Restaurant Thriller at Magic Kingdom

One thing’s up with the eating scene at Magic Kingdom. From new development permits to a shock restaurant closure to radio silence about one other counter service spot that’s anticipated to be reimagined, there’s sufficient to qualify this as a bona fide Walt Disney World thriller. And that’s only a partial listing of what’s taking place–or isn’t!

Let’s begin with what has not occurred, and that’s an announcement of Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom. Again over the last D23 Expo, Imagineers let slip that they have been engaged on Tiana’s Palace Restaurant for each coasts. The corporate later “clarified” that solely Tiana’s Palace Restaurant for Disneyland was official at the moment, and that restaurant has since opened. (It’s at present our #1 counter service spot within the park.)

Since then, it’s been radio silence from Disney about Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom or wherever else at Walt Disney World. It’s possible that the Walt Disney World model of Tiana’s Palace Restaurant wasn’t introduced concurrently the Disneyland model as a result of it wasn’t really greenlit or as a result of they hadn’t settled on a selected spot. It nonetheless appeared like a foregone conclusion that it would occur–and doubtless changing Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe since Imagineers have been noticed poking round there on a number of events…which doesn’t strike us as a spot they’d hang around of their very own volition. Now, we’re not so positive.

For one factor, plenty of time has handed. There was a time when it made essentially the most sense to reimagine a restaurant into Tiana’s Palace, and that was when Disneyland did it. Forward of the attraction, providing a option to generate curiosity for the reimagined journey through the closure. Failing that, having the restaurant prepared by the point Tiana’s Bayou Journey opened would’ve made the second-most sense.

That window of alternative is closed. Tiana’s Bayou Journey is now right here, and it doesn’t make as a lot sense to embark on a reimagining now, solely to have the restaurant open in a yr, proper because the ‘new journey scent’ has worn off the attraction. As excellent of a theme park idea as Tiana’s Palace Restaurant is, I additionally suppose Princess and the Frog is simply too ‘minor’ of a film to obtain a journey and a restaurant.

Then once more, Disney has actually leaned into Princess Tiana over the past a number of years and it actually does simply make sense for her to have a restaurant. It’s additionally not simply the film–there’s additionally a Disney+ collection on the horizon, so there’s potential future synergy there. And it’s not like Pecos Invoice is precisely a sizzling property. (Until Disney is planning a reside motion remake of the reside motion remake from 1995 starring Patrick Swayze.)

Nonetheless, my intestine says that Tiana’s Palace is unlikely to be introduced on the 2024 D23 Expo in August. That the dimensions and scope of changing the prevailing Pecos Invoice restaurant into Tiana’s Palace is simply too massive of a challenge and never well worth the funding or downtime. I feel Disney is able to stay up for the massive additions for the following decade, not linger on the previous and current. What I may see is Walt Disney World including Tiana’s Palace down the highway if the Disney+ collection proves profitable or there’s a sequel.

Even then, I feel it’s simply as more likely to find yourself at a resort as in Magic Kingdom. No, not Port Orleans French Quarter. As thematically excellent as that will be, there’s a cause the Port Orleans Resorts share one desk service spot–demand. If it goes wherever, it’ll go at a Deluxe Resort and my guess could be as a break up idea character breakfast/Signature Restaurant a la Topolino’s Terrace. Bear in mind, Tiana’s Palace was introduced for the cancelled-but-maybe-resurrected Reflections Lakeside Lodge.

With all of that mentioned, I do suppose one thing will occur with Pecos Invoice. The underlying IP is nearly definitely seen as “outdated” in Disney’s eyes, and ripe for substitute. Nevertheless, I feel if a change is made, it’ll be very superficial–most likely simply the identify, signage, and a little bit of placemaking. (Sorta much like San Fransokyo Sq. at DCA, however not at the same time as formidable as that.) If that is on the desk, I’d humbly recommend “Sammy’s Raccoon Saloon” or “Huge Al’s BBQ Barn.” And even simply revive the Mile Lengthy Bar moniker. Give us Nation Bear followers a win.

I simply hope one thing occurs with the present idea. As we coated in The Demise of Pecos Invoice, it simply isn’t excellent anymore. I’d like to be incorrect and for an formidable Tiana’s Palace Restaurant reimagining to occur–because it really is phenomenal at Disneyland and tailored for a theme park. I’d even be effective with one thing extra superficial like a reputation and signage change–as long as it additionally comes with a menu overhaul that features extra creative delicacies and–hopefully–a return of the toppings bar!

Now that we’ve coated what hasn’t taking place, let’s flip to what most likely is beginning pretty quickly. That’s the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern Coming to Magic Kingdom. This was introduced eventually yr’s Vacation spot D23 occasion–roughly 10 months in the past–and Walt Disney World hasn’t mentioned something about it since that one, transient point out.

Truthfully, we type of hoped that it will be open by now. Don’t chuckle or make a snide remark about WDW development timelines. Do not forget that it is a bar, in any other case referred to as a cash-cow, and Disney has no issues shifting quick of issues that generate income. Have a look at how rapidly the Poly Island Tower is being constructed!

The massive query is the place the Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will go. Many followers have made logical inference that it’ll substitute Tortuga Tavern as that’s the apparent location for the Pirates of the Caribbean bar–the restaurant closest to the journey. Beforehand, we expressed skepticism about this for quite a few causes.

I’m not going to rehash all of these, however the two massive ones are restaurant capability/measurement and the idea artwork itself. The PotC Tavern artwork appears like the within of now-closed and unused Pirates League greater than the rest. Moreover, 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. Changing Pirates League to a Pirates Lounge is the simplest choice, by far. Given all of that, I assumed it will occur–and quick.

Nevertheless, now I’m additionally not so positive about this! As soon as once more, given the passage of time, I’m beginning to suspect one other chance. That Imagineering was tasked with developing for bulletins for Vacation spot D23, as Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro began to really feel stress from followers and (extra importantly to the corporate) buyers. That Disney was snug greenlighting a Pirates of the Caribbean bar (as a result of it’s a money cow), however they hadn’t settled on a location. So that they created idea artwork that appears like Pirates League, however didn’t decide to that spot.

In such a purely hypothetical state of affairs, the delay makes extra sense if the dimensions and scope of the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern have expanded and it’s now going to take over Tortuga Tavern. And such a choice would make sense as a result of, once more, bars are a license to print cash for Walt Disney World. Not solely that, however Tortuga Tavern was solely seasonal and no matter counter service capability it did provide might be discovered elsewhere. (At one of many many different unused eating venues at Magic Kingdom.)

Suffice to say, the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern is one case the place it is smart for Disney to wager larger quite than reduce plans! This might additionally go away the vacant Pirates League open for different makes use of. It may reopen as retail, revive the makeover idea, or turn into one thing else totally. Do not forget that Disney at present has a number of Pirates of the Caribbean tasks at present in growth, so it’d make sense from a synergy perspective. I communicate for everybody once I say that the world wants extra pirate and dinosaur motion pictures (ideally movies combining the 2).

To make abundantly clear, every little thing up till this level is solely speculative. I don’t know the place the Pirates of the Caribbean tavern or a potential Tiana’s Palace are going, or what’s taking place with Pirates League. The purpose with the entire above is as an example that there are plenty of shifting elements, and what was as soon as thought-about a “executed deal” for a kind of (Tiana’s Palace) now appears extremely inconceivable. So it’s not far-fetched to imagine different issues have modified, too.

Which brings us to a few really-for-real developments on this nook of Magic Kingdom. The primary is that Tortuga Tavern has closed as of mid-June 2024. Menus have been eliminated, money wraps have been coated up, and no hours are listed as far out because the official calendar goes. All of this implies that Tortuga Tavern is closed indefinitely.

Truthfully, if this have been the one factor taking place, we wouldn’t even be reporting on it. Tortuga Tavern has, frustratingly, been seasonal for some time. It’s considered one of a number of counter service spots on the planet’s busiest theme park that isn’t open frequently–or in any respect. A park that has much less fast service capability than it did just some years in the past again when this, Tomorrowland Terrace, Aunt Polly’s, and Be Our Visitor Restaurant all have been open for lunch throughout peak season. (Not 100% positive, however Magic Kingdom may need much less counter service capability than it did within the Nineties.)

Level being, it’s not precisely breaking information that Tortuga Tavern is closing for the summer season. Opposite to widespread opinion, this isn’t the height season. Crowds needs to be on the low finish of average for the following couple of months, after which flat-out low for one more month or so extra after that. Tortuga Tavern’s capability is probably not “essential” (air quotes) till mid-October. The one wild card this yr is the return of Free Eating, with arrival dates starting on July 1, 2024. I may see that necessitating extra eating capability at Magic Kingdom, even when there are minimal materials modifications in crowds.

Along with this, Walt Disney World has filed a development allow for Magic Kingdom’s Caribbean Plaza space, which encompasses the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and extra. There are some things which might be fascinating about this.

The primary is that it’s assigned to Whiting-Turner Contractor Firm, which is a frequent collaborator with Walt Disney World on comparatively main tasks. They’re normally constructing venues, not renovating restrooms. (So it seems like our beloved bogs tucked away in Caribbean Plaza are protected…for now!)

Second, the allow has been prolonged till August 31, 2025. The default 1-year timeline isn’t noteworthy, however shorter or longer ones all the time are, as they’re prolonged or diminished purposefully. Which means that there’s a cause for doing so. On this case, that’s as a result of the work is anticipated to take longer than one yr. Clearly, that implies a challenge that’s bigger in scope and scale. Once more, most likely not a restroom renovation. (Phew.)

Provided that, all indicators would level to a reimagining of Tortuga Tavern into the Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern. It makes excellent sense. Tortuga Tavern will want main modifications to turn into a bona fide bar versus a walk-up window with open-air seating. And that work will most likely take till the tip of subsequent summer season.

Plot twist. The deal with on the allow is 4873 Caribbean Means #B. Until I’m mistaken (all the time a chance), this aligns with solely the portion of Caribbean Plaza on the identical facet of the promenade because the attraction. Which means that it encompasses the journey and (sadly) the restrooms, but in addition the Pirates League and the entire present outlets in between.

Double plot twist. The allow is by way of Walt Disney World’s Facility Asset Administration (FAM) group quite than Walt Disney Imagineering. This alone means that it’s a challenge that’s extra minor in nature, making a Tortuga Tavern reimagining unlikely. For reference, the final high-profile allow that was assigned to FAM was the prolonged allow for Journey into Creativeness…which turned out to be associated to the DVC lounge.

In the end, all of it is a long-winded method of claiming we don’t know what is going to occur–however that there’s plenty of “exercise” on this space leading to an lively thriller in Magic Kingdom’s eating scene. I’ve zero inside info so that is purely speculative, however my guess is that Tortuga Tavern is the brand new residence for the Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge and that this allow is unrelated to that, and as an alternative includes the Pirates League or adjoining present outlets and repurposing these areas–a challenge that wouldn’t essentially require Imagineering. I can’t think about that’ll really take till subsequent August, although, so I don’t know easy methods to clarify that. I assume it’s additionally potential that they listed the incorrect deal with? I assume we’ll discover out quickly when development partitions go up (or don’t) or maybe by the D23 Expo in a pair months. Both method, we’ll preserve you posted!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you could know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you concentrate on 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 will make it simpler to entry? Or would you like the intimacy, exclusivity, and difficult ADRs that will include the Pirates League? Ideas on the chance of Tiana’s Palace coming to Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!