August is turning out to be a busy month at Walt Disney World with the arrival of a new dining location as well as Destination D23, this year’s fan event which is sure to be filled with special surprises. It’s also the month when Halloween will officially begin at the parks, and trust me — you’ll want to bring plenty of appetite for the specialty food and beverage items. Those with upcoming Walt Disney World vacations will definitely want to catch up on the latest theme park news, but there are major stories coming out of Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line as well!
Opening date and menu revealed for Disney World’s new Pirates of the Caribbean bar
The next big opening to take place at Walt Disney World is just a few weeks away. This week, it was revealed that The Beak and Barrel, the new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern coming to Magic Kingdom, will officially open on August 29. Reservations will be available or booking on August 14.
The Beak and Barrel will be a destination for pirates of all ages, with a menu that includes themed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as small bites. A first look at the menu revealed creative mocktails like the Treasure Trove, which is made with a mix of ube, lemon, and coconut, and served with a side of treats including vanilla cake plank, chocolate cannonball, and golden caramel popcorn…
…and The Cursed Treasure, a blend of coconut milk and cookie crumbs topped with vanilla foam and pirate’s gold cookie.
Food items include the Cook’s Corn Griddle Cakes, made with melted cheese, lime sour cream, and chili peppers topped with cotija cheese along with either roasted corn and poblano peppers or chipotle-braised chicken…
…and the Island Provisions, which comes with plantain chips, blue corn tortillas, and toasted flatbread served with various savory dips.
One of the featured cocktails on the menu is the Plunderer’s Punch, which is made with Kraken Black Spiced Rum, blackberry, vanilla, and a hint of citrus and comes served in a souvenir pirate skull mug.
There will also be specialty merchandise you can pick up, including this t-shirt that will immediately become one of my wardrobe staples.
We also learned this week that The Beak and Barrel will be open during both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
DISNEY WORLD REVEALS DETAILS ABOUT THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY OFFERINGS
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge room refurbishment confirmed to take place through 2027
Disney World goes through a series of renovations at its resort hotels every number of years to keep things looking new and refreshed. Most recently, we’ve seen refreshed guest room work being done at resorts like Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. This week, we learned that the next resort to go through room renovations is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
According to Disney World’s website, the guest rooms at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will undergo refurbishment from October 2025 through May 2026. Following that, the guest rooms at Jambo House will undergo refurbishment from May 2026 through January 2027.
During the renovations, all resort amenities will remain available. Due to the nature of construction, however, guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge during that time frame may see or hear the work taking place.
Personal anecdote: I just stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village) and while I loved the resort, I definitely think the guest rooms are in need of a refresh. So, I’m excited to see the new looks! Disney World has been working its way through its resort hotels over the years refreshing the rooms, so I’m glad to see that Animal Kingdom Lodge is next on the list.
START PLANNING YOUR 2026 WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION TODAY!
Rapid-fire news!
- Halloween at Walt Disney World officially arrives on August 15 (and continues through November 4) with the first night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Ahead of the season’s kickoff, Disney World released a full Foodie Guide with the food and beverage items you’ll find around the resort. This guide includes the limited-time menu coming to Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Bar, the new Halloween overlay at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs.
- The Walt Disney Company hosted its third quarter earnings call this week along with the release of its quarterly earnings report. A strong increase in operating income was revealed — 22%, in fact, for domestic theme parks. During the call, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston shared that bookings for Disney’s Experiences segment (that includes theme parks and cruising) for the fourth quarter were up about 6%. Johnston also made brief mention of Epic Universe (without directly naming them), noting, “In light of the fact that there’s a competitive offering in the marketplace, the fact that attendance [this quarter] came in as well as it did is something that we feel terrific about. “
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin began its extended closure at Magic Kingdom this week. The closure is expected to last into 2026 with no reopening date announced at this time. When the ride reopens, it will feature an extensive renovation, including new show scenes, blasters, and more.
- There is a limited time Lightning Lane discount coming for Magic Key holders at Disneyland Resort. From August 13 through 18, 2025, Magic Key holders get 50% off their purchase of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass at Disneyland Resort.
- The Disney Destiny is about to complete an important construction milestone ahead of its November maiden voyage. This weekend, the ship will have its float out ceremony at MEYER WERFT Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where the ship is being constructed. In addition, a steel-cutting ceremony took place today for the fourth Wish-class ship, set to debut in 2027.
THINKING ABOUT BOOKING A VOYAGE ON THE DISNEY DESTINY? CATCH UP ON EVERYTHING WE KNOW SO FAR ABOUT THE SHIP.
Theme Park News: Opening Date Revealed For Walt Disney World’s Pirates-Themed Tavern originally appeared on The World of Spark.
