Disney’s newest lounge is located in Magic Kingdom and is perfect for all fans of pirates, but we’ve gotta admit there’s something we need to warn you about over at The Beak and Barrel.
The Beak and Barrel
Reservations are hard to get for this hot new spot, as seating in this lounge is pretty scarce — there is a 45-minute time limit to your visit. Unfortunately, you might have to learn the hard way that snagging a reservation for The Beak and Barrel doesn’t necessarily guarantee you an actual seat in this new lounge.
The Beak and Barrel is Magic Kingdom’s very first dedicated bar and lounge, inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean. Inside, you’ll find multiple different seating areas, each with a distinct theme, but like most restaurants, you don’t get to choose where to sit. Instead, you’ll be shown where to sit by your pirate host, and that’s where you’ll stay for your whole experience.
The Beak and Barrel
This is very similar to how seating works at Oga’s Cantina in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because at both locations, you may be seated with other parties, especially if your reservation is between 1-3 people. Not only that, but even if you have a reservation to dine at this new lounge, you may not actually have a seat. Instead, you may be escorted to a section of the space that’s standing room only, which is exactly what happened to us on a recent visit.
The Beak and Barrel
Yes — while some people may get a super comfy chair by the fireplace, you may only be given a small section of standing counter space, which was pretty narrow in and of itself. However, since we did get to stand at the counter, we got a great view of Rummy the Parrot coming out and saying hello to guests, while those seated in the further off rooms didn’t get that same view.
Rummy!
While this may be frustrating, Disney does this for a good reason. While we do think it would be nice to get a heads up that your seating (or standing) experience may vary, this process has worked for Oga’s Cantina for many years with little to no issues, so it makes perfect sense why Disney would try this same style again for The Beak and Barrel.
It’s also important to consider that this isn’t a restaurant where you’ll be having a leisurely meal — Disney has a two-drink, 45-minute limit on reservations at The Beak and Barrel, and being able to squeeze as many people in as safely as possible allows more people — like you — to get the chance to experience the new space.
Skull Bar at The Beak and Barrel
Getting to sit in the different rooms or stand at the bar is part of the fun here, and is part of what will keep people coming back! On your first visit, you may stand at the bar and get to take in all the incredible details there, and on your second trip, it’s possible you could be seated in the Captain’s Quarters section and get to watch the ships in a bottle battle.
There are so many unique experiences here, it’s nearly impossible to see them all at once by only standing and sitting in one area, so it’s fun to come back and notice more and more details each time. And, like Oga’s Cantina, hopefully, demand for this new lounge will taper off as it gets its sea legs, and reservations will be even easier to get. As of now, a walk-up waitlist is not available for Beak and Barrel, but we’re hopeful that will eventually change as well.
Posters at The Beak and Barrel
No matter where you end up during your visit to the Beak and Barrel, make sure you take a look around the entire space — there are just so many details to take in, you’d never be able to catch them all on your first visit anyway. While you may end up at a counter you have to stand at, there will still be fun and interactive experiences you get to see. And, hey, it just gives you an excuse to go back!
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How do you feel about the potential of standing at The Beak and Barrel? Tell us in the comments!
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I have to say, I really dislike this policy of WDW with regard to the popular lounges. When we finally got a reservation at Oga’s Cantina a few years ago, the four of us got squeezed into a space at the bar that was really only comfortable for two people! Being forced to stay at one location and given only 45 minutes, means you never really get to explore the place – just an overall unpleasant experience I will warn people. Further, the staff are so stressed having to move poeple in and out as quckly as possible that they can be unfriendly – as both our hostess and server were at Oga’s. Maybe I’ll skip Beak and Barrel and Geo 82 this time and try Oga’s again, now that it is not on the crowd control train!
I’ve been to Oga’s twice and both times, I guess since it’s just the hubby and me, we have had to stand. The first time, we were awkwardly with another large group at one of the standing 8 tops. The second time was at the bar, which was at least less awkward. I really wish they would put barstools. My feet were killing me. At least if I’m standing in line for 45 minutes I am moving a little bit. Good to know that standing is a possibility with Beak & Barrel. I won’t be so disappointed if I can’t score a reservation on our next trip. Hubby probably won’t go back to Oga’s.
Well this news is very disappointing, but it’s not surprising. Maybe it’s not hurting business at Oga’s, but we started out going to Oga’s every HS day of our fist visit after it opened (before we knew about the standing), and now we don’t even care if we go to Oga’s during our trips. Love the concept, hate the standing. We’ll still go to Beak and Barrel and check it out, but if we’re stuck standing every time, we won’t be making repeat visits. Like other commenters have said, Oga’s is too crowded to really get a sense of the place or even enjoy yourself. The servers and bartenders know little to none of the lore that the area started out with, which at least made those interactions fun. There is something that is just tremendously offputting to have to struggle to get a reservation just to stand at the venue. It will be a long time (if ever) that people refuse to go to Oga’s or B&B due to the standing, but we won’t keep going. We get Disney surveys after every trip, so we keep trying to make our voices heard that way. We don’t mind sitting next to other parties, this happens a lot of places. You should at least have the option to sit or hold out for an option to sit. It should be baked into the reservation process – “Are you willing to stand at the restaurant?”