If you ever wanted you could step into one of Pirates of the Caribbean Movies or hangs a little further on the iconic Disney attraction, the latest experience at Disney World will let you do just that.
Beak and barrel have all the classic elements of a Disney room – immersive lighting and theme that pulls you right in – but you don’t board a boat. Instead you step into a Pirates of the Caribbean-Tema restaurant and lounge for an almost hour long experience.
Yes, there are theme provisions and Libations-lit bites plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink-but where beak and barrel really shine are in its show elements. Walt Disney Imagineering packed the space with impressive touches: a mind-bending battle between two ships in a bottle, intricate cuts across walls, floors and ceilings, and perhaps most remarkably, a brand new audio-animatronically inspired by Disney’s earliest figures.
Liget over the bar, on what is probably a hidden track, the parrot is the latest creation. He is lively with an impressive range of movement, especially in the head and beak, and has detailed articulation powered by compact engines and actuators.
Disney’s story with Bird Animatronics extends back to 1964–65 New York World Fair and the enchanted Tiki space. Rummy carries this legacy with far more lifelike movement and realism.
Ken Ricci, performing creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, told us that much of the jump with Rummy is thanks to smaller electric engines that can now all be packed inside the birds.
Ricci explained the process as “Development starts by finding out what features we want to make it look like a bird and pack it in a shell.”
Rummy is not just – he leads the action and often leads the role crews who play pirate crew when serving guests. In a particularly creepy moment that combines spatial sound from hidden speakers and light effects embedded throughout the room, Rummy drives “spirits.”
Without giving too much away, the experience plays out as a 45-minute interactive show. Guests sit or stand in one of three themes: a card space filled with complicated design information, a lively Messhall or the more intimate Captain’s neighborhood. I tried the latter and settled in a weathered leather chair by a fireplace.
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It turned out to be the best seat in the house thanks to the ships in bottles above. These vessels jump to life in a miniature fight and fire cannonballs and artillery on each other. Effects crash and clank – sound and light – until a ship finally sinks in a fantastic bit of performance magic that completely tricked me.
So while beak and barrel are not an “attraction” in the traditional sense, it is very much a flex of Disney’s technical and storytelling cuts. It represents the company’s ongoing push to redefine what an attraction can be. Prior to the launch of Disney Treasure Cruise Ship, for example, Imagineer’s Techradar told how they designed Haunted Mansion Parlour to make sure show elements work, no matter where you are in the room. Beak and barrel follow the same philosophy as you are not locked on a track inside.
It is also reminiscent of previous immersive projects such as the now closed Galactic Starcruiser or the still threw OGA’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge. Although it is technically a restaurant, it acts as a show -driven attraction. Yes, you are assigned a seat, but you are also encouraged to wander and explore.
When Rummy breaks into Yo ho (a pirat’s life for me) Right from the trip and the movies, you will join. On my visit, before the official debut, I even discovered what looked like Jack Sparrow’s compass that floated in the short room.
Beak and barrel officially opened on August 29, 2025 in the Adventureland Section of Magic Kingdom in Disney World right next to Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Reservations are required and each visit runs about 45 minutes of food and drink available for purchase.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney expands this format further. If you are not planning a trip to Orlando, you may still get your chance: A Pirates-themed Lounge has already been confirmed for the upcoming Disney Destiny ship sailing in November 2025.
