MK New Beak and Barrel - Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge

[Animaniac93-98]

So where are they going to put the Haunted Mansion bar that serves spirits?

 

[networkpro]

Can I toss another match onto this dumpster fire and say that I find octopus on the menu kind of… icky? Not in the “ew, gross, I won’t eat that” kind of way, but more in the “with everything we know in 2025 about the intelligence and sentience of octopuses, it feels a little weird to me to still be farming them for mass consumption” kind of way.

I hope they at least plan to obtain and harvest them “ethically,” though I don’t have much faith in that.

Let me toss some gasoline on your argument: I'll see your kracken tentacles and raise you some delicious bacon ! I've raised bacon seeds to market size and thoroughly enjoyed thier company while doing so. They are intelligence, more so than cattle, and are very social but I don't regret having processed them for consumption. Most modern consumers are detached and/or less than knowledgeable about where thier food comes from, what's required to produce it, or even the ethics of farming/ranching . They just see products either plated or neatly packaged to purchase. First world problems.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Then abide with Disney's decision on what they allow on property. Your opinion is just contrary to thiers. Even Legoland serves alcohol these days.

I don’t have to “abide” by anything Disney does or says. They are not my boss, my Pope, my king. They are also not my team. I am a consumer and they are a company. I will say what I like about them, here and elsewhere, and decide how much of my money they deserve.

A lot of people seem to have profoundly unhealthy relationships with corporations.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Disney parks have always been for profit. Alcohol has always been a money make.
Walt, Roy, Ron Miller, Frank Wells, and Eisner all managed to keep the ceo title while keeping the castle parks - special. Special as in unique. Not like six flags, or any other theme park (other than Herschend).

It wasn’t until the Iger era that we now have themed bars in both castle parks.

 

[Chi84]

I don’t have to “abide” by anything Disney does or says. They are not my boss, my Pope, my king. They are also not my team. I am a consumer and they are a company. I will say what I like about them, here and elsewhere, and decide how much of my money they deserve.

A lot of people seem to have profoundly unhealthy relationships with corporations.

What do you mean by profoundly unhealthy relationships with corporations? Why do you think other people don't behave exactly like you? Don't they also say what they like and buy what they like?

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

Let me toss some gasoline on your argument: I'll see your kracken tentacles and raise you some delicious bacon ! I've raised bacon seeds to market size and thoroughly enjoyed thier company while doing so. They are intelligence, more so than cattle, and are very social but I don't regret having processed them for consumption. Most modern consumers are detached and/or less than knowledgeable about where thier food comes from, what's required to produce it, or even the ethics of farming/ranching . They just see products either plated or neatly packaged to purchase. First world problems.

Animal welfare and ethical animal harvesting is not a "first world problem." It has massive global impacts.

But I'm willing to give you a cookie if you can show me where I said a single word about caring what the general public thinks of unethical animal farming. I said I find it icky. Me.

Either way, you're wrong. The intelligence of cephalopods and whether farming them is ethical is a current hot topic worldwide.

- Washington State banned octopus farming in March 2024, becoming the first government to do so.
- California passed a similar ban in October 2024, citing their intelligence.
-In Spain, proposed legislation aims to preemptively ban octopus farming following plans for a major farm in the Canary Islands.
-The "OCTOPUS Act" (bipartisan), has been introduced to the US Congress to prohibit commercial octopus farming nationwide.
- Legislation to ban the practice has also been introduced or considered in Hawaii, New Jersey, and Oregon.

Additionally, in 2021, the UK formally recognized octopuses and other cephalopods as sentient beings.

This isn't some niche opinion I'm parroting, it's becoming pretty mainstream. So, like I said, it certainly feels like a choice to include it on a new menu in 2025 in the busiest theme park in the world.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Ok, I will rephrase that to "worried" or "concerned".

I don't know whether cultural norms are changing, my point was that norms are different around alcohol such that children being around adults drinking alcoholic beverages is far more normalised than children being in gambling venues. Whether that is positive or negative is also another question and I guess we'll see if that changes in line with declining alcohol consumption.

Not saying anyone is wrong not to like Disney including themed bars or alcohol entirely in their parks. Just responding to the point about why it is different from gambling, cannabis dispensaries, or whatever else people want to mention. The answer is just that in our culture we see these things differently and I think that is borne out by the fact that, despite being a controversy magnet, no-one has really batted an eyelid at Disney adding themed bars like Oga's and now this to the parks.

I also do think that most of these places are very controlled settings. Geo-82 doesn't even allow children and this one barely caters to them as well as kicking you out after just 45 minutes. So, sure, they are venues for drinking and feeling the effects of alcohol, but they're not venues for getting hammered around children. That's where I think most people won't at least feel it being any worse than going with the kids to a brewery where there may be more focus on food but also a lot more drinking going on.

Where is this massive cultural shift that kids belong in bars? I’ve got all sorts of bars around me - college bars, dive bars, honky tonks, upscale bars - and children would be out of place in all of them. Where are the stats backing up the shift? All I see is that drinking is declining in the US. Where is the pop culture reflection of this shift? The TV shows or movies with child-friendly bars? I think of bars on TV, I think of Always Sunny, Simpsons, Family Guy - all inappropriate places for children, something addressed in the shows. Now, those are all older shows, so maybe there’s a wave of programs or films I’ve missed that depict child-friendly bars.

Posters keep talking about this massive cultural shift and I’m very willing to accept evidence but I don’t see much. Themed bars have proliferated ON CRUISE SHIPS and are now being moved into Disney theme parks as the company tries to build on their cruise ship model, but that seems to be a very specific evolution and not part of some broader national trend.

 

[Figments Friend]

The winds be a changing, Mateys….

Methinks the menu shall be seeing some changes at some point soon.


I agree with other comments posted earlier regarding the two non-alcoholic options listed thus far.
Seems a bit scant….and one of them is really more of a dessert offering then a ‘drink’ when you look at the accompaniments.
Pure sugar rush.

Also a bit of a shame one cannot get the Pirate Skull Mug with a non-alcoholic option.
Perhaps if one asks their serving wench nicely, ye may be able to smuggle one out…?

I will say that plate of ‘Island Provisions’ looks to be mighty tasty grub.
Looking forward to trying it out….

-

 

[TheMaxRebo]

So where are they going to put the Haunted Mansion bar that serves spirits?

December 21, 2024 - the Disney Treasure's maiden voyage

 

[Casper Gutman]

What kind of bars are you talking about? This is a highly themed lounge in MK with a drink and time limit. It’s probably different from what people think of when you say a place is a straight up bar.

Disney doesn’t lead the way; it follows its customers. If people are buying and requesting more non-alcoholic options I’m sure Disney will provide them.

Disney absolutely DOES lead the way when they want to. Everyone on these boards is familiar with the way Disney influences guest behavior, from the use of weenies to the placement of trash cans. On a broader scale, Disney is one of the most influential culture companies to ever exist - the media it produces and the parks it builds have had and continue to have a profound effect on society and culture. That’s why Disney is such a hotly contested battlefield in the culture wars.

 

[Figments Friend]

So where are they going to put the Haunted Mansion bar that serves spirits?

Where the BOOS are, of course.

( as in ‘booze’….get it? )




Thank you, thank you, I am in town all week.
Tip your butlers!


I shall see my way out now….


-

 

[Chi84]

Where is this massive cultural shift that kids belong in bars? I’ve got all sorts of bars around me - college bars, dive bars, honky tonks, upscale bars - and children would be out of place in all of them. Where are the stats backing up the shift? All I see is that drinking is declining in the US. Where is the pop culture reflection of this shift? The TV shows or movies with child-friendly bars? I think of bars on TV, I think of Always Sunny, Simpsons, Family Guy - all inappropriate places for children, something addressed in the shows. Now, those are all older shows, so maybe there’s a wave of programs or films I’ve missed that depict child-friendly bars.

Posters keep talking about this massive cultural shift and I’m very willing to accept evidence but I don’t see much. Themed bars have proliferated ON CRUISE SHIPS and are now being moved into Disney theme parks as the company tries to build on their cruise ship model, but that seems to be a very specific evolution and not part of some broader national trend.

Beak and Barrel and Oga’s are Disneyfied bars. They’re different than all the other types you mentioned. Kids are welcome in most venues at WDW.

 

[Chi84]

Disney absolutely DOES lead the way when they want to. Everyone on these boards is familiar with the way Disney influences guest behavior, from the use of weenies to the placement of trash cans. On a broader scale, Disney is one of the most influential culture companies to ever exist - the media it produces and the parks it builds have had and continue to have a profound effect on society and culture. That’s why Disney is such a hotly contested battlefield in the culture wars.

That’s what I’ve been trying to say.

Disney knows that adults like bars and that most have kids with them at WDW. So they’re leading the way by giving their customers kid-friendly bars that you don’t see elsewhere.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Beak and Barrel and Oga’s are Disneyfied bars. They’re different than all the other types you mentioned. Kids are welcome in most venues at WDW.

Again, themed bars are a concept that is older than Disneyland.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I can’t find specific data, but unlikely that it is decreasing among Disney’s target audience, often college educated with relatively high incomes (because Disney ain’t cheap). Again, I don’t have comparative data over the decades, but drinking is more common with this group at this point in time. It’s declining among young people and teenagers in particular, which is great as no teenager in the US is of legal drinking age.

That same Gallup survey now has consumption down to 54% of adults. That’s a nearly 13% drop over just two years and part of a large pattern of decreasing consumption.

U.S. Drinking Rate at New Low as Alcohol Concerns Surge

A record-low 54% of Americans say they drink alcohol, as a majority now believe moderate drinking is unhealthy.

news.gallup.com

 

[Chi84]

Again, themed bars are a concept that is older than Disneyland.

Right but those other themed bars aren’t in Disney, a family-friendly vacation venue where kids are welcome in most places.

Again, the places where kids see their parents drink don’t tend to be straight up bars. Even the trend of breweries often involves such places having a strong emphasis on food.

What kind of bars are you talking about?

Themed bars, a concept that is older than Disneyland.

Disney has created a new type of themed bar in a kid friendly environment where kids are welcome.

 

[MisterPenguin]

So where are they going to put the Haunted Mansion bar that serves spirits?

Such a place in the MK doesn't have a ghost of a chance.


Mhahahahahaha.

 

[MisterPenguin]

I've raised bacon seeds to market size and thoroughly enjoyed thier company while doing so.

Some pig.

 

[MisterPenguin]

A gambling parlor/venue is a losing proposition nowadays since everyone has a gambling venue in their hand.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Where is this massive cultural shift that kids belong in bars?

I never said there was one!

I just responded to the hypothetical about Disney including gambling in the parks and why it would be any different: cultural norms around gambling and alcohol are different. I'm not saying there has been a big cultural shift in recent years to get kids into bars. You could argue that dining in venues based around alcohol such as breweries has become more of a family activity in recent years that normalises children being in those kinds of spaces, but I don't think it even matters that much if there is any data to back that up.

But, we shall see. Maybe this will become a major controversy for Disney. My suspicion, though, is that even those who have been targeting Disney in the culture wars would figure they wouldn't get much traction on this one.