If you’re lucky, you’ve found yourself once or twice squeezed into the fun little Rose and Crown pub in Epcot’s UK pavilion. If you’re really lucky, you’ve found yourself there with wonderful friends and a nourishing pint of Guinness. And if you’re REALLY, really lucky, you’ve found yourself a guest of Carl the Bartender — the most dynamic entertainer this side of the pond!
So, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk about Carl the bartender and his famous balancing pint of Guinness.
I wandered into the pub one day, snapping pics as I’m wont to do in Disney World dining establishments, and Carl, who was filling a pint glass with Guinness for a guest, struck up a conversation. I quickly noticed his handiwork on the head of the pint (a lovely and ever-so-appropriate shamrock) and asked the guest if I could take a photo of his beer. He obliged, and I soon found out that Carl happens to be well known for his “Glass-Balanced-On-A-Dime” trick, which of course I needed to see!
Shamrock Design on Top of Guinness
First, Carl did his impressive trick of balancing an empty glass on a dime…
One glass...
…then he decided to top himself by balancing two glasses on dimes…
Two Glass...
…but he then grabbed the nearly full pint of Guinness and proceeded to do the following:
Guinness Glass...
Balanced Glass!
Ta-DA!!! I promise you, folks, this glass is not touching anything but the bar and the dime. That thing is completely balanced on a coin! I have no idea how he did it, and if you do, you’re welcome to share! I was duly impressed and astonished, as I’m sure most people are, by Carl’s magic trick.
But, I have to admit, I was more impressed by Carl himself. Carl is a point of pride for the Rose and Crown Pub. He’s been there for decades, and his employment has resulted in many, many “regulars” at the pub. But even if you aren’t one of his “regulars,” he’ll never treat you any differently than he does them. It seems to me that Carl pretty much considers everyone he meets to be a part of his tight-knit circle of friends…which is an amazing trait to have, and especially useful for a cast member at a place as transitional as Walt Disney World. Those of us who only get to visit once a year, or even less, love to be made to feel “at home” in our very favorite place, and Carl is a true expert at doing that.
This is surely part of why he was inducted into the tiny group of cast members who have received the coveted “Partners in Excellence Award,” an honor for which less than 2% of Disney cast members are nominated and even fewer actually win. This isn’t just any award; awardees are nominated by their colleagues and undergo a long review process. Only the most deserving get the prize — a Partners in Excellence pin depicting the Walt and Mickey statue, “Partners,” to wear on their cast member badges — and the knowledge that their colleagues have voted to recognize their exceptional work.
Carl's Partners in Excellence Award Pin
After the magic trick, we soon started chatting about Carl’s tenure at Disney, and he quickly pulled out a packet of photos from behind the bar. Carl and I started walking down memory lane, which, for him, included both alligator wrestling and decades working for Disney, where he’s no doubt delighted hundreds of thousands of guests just as he did me.
One of Carl's First Jobs in Florida
Carl's Early Days at Rose and Crown...He's the One in the Middle
Can you believe that Crocodile Dundee shot?!? Anyway, it was truly my pleasure to meet and speak with Carl, and if you find yourself in the pub sometime soon, I hope you’ll take the chance to shake his hand and thank him for being the embodiment of the “Disney Difference.” He, and other CMs like him, are the reason you and I keep spending our hard-earned cash to go back to “this happy place.”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!
Carl, I hope you get to read this, and that a copy of this little post goes into your magical file of memories. Don’t worry about printing it; I’ll bring you one the next time I’m in town. 😉 Also, I’m really sorry if a bunch of people start to come into the pub and ask to see your alligator wrestling photo. It’s just cool, that’s all.
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What a great post! I love when I read things that just leave me smiling…and this did!
Those ‘crocodile dundee’ pics are great…and wow — I would never get that close to an alligator!
I’ll be stopping at the Rose & Crown on my next trip (whenever that is!) just to see Carl. 🙂
Traci — Thank you so much! What great feedback! I know I’m going to make the pub a stop on my trips from now on!
I may be mistaken, but I’ve heard that bartenders who can do the “shamrock pour” are trained at the Guinness brewery in Ireland. Did he mention if he made that trip?
Gerard — Thanks for your comment. Carl didn’t mention a trip to Dublin (and I wasn’t in-the-know enough to ask), but I wouldn’t be surprised! The Shamrock on that pour is better than any I’ve seen before! I’ll ask the next time I see him. Thank you for the interesting info!
Nom Nom Nom Guinness 🙂
I will be drinking Crown Floats tonight to celebrate St Patty’s Day!!!
Great Post AJ you can tell a good story yourself 😉
Wish we could have visited the R&C on our last trip but opted for another place instead when the greeters were kinda rude to us..
Great article! It’s cast members like Carl that make WDW so special. What a life he has led.
Thanks, Gray!! He really is exemplary.
Since we’re on the topic of R&C’s beer…. i’ve read in a couple of places, including a Frommer’s guide, that the pub had a “beer warmer” to bring the ice cold beer down to a “real” British beer temp. While in Epcot a few months ago, we tried to order one and were laughed at (literally, rudely), and then ridiculed by all of the staff behind the counter.
Anybody else heard of the “beer warmer” or understand why there are some mixed information regarding it? If you laugh at me, I will boycott you. 🙂
By the way, Carl was not one of the bartenders that rainy day!
Kelsey — No laughing here! I have no idea about a beer-warmer! I can’t see why they’d pay to refrigerate the beer and then warm it up unless beer has to be refrigerated? Hoping for some smart beer-lovers out there to come give us the scoop. Thanks for the FYI that Carl wasn’t one of the bartenders; I imagine he’d keep things under better control!
Here is my evidence… see the forth sentence of the first paragraph…
I was really excited for tepid beer! 🙂
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/waltdisneyworld/D39336.html
Ha ha!! I’m so glad you said you were excited for tepid beer — that’s the best line ever. Going to look at the evidence! 🙂
Congratulations, Carl!!! You rock!
The write up said everything that my husband & I would say about Carl. We can’t wait to visit Disney/Carl again soon.
Thanks, Disney in December! It was a true honor to meet Carl!
Yes, Carl is truly a treasure…my husband and I met him years ago during one of our “pub crawls” at Disney. He quickly became a close friend of ours and our annual visits together are always filled with great stories and laughs! So glad that others have recognized him with such high accolades! Great article!
Laurie — Thank you for your comment and kudos. Carl deserves all the accolades he gets, to be sure. 🙂
Just wanted to let you know that Carl got a copy of this and has been showing it to guests non stop! He loves this article and loves that he is an internet celeb! I am a local regular and Carl is the reason I go to the Rose and Crown Pub. Way to go Carl!
HOORAY! Epcot Fan, thanks for letting me know that Carl saw the blog! I’m thrilled that he’s enjoying it!
Carl has always had a trick or two up his sleeve. Best friend and bar tender a man could ever have. (and woman)
Cheers Carl
Grahame
I’m so glad someone gave Carl his due on the internet. He’s the best bartender in WDW.
Best Guiness I’ve ever had – and the bar tricks made me feel stupid on my birthday 🙂
Thanks Carl! We had a blast!
Stacy
Thanks AJ for the blog i was told about it by some of the guests that visit
I have had quite a few guest tell me that they read about the blog and wanted to meet me in person and most of them want to get a photo with me and see the guinness glass trick
I just wanted to say thanks to you and all that read it. best withes to all.
Carl the Bartender Rose & Crown Epcot
Carl! So great to hear from you! Hopefully I’ll get the chance to stop in this weekend and say Hello!
AJ. I only work Monday – Friday but would like to meet
Up with you for a pint or two LOL
Let me know when you plan on stopping in
Look forward to meeting you soon Carl the bartender
Carl! I’ll be there on St. Paddy’s day this year! Looking forward to seeing you!
Ohmigosh! I need to make it a point to meet Carl on my trip in December! My father-in-law would love to chat him up (as would I)!! Plus, FIL hasn’t been to R&C ever – what a treat!! Thanks for the hint…I always learn something new from DFB! 🙂
Christina — Definitely! He’s such a genuinely nice guy.
We have been 25 times in the last 5 years and carl has taken care of us all but one time. had amazing conversation and great times at the rose and crown. epcot is where we hang out and come all the way from maine to enjoy this place. We love carl and our crew of friends all know him also. Thanks carl.
What can we say…..the best bartender we have ever met. It is always the high point of our vacation to visit Carl at the R&C. We were honored this year by Carl adding us to his book. That is a real privilege. Thank you for all the great times in the past present and future. Cheers mate!!!
My husband, daughter and I are going to EPCOT in March and I hope we get a chance to meet Carl! Thank you for this blog post. I love this!
Carla — Carl works Mon-Fri during the day! Don’t miss him! 🙂
Just got back from disney, stopped in to get a pint while my family was shopping in The United Kingdom shopping. Never heard of Carl however had the joy to met and be served by him. I sat for a while just listening to him chat it up with a fellow country man. He served me the Carl blend, does anyone know the two beers he uses I know one is not Guiness it was an ambler beer made the two end taps. He is a cool guy cheers Carl
Thanks for stopping in
It’s called a Carl’s Combo =
Bass first then the Stella =
Good in any weather ASK =
Any Smart Fella cheers Carl
On vacation in Epcot Florida. My friends and I stopped in the pub. Carl was delightful and such a nice and delightful man. Our group (we were 6) ate, drank and just relaxed in the pub for about an hour. Carl is a gem.
I met Carl the Bartender on my trip to WDW last week. Truly a very nice guy. He balanced a half full pint of Guinness on a dime for me after I told him about this article. He also showed me the pictures of his alligator wrestling days. Can’t wait to stop by the Rose and Crown Pub the next time I take a WDW vacation! He also made the shamrock on my pint of Guinness, of course.
Met ‘Carl the Bartender’ today. Fine fella and enjoyed the bass/harp blend.
Carl, apparently is not pub fit as is suggested as he failed to drink a pint with me!
When in Texas, Carl – look me up.
Gary the Brit.
Carl is a gem. I have know him for at least 15 years, as I a regular visitor to the R&C, up to 50+ times a year. I walk in, he sees me, and as I get to the bar my favorite pint of beer is usually poured – if not it is because he is busy serving guests who seek out his station. He and the other 5 permanent UK bartenders are like family to me. The R&C is my Cheers, and all of the bartenders are the greatest and extraordinary. Carl is like the eldest of the family. If visiting Epcot, stop in the R&C and enjoy the friendship. You will not regret it.
Gary the Brit from Texas sorry I just seen this post from God nows how many years ago i hope your doing great cheers to you mate