Beak & Barrel-Jammed Booths

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We were lucky to get seats and be in the main room. The biggest thing I didn’t like was our host told us twice about the 45min time limit and then our server told us again about it - kinda was aggressive too. I know others might not be aware, but was a little too much. We came on a party night too, so we weren’t trying to camp out!

Plus for pre-made drinks they told a good min to come out. I didn’t think there was much going on in the bar. But it was nice to have a drink at MK.

They did this with Oga's (both coasts) for a while until it ebbed in popularity. I'd expect this to be the case too, eventually they won't be as blunt about the 45 min limit, 2 drink limit, etc at some point (I'd expect a few years). They'll probably still do a quick reminder especially for those who are brand new to the place but not like they are in the beginning.

 

[sticker231]

In addition to the server, the friendly reminder came from the host at check in and the person who seats you.

 

[Disturbia]

We went to the B&B today. They would not seat our group of 8 at one table but we were sat at a booth. We could have all fit in there (3 adults 5 kids). There were 2 kids with allergies, so maybe that’s why.

Having been to Oga’s and the Haunted Mansion Parlor (Disney Treasure) many times this was just meh. They couldn’t customize drinks which is understandable (same at Oga’s) so we opted for the non alcoholic. This stuff was more disgusting than the space220 cotton candy flavored kids drink. It was lemonade with a cotton candy and pop rock flavor that’s extra sweet but lemonade! I took 2 sips and that was it. Surely no human pirate would drink this.

The ice cream shaped almond cake pop on the Treasure Trove was good but very stale. The little dark chocolate truffle was really good. There were 5 pieces of caramel popcorn some of which were not completely popped (spit them out). The chips and dip were the best thing here. What’s with the lack of creativity.

The show? What show. Some flashing thunder effects and one short quick song by a parrot half the room can barely see. This is a one and done for us.

Why not have Jack Sparrow stop by each table or walk by like the beast at BOG (that’s already lowering expectations from when there were pictures with the beast). Also, the door would open constantly and ruin the whole dark atmosphere (why not have a wall after the door so the bright light doesn’t ruin the experience/photos).

Server was really nice and in character. This could have been so much better.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Why not have Jack Sparrow stop by each table or walk by like the beast at BOG (that’s already lowering expectations from when there were pictures with the beast).

Because it would be astronomically more expensive for the guest to have that. Plus this was more meant for adults from the get-go and character dining is fine and all but not everyone wants that, that's its own category of dining at Disney.

This is purely personal opinion but I actually think that would cheapen the whole experience and be more out of character for how they've portrayed Jack Sparrow, like can you imagine him dutifully stopping by each table? He'd be more likely to create havoc, be bouncing all over the place but then people would be upset that they didn't him by the table. And then photo ops. You're wanting a character dining table service experience at a place that was never designed to be that.

I didn't expect it to be anything other than Oga's which means the drinks aren't all that amazing because it's not like a true bar bar, it's a highly themed place pulling on the adults inside the theme parks. I think they were clever even though I'm not so enamored with it to create the rooms and theming that means a person is more likely to come back to try and see more of the theming. With Oga's there's less of that due to the design of the building being more one big room.

 

[kboo]

Thanks for the comparison to Oga’s, that helps. We’ll just aim for a snack and a short break and keep expectations managed!

 

[AussieFan8]

We are going tonight as a party of two. I thought about canceling the reservation, but we’re interested in seeing what it’s like so we’ll see what happens!

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

We were there a few weekends ago and had a 10am ressie. We initially had a noon but was able to modify it earlier the morning of. We are a party of 2 and asked to stand at the bar. Since we were the 2nd table sat....i think we could have requested basically any table/area and they would have met our request. The rate at which they sat tables in the first 30 minutes was slower than I would have expected. But by 12:50pm when we were walking out it was pretty much full.

I think if you are a party that really wants to sit by yourself...or in a specific area...I would try to get a reservation from 10am to 10:30am. I think the odds of being able to request where you sit and them being able to make it happen is better at that time of the day.

 

[Harmacist]

We had 11am reservations as a party of two. We were sat in the boat in a bottle room. We were sat basically sitting at a ledge staring at a window at the entrance of the room. Honestly I wasn't mad at it. My girlfriend said she could see through the window well, and I just stood up and moved a foot to my side and could see the parrot do his thing. We were really close to the boat battle behind us too. I took a picture of my "view" of a wall, but I'd much rather have had those seats than been sat at the end of a larger party's table.

I'd do it again and try for an early reservation to ask for a seat at the bar.

 

[Disturbia]

Because it would be astronomically more expensive for the guest to have that. Plus this was more meant for adults from the get-go and character dining is fine and all but not everyone wants that, that's its own category of dining at Disney.

This is purely personal opinion but I actually think that would cheapen the whole experience and be more out of character for how they've portrayed Jack Sparrow, like can you imagine him dutifully stopping by each table? He'd be more likely to create havoc, be bouncing all over the place but then people would be upset that they didn't him by the table. And then photo ops. You're wanting a character dining table service experience at a place that was never designed to be that.

I didn't expect it to be anything other than Oga's which means the drinks aren't all that amazing because it's not like a true bar bar, it's a highly themed place pulling on the adults inside the theme parks. I think they were clever even though I'm not so enamored with it to create the rooms and theming that means a person is more likely to come back to try and see more of the theming. With Oga's there's less of that due to the design of the building being more one big room.

Yes but the drinks are not like Oga’s esp. the non alcoholic drink. It’s next level disgusting compared to the cotton candy drink at Space220 (for instance) and stale cake pop! My kids wouldn’t touch them. Oga’s atmosphere was much more immersive and has better drinks.

The chips and dip was good.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes but the drinks are not like Oga’s esp. the non alcoholic drink. It’s next level disgusting compared to the cotton candy drink at Space220 (for instance) and stale cake pop! My kids wouldn’t touch them. Oga’s atmosphere was much more immersive and has better drinks.

The chips and dip was good.

The comparison to Oga's is meant to be neither place is the place to go if you're looking for amazing drinks. I happen to enjoy Oga's myself but know plenty who don't primarily because the drinks that are there typically described as overly sweet and watered down (I've liked the jet juice and the jedi mind trick). Whether you prefer one or the other wasn't my point as that's personal preference just that the way Oga's was designed is a larger space for everyone to be around and they designed Beak & Barrel to be one where there rooms all around, it makes for a higher chance someone may want to come back to see if they can be in different areas. Disney isn't always about making things stellar in quality often delivering on one but not the other (like food and drink but not theming or theming but not food and drink).

As far as non-alcoholic if you're talking about the two mentioned on the menu itself for Beak & Barrel hopefully you had looked at the menu prior to making the ADR to see if anyone in your party would even want those. I know my husband wouldn't order either of the two listed on the menu for the simple reason of both contain coconut and he doesn't like that.

 

[AussieFan8]

We are going tonight as a party of two. I thought about canceling the reservation, but we’re interested in seeing what it’s like so we’ll see what happens!

We ended up standing at the bar. We had a great time! I didn't love my drink, but my daughter really enjoyed hers. Our bartender was a hoot and we really enjoyed the show. There was a lot of "audience participation" and we thought it was a lot of fun.