MickeyBlog News for May 12th, 2025
Disney just told us about a new lounge at EPCOT, a tavern at Magic Kingdom, and, if you’re interested in that sort of thing, a new theme park in Dubai.
If you missed this week’s Disney stories, you missed A LOT, but that’s okay! That’s why you have MickeyBlog News. So, read on.
A Tavern for Pirates
Photo: Disney
When you want to wet your whistle at Magic Kingdom, The Beak and the Barrel is the place to go.
Landlubbers aren’t welcome here, as this is a tavern for pirates, ones in search of rum and tales of lost treasure.
Photo: Disney
Disney revealed the details about The Beak and the Barrel, which you’ll find when you exit through the gift shop at Pirates of the Caribbean.
Remember where Disney previously hosted the pirate show? Yeah, that’s a tavern now…and an unusual one at that.
Magic Kingdom won’t discriminate, allowing pirates of all ages to stroll into The Beak and the Barrel and listen to pirate tales.
The hostess of this tavern is Captain Meridian “Merry” Goldwyn, a legendary rumrunner who has fittingly set up shop at Adventureland.
But the start of The Beak and the Barrel will be the Barker Bird, who once sat on a perch and worked as the hype man (well, bird) for the Pirates ride.
Now, the Barker Bird loyally follows his BFF Merry around the bar, but he is still chippy and chirpy.
Known as Rummy, this bird will tell tales and sometimes lead the entire bar in rousing chants.
Disney has divided The Beak and the Barrel into two sections, the larger of which is The Mess.
Photo: Disney
As the name implies, this area was formerly the place where Spanish soldiers dined in a mess hall. Nowadays, the place caters to pirates instead.
Should guests prefer the other part of the bar, they’ll head to the Captain’s Quarters. Merry doesn’t mind your spending time here.
Photo: Disney
On the contrary, she wants you to “enjoy a taste of the finer life, which was once the living quarters of the Spanish Comandante.”
I…probably wouldn’t ask what happened to the Comandante, though. Sometimes, it’s best not to know.
A Lounge for EPCOT
Photo: Disney
Disney also revealed new details about the other new lounge arriving this summer, GEO-82 at EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth.
We’ve known for a while that demand for this space would be high. Still, I must admit I was surprised by how quickly it sold out its early dates.
Photo: Disney
GEO-82 opens on June 4th, but its first month of reservations has already sold out.
By the time you read this, several other dates are probably gone. So, if you’re interested in visiting this place, you should book quickly.
Photo: Disney
Honestly, you should probably take whatever you can get, too. There’s no sign of demand slipping anytime soon.
For many years, Disney used this space to host celebrities and dignitaries. Apparently, the company built a buzz while doing so.
Photo: Disney
Now, GEO-82 has become the hottest ticket at EPCOT since Space 220 launched in 2021.
Of course, with a menu like this, I understand why everyone wants to go. Oh, and watching EPCOT from inside Spaceship Earth would be fun, too.
Disney Heads to Abu Dhabi
Bob Iger – 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting
While everyone writing about business had Disney pegged as destitute and desperate, the company had other plans.
Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro sneakily met with some foreign government officials and developers.
Photo: Disney CEO Bob Iger (Getty Images)
In a matter of a few months, a deal came together for something Disney fans have long craved. We’re getting another theme park!
Once again, Disney has chosen a different part of the world, this time building in Abu Dhabi.
Wikipedia
The capital of the United Arab Emirates houses the world’s most popular airport, which serves 120 million annual guests.
Disney also notes that one-third of the global population resides within a four-hour flight of Abu Dhabi.
As such, Disney and its new partner, Miral, expect Disneyland Abu Dhabi to entice guests from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and India.
Disney and Miral will build the new theme park on Yas Island, which is currently home to several other tourist attractions.
Photo: Disney Abu Dhabi
The city’s tourism brochures brag that Yas Island hosts Ferrari World, Sea World, Warner Bros. World, and more.
Disney is currently taking a victory lap now that it has shocked everyone with this surprise announcement.
Photo: Walt Disney Imagineering
Bruce Vaughn, recently returned to Disney as the Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, sounds giddy about the possibilities.
For that matter, so does D’Amaro, who may be the biggest Disney theme park fan of all.
Photo: Disney
We’re obviously barely scratching the surface with this story. So, keep reading MickeyBlog to learn more about Disneyland Abu Dhabi.
And in case you were wondering, the most reasonable estimated opening date is 2032, 2030 at the absolute earliest.
Disney Miscellany
Photo: Disney
We’ve got several other stories to discuss. So, I’ll be brief.
The new turnstiles are up and running at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure.
After one quick glance, you can tell just how much more high-tech these turnstiles are compared to what we had previously.
In less happy news, the return of It’s a Small World has been pushed back again. Hopefully, it’ll reopen in a couple of days.
However, we can report that Donald’s Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will warm your heart.
Also, and perhaps most importantly, two Magic Keys will go back on sale soon.
At Walt Disney World, Disney has added another offer for this summer. Be sure to speak to a MickeyTravels agent to learn more.
Disney is definitely wheeling and dealing in anticipation of the start of Cool Kid Summer.
Photo: Disney
Park officials also revealed the schedule for Disney Villains: Unfairly After Ever and The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure.
Similarly, Disney will change the operating hours for The Seas with Nemo & Friends soon.
Photo: Disney
At Magic Kingdom, Romeo McGrowl is strutting around with his new look. That hair is fancy!
Next, if you’ll be at Walt Disney World during Destination D23, you should know about a special event at Typhoon Lagoon. The magic word is Kuzco.
Photo: Forbes
Finally, for those of you stuck at home and missing Disney, I highly recommend the Star Wars theme park videos on Disney+.
I’m deeply impressed by the cinematography for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It puts standard YouTube ride videos to shame.
Photo: simplemost.com
Happy Mother’s Day, my many loves!
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Feature photo: Disney
