some purpose, there’s a excessive likelihood that Pecos Invoice will turn into Tiana’s Palace Restaurant.
When that inevitably happens, Walt Disney World may need extra seating for it–and that would simply be pulled from the Tortuga Tavern facet (it’s a shared house/kitchen). That’s additionally why it’s loopy to suppose 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 most likely 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 protecting it as a seasonal house might be savvy. In all probability, this Pirates of the Caribbean lounge received’t really need the infrastructure that Tortuga Tavern might supply. 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 definitely received’t want a full kitchen.
Not solely that, I query what kind of “love” Tortuga Tavern would get if remodeled right into a Pirates of the Caribbean lounge now. It’s a enjoyable restaurant with nice bones, structure, and themed design…nevertheless it simply doesn’t strike me as lending itself nicely to a lounge.
Once I take into consideration this, it jogs my memory of the Diamond Horseshoe. That when-great venue has been lowered to a shell of its former self by being misused and underutilized as, basically, overflow for Liberty Tree Tavern.
I can’t assist however suppose 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 an absence 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 mistaken. Frankly, hopefully I’m mistaken, as Tortuga Tavern has the scale benefit and if it had been reimagined proper, it presumably 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 stage–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 might spend just a few months and a comparatively insignificant amount of cash to remodel 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 form of already is. They should add the bar space, create backstory, and supply extra props to bolster the brand new lore. The inspiration is all there. It’s a house run thought that would flip right into a grand slam with the suitable inventive execution.
The most important query for me is capability. Regardless of the way you slice it, Pirates League is way smaller than Tortuga Tavern. With that mentioned, there is perhaps 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 come back 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. Then again, that is all a fragile steadiness. 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 needs to do it…and possibly it’s not very talked-about. However make it unique and a highly-coveted ADR, and the hype machine does its factor.
The underside line is that I can admire Walt Disney World’s place right here with regards to capability selections and making an attempt to drive demand. Additionally, all of that is fully speculative, and I don’t have any inside information telling me that that is coming to Pirates League.
Suffice to say, I’m bullish on the concept 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 at the least a few of what’s been misplaced to time in Caribbean Plaza at Magic Kingdom. Prior to now, we’ve lamented how most of the lovely fountains in Caribbean Plaza that existed from the Nineteen Seventies by way of 90s have turn into planters or are hid fully from visitor view.
This lounge received’t essentially repair that by itself, however probably repurposing house that has been underutilized or fully deserted for many years might breathe new life into Caribbean Plaza. It’s not simply getting again inside these former retailers–lots of which nonetheless retain their unique Imagineering to at the present time–though that definitely is a giant 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 concerning the shorter model of the attraction, nevertheless it wasn’t alleged to be “simply” a experience. 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!)
In the end, the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge has a whole lot of standalone potential and will additionally carry new life to uncared for areas of Caribbean Plaza. I don’t wish to let myself get too carried away, however I might see this resulting in a bonafide buccaneeraissance.
Is it actually an excessive amount of to ask for stay 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 suitable route, particularly given every little thing on the horizon for this facet of Magic Kingdom.
This sleepy nook of Adventureland might quickly turn 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 visitors and diehard Walt Disney World followers would love, so additionally there’s that!
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Magic Kingdom getting a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge? Would you like to see this substitute Tortuga Tavern and have an abundance of seating that might make it simpler to entry? Or would you like the intimacy, exclusivity, and difficult ADRs that might include the Pirates League? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
