A new lounge is coming to Magic Kingdom in 2025 that will be themed to the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. We are looking forward to stopping in after a long day at sea!
Cinderella Castle
The new Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will continue the story of Pirates of the Caribbean and provide a place for pirates of all ages to gather. However, there is one question that we don’t know the answer to yet: will this new lounge serve alcohol?
Now, you may be thinking, why wouldn’t a tavern serve alcohol? Location, location, location. It may seem obvious that a Pirates of the Caribbean tavern would serve alcohol, after all pirates REALLY love their rum. However, the fact that the tavern is being built in Magic Kingdom might throw a wrench in that idea.
Pirates of the Caribbean
To better understand why a Pirates tavern might not be serving alcohol, we need to take a bit of a trip down memory lane. When Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 there was NO alcohol served anywhere in the park. It wasn’t until 1982, when EPCOT opened, that alcohol was served in a Disney World park. Even as the other two parks (Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom) were built and alcohol was served in them, Magic Kingdom remained a “dry” park where you could not purchase an adult beverage.
EPCOT
However, that changed in 2012, when Be Our Guest opened with the new Fantasyland expansion and became the first dining location in Magic Kingdom to offer alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages have since been added to more menus around the park, but you still cannot purchase alcohol at counter service or kiosk locations. If you are looking for an alcoholic beverage in Magic Kingdom, you can ONLY get one at a table service restaurant. You won’t be able to walk up to a popcorn cart and find a beer on the menu in Magic Kingdom.
Be Our Guest
Read more about the history of alcohol in Magic Kingdom here!
So, that leads us to the million-dollar question of whether Disney is going to consider the new Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern as a counter service or table service restaurant? Will you be able to procure an adult beverage inside or will you still need to make your way to a different table service restaurant?
Gold Rush at Liberty Tree Tavern
We have a theory that since they serve food, the tavern will be set up as a sit-down lounge with servers. When looking at the concept art, you will notice a server carrying drinks. For that reason, we feel like the tavern will be closer to a table service spot and will serve alcohol. The glasses in the concept art look like they have alcohol in them.
Pirate Tavern Concept Art ©Disney
There are wine glasses with what looks to be red wine inside, as well as beer steins with beer colored liquid inside. The ambiance of the bar seems to be more similar to a sit-down location versus a grab and go kiosk. While it is just our own speculation of whether alcohol will be available, we are thinking that you will be probably be able to enjoy an adult beverage at the new Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern.
Pirates Tavern Concept Art ©Disney
We have a feeling that this new tavern may work similarly to Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you are seated as if you are at a table service location (or in some cases standing) and are served by a server. We won’t know for sure until we get confirmation from Disney, but those are just our thoughts on the matter until we know for sure!
Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
While we wait to see if alcohol will be served at this new tavern, there are SO many amazing dining locations to explore at Disney World. Check out our video that covers the BEST restaurants in Disney World for 2024:
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Be assured, Disney will be serving alcohol. Disney serves it up, makes loads of money, but doesn’t have proper security to protect others against the sloppy, violent drunks.
All my Disney fixes will be filled in Tokyo. Thanks Bob!
There is zero chance they don’t serve alcohol here. I imagine the only stipulation will be that you cannot take a drink to go. You’ll have to consume it inside the lounge.
It will be amazing, but I am getting tired of the boozy brawls and unruly guests seen around the parks. The parks are supposed to be wholesome fun. No problem with alcohol in EPCOT or Disney Springs, or even back at the resorts. But not in the parks.
If you look at the table service locations that do serve as alcohol in all four theme parks (besides Epcot where you can “walk-up” and buy a beer or cocktail) the people who go there for lunch or dinner are not there to “over-indulge”. Many times I have had a glass of wine or Margarita, or beer with my lunch or dinner. I’m not walking out “stumbling”. Same thing with Oga’s Cantina. You make a reservation to go in there and have a unique cocktail and possibly a snack. I would hope that the new Pirates lounge would be the same. I’m anxiously waiting for the news, and have my fingers crossed.
I am hoping for pirate tales and appetizers.
Gigi, is this going to be a reservation thing like Olga’s?
Hi Carolyn! Unfortunately, we do not yet know if reservations will be required, but we will have more details the closer we get to completion.
If it works like Oga’s, I hope there is less reliance on standing room (and being crowded onto a standing table with other parties!), more sit down tables, and better food. We’re not super picky when it comes to soaking up the Disney magic, but we are so turned off by the Oga’s experience, we almost don’t care about going there anymore. At first, we wanted to go (and went!) every day that we were in Galaxy’s Edge. Now, we barely care about going once a trip. We don’t mind standing at the bar, but we hate the standing tables. We’ve been sandwiched in between two other parties at one of those. There were 7-8 adults crowded around what wouldn’t be a 2-top in any normal restaurant. It was ridiculous, and it wasn’t even at a ‘peak’ time of the year. We’ve been to Oga’s probably 8-10 times at least, and we’ve never been sat at a table. And we’re not picky eaters, but we hated all the food we had there, and we eventually tried everything they offered. I’m sure Disney isn’t suffering (yet) for what an awful experience it is, but eventually, everyone who wants to will have done it once and questioned whether it was worth it to ever go back. I am sure we will go back once a trip to see DJ Rex, but if they ever take him out, I think we’re done with Oga’s. The concept art for the Pirate’s lounge looks a lot different from how Oga’s is set up, so here’s hoping that it will be.
This lounge is absolutely going to serve alcohol. I hope they don’t have standing room only or we will never visit this lounge.