News The Pirates League at Magic Kingdom to close this summer

[aladdin2007]

Whatever it is I hope its Pirate related and something for everyone, and not another dvc selling space or some ill fitting thing. It wouldn't hurt them to expand the merch space in that area, like it use to be way back when. (enough bars already, I know it would look cool and all though).

 

[MisterPenguin]

Grrr.
Was going to do this with my nephews this October.

No, no. It goes, "Arrr."

 

[Creathir]

No, no. It goes, "Arrr."

Ya know, after posting I thought that would have been more clever...

Arrrg.... maybe next time me matey

 

[MotherOfBirds]

 

[Doberge]

I never knew much about this but we are bringing our 4.5 year old for a mermaid makeover, which is apparently a thing there.

Somewhat related, I've wondered how Harmony Barber Shop has survived. Given the location, $18 is a steal for a haircut. Maybe Chapek doesn't know it exists? With his hair style, why would he?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I never knew much about this but we are bringing our 4.5 year old for a mermaid makeover, which is apparently a thing there.

Somewhat related, I've wondered how Harmony Barber Shop has survived. Given the location, $18 is a steal for a haircut. Maybe Chapek doesn't know it exists? With his hair style, why would he?

The Barber Shop was moved from its original location on Center Street when the Emporium was expanded in 2001. I don't know if it was bigger or had more barbers in the past.

I think it's a simple case that the revenue from the Barber Shop has been enough to justify paying the staff. Plus the location is small.

DLP still has its Barber Shop, though it is being moved to another spot on MSUSA later this year.

The writing was on the wall for Pirates League when the posted hours were only from 9 or 10am till 2:00pm. Contrast that with the now THREE locations for BBB.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

oh please oh please oh please! I would actually love a Pirate Bar...

A pirate bar sounds cool on paper, but it would no doubt become a second home for the AP/Blogger/Lifestyler crowd who would make it very difficult to get a table/seat much like Trader Sam.

I also think if it turned back into a retail space it would just be another place to buy the same stuff they sell everywhere else, unless it was like Memento Mori and it really had something special.

 

[MrPromey]

I know that is a small space but I wonder if they could ever expand and put in restaurant like Blue Bayou. I mean I have no idea how that would be possible but I think it would be cool.

We already have one. It's called the San Angel Inn Restaurante.

It's just in another park attached to the beginning of another boat ride with a different menu.

Just like that park used to have a famous scene from the train ride at DL, too, involving two adversaries in an attraction completely unrelated to the source.

 

[MrPromey]

A pirate bar sounds cool on paper, but it would no doubt become a second home for the AP/Blogger/Lifestyler crowd who would make it very difficult to get a table/seat much like Trader Sam.

I also think if it turned back into a retail space it would just be another place to buy the same stuff they sell everywhere else, unless it was like Memento Mori and it really had something special.

My guess would be they'd make it about as special as the Emporium expansions which is to say, it would just end up looking like more of the "shop" it's currently connected to which is all I recall it being before it closed and then was converted to this.

I really, really wish we could see more stuff like Memento Mori across property, though.

 

[Imagineer999]

I would love for them to restore the House of Treasure, or a similar store. I know the current gift shop at the exit already sells a lot of POTC merch, but they could create a special shop within the space that would sell some unique items. I also wouldn't mind if the space became a home for meet and greets.

 

[marni1971]

I know that is a small space but I wonder if they could ever expand and put in restaurant like Blue Bayou. I mean I have no idea how that would be possible but I think it would be cool.

Waaayyyy to small.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

A pirate bar sounds cool on paper, but it would no doubt become a second home for the AP/Blogger/Lifestyler crowd who would make it very difficult to get a table/seat much like Trader Sam.

I also think if it turned back into a retail space it would just be another place to buy the same stuff they sell everywhere else, unless it was like Memento Mori and it really had something special.

They could have done it to Tortuga Tavern the space of that alone would work...

 

[Animaniac93-98]

They could have done it to Tortuga Tavern the space of that alone would work...

You mean have the Pirate themed Tavern be an actual Pirate themed Tavern?

 

[doctornick]

We already have one. It's called the San Angel Inn Restaurante.

It's just in another park attached to the beginning of another boat ride with a different menu.

Also Garden Grill in the Land with a different boat ride (and the neat part of the restaurant is that everyone dining more or less gets the chance to see into the attraction).

I'm surprised there aren't more such interacting locations at WDW. If they ever do a proper Indiana Jones land, I would love to see something similar to the ambitious old Lost Expedition plans.

 

[doctornick]

The Pirates League at Magic Kingdom to close this summer

The Pirate make-over experience will be ending in July.

www.wdwmagic.com

Kinda bummed about this. Like others, thought this was a nice alternative to BBB for boys (and IMHO just more interesting theming). It's such a small space, that I wonder what will end up going there, but I have to assume it will just be retail - can't loose the revenue from the square footage. Doing a Pirate themed M&G wouldn't be a bad option (Captain Hook and Smee, maybe?). What was here before?

I wonder if it would make sense to move the registration area for the Pirate game (Treasures of the Seven Seas) into this space and then repurpose the current area into a new food stand or retail. They could thus keep the existing theming for Pirates League and maybe add some elements. That would bring the Pirates game more centrally located in the land.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

What was here before?

House of Treasure. Fancy store:

"The House of Treasure
Opened: 1973
Closed: 2001
Became: The Pirates League

Originally, if you wanted to buy Pirates of the Caribbean stuff, you had to go into the House of Treasure. This high ceilinged, atmospheric shop had three entrances: the high traffic one from the Plaza Del Sol Caribe, one facing north that spit out by the Caribbean Plaza pay phones and a shaded porch, and a rear exit that flowed into the secluded courtyard alongside the Pirates of the Caribbean queue, with the Fuente de Cielo azul.

When it was in operation, this was probably my favorite shop in Magic Kingdom. With walls lined with Spanish royal flags and decorative shelves stocked with pirate treasure, it reminded me of being inside the treasury room that appeared at the end of the attraction.

House of Treasure was shuttered following the 2001 recession, and by 2003 its main entrance has ominously become home to a dressing room, sealing off the rest of the area. It never returned. In 2009, the space become the pirate-themed version of Fantasyland's popular Princess makeover experience, The Bippity Boppity Boutique."

http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-forgotten-shops-of-adventureland.html

 

[celluloid]

It will probably end up an expensive jewelry store or Pearl Factory.

 

[MrPromey]

Also Garden Grill in the Land with a different boat ride (and the neat part of the restaurant is that everyone dining more or less gets the chance to see into the attraction).

I'm surprised there aren't more such interacting locations at WDW. If they ever do a proper Indiana Jones land, I would love to see something similar to the ambitious old Lost Expedition plans.

The reason I specifically mentioned the one I did is if you've ever been on Pirates in DL and the boat ride in Mexico in Epcot, you can see that the start of that ride was cribbed from the Disneyland Design. They just swapped out a Myan temple/pyramid for the swamp setting but the the path of the boat and the "outdoor" dining overlooking it before it goes into a cave of some sort is the same.

To add to your list though, we also have Pinocchio's Tavern overlooking Small World and Coral Reef Restaurant overlooking the aquarium - still, you're right. It really is odd that they haven't tried to do more. It's an added touch that costs little to implement and adds to the "only at Disney" flavor.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The reason I specifically mentioned the one I did is if you've ever been on Pirates in DL and the boat ride in Mexico in Epcot, you can see that the start of that ride was cribbed from the Disneyland Design. They just swapped out a Myan temple/pyramid for the swamp setting but the the path of the boat and the "outdoor" dining overlooking it before it goes into a cave of some sort is the same.

Except I don't remember the tables at Blue Bayou being so squished together like they are at Mexico.

It's part of the reason why I've never dined there.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The initial report by @wdwmagic says there are plans for the space. Any idea what they might be?

IMO they should have waited another 3 months to close it. After the end of the Halloween season when more people might have booked.