Ahoy, Maties!

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My, how times are changing. When the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World opened in 1971, alcohol of any type was strictly taboo. Walt Disney himself wanted the Magic Kingdom to be as family-friendly as possible, and in his view alcohol had no place in the family-friendly dynamic of his beloved theme park. As more theme parks were added to Walt Disney World (Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach), alcohol was permitted in each of those locations, but Magic Kingdom stood its ground and continued to forbid alcohol. Quick Side Story: the Magic Kingdom bills itself as the Happiest Place on Earth, yet out of all the theme parks, it seemed that the guests were the most miserable at Magic Kingdom. Over the years, people began to notice and comment that it specifically was the result of NOT allowing alcohol in the park. Now, whether or not there is an actual correlation, well that is up for debate. But it was an astute observation. Around the time Magic Kingdom expanded Fantasyland, a new high-end restaurant called Be Our Guest opened in that section of the park, and Disney quietly allowed them to serve a limited alcohol menu. Word soon got out, and eventually Disney allowed other restaurants within the Magic Kingdom to serve alcohol. Fast forward to 2025, and a new pirate tavern has just opened in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Magic Kingdom, aptly called the Beak and Barrel (after parrots that sit on pirates' shoulders and the barrels that held the rum on the ships). Reservations are required to get in, and immediately before it ever opened to the public it was booked solid for months out. Through connections, I was able to score a reservation for two on a recent visit, and the tavern did not disappoint. It is eloquently pirate themed, and Disney thought out every detail on the decor. And no pirate tavern would be complete without a signature drink, which in this case is a rum drink that comes with its very own souvenir mug (see photo). I loved the place and hope to be able to go back again in the future. If you visited the Happiest Place on Earth, would you stop by the Beak and Barrel for a drink or two (assuming you could get a reservation)?