Williams Family: Do You Tour Like a Guest or a Local?

 

After years of making the Walt Disney World Resort a vacation destination I have always said, "there is more than one way to do Disney."  And, I firmly believe that.  As a family, our touring style morphed over the years from commando to more leisurely.  Now, we live "here" meaning in Central Florida, in Walt Disney World's backyard, basically; able to see and hear Magic Kingdom's fireworks nightly.  Which means our touring style has transitioned from Disney Guest to Disney Local.

While it needn't have been a forehead slapping moment, it was.  Upon returning from EPCOT last night, accompanied by a neighbor friend and fellow Disney fan, who experienced the American Garden Theater for the first time along with her first Eat-to-the-Beat concert performance it donned on me that it was her first time touring as a Disney Local.  On the car ride home, she said that she would have never sat and watched a concert like that when her family traveled from Illinois to Walt Disney World.  And, while our neighbor friend has lived "here" for over a year, her daughter works for Disney, when she goes to the parks, sometimes with me in tow, the touring style is more as a guest than a local.

Disney Guests want to make the most out of every moment.  Attractions, shows, characters, snacks/drinks, and nighttime spectaculars make up the itinerary.  Solid shoes, solid plans. Go, do, see!  Making the most of the experience to get the "worth the squeeze" out of the investment.  I get it.  Been there.  Sometimes still do that if accompanying other guests, including our neighbor friend. 

Disney Locals, which I will clarify as anyone within a 2-hour drive, have a more targeted, yet chill approach to park touring.  Locals come to the parks for a specific reason--like a new restaurant or attraction or specific entertainment.  Familiarity allows for efficiency, still leaving room for a bit of magic.  Last night, our neighbor friend wanted something specific at an outdoor kitchen (Food and Wine Festival) and then we walked to the American Garden Theater.  She said, "This is a long walk when you aren't wandering and looking at things."  Targeted--we knew our destination.  When exiting EPCOT, the lights and music made it magical--and we said as such.  No rush of the crowd exiting; a stroll to the car in the parking lot and home shortly thereafter--chill.  We know we'll be back. . . and soon.

When processing this idea of different park touring styles out loud with the husband, he added his own story of the evening.   When pin trading with a Cast Member, he had to answer a trivia question to get access to a mystery pin.  "Name 2 places at Walt Disney World where you can find Sorcerer Mickey."  The husband rattled off Mickey's Philharmagic and Fantasmic.  He said the Cast Member was stunned and asked if he was a regular.  He fibbed a little and said that he lived in Iowa.  As he was telling me the story, I added that Sorcerer Mickey is a meet and greet at Hollywood Studios.  

As we walked back to the car lot last night, we talked about how we have chosen to live here; near Walt Disney World.  Disney fandom was a part of the decision as well as living a dream and escaping Midwest winters. We shared how we had experienced skeptics/doubters. But in the end, made the move and made the dream life a reality. 

Williams Family: The Beak and Barrel

 

The Beak and Barrel, a new dining/experience location at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, opened the last week-end in August 2025.  Reservations required.

Nestled inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, the signed entrance for The Beak and Barrel is to the right of the queue entrance for the attraction.  This location was the former Pirates League where guests would be transformed into pirates with make-up and accessories. 

Pirate theming abounds, as guests are inside a pirate ship.  The parrot speaks and squawks periodically, pirate songs are song by guests and crew, and MagicBand+ lights up, not because of interactivity in the lounge, but because of proximity to the attraction down below. 

Guests check-in for their reservation outside the entrance. Once a text is received to approach the podium, proceed.  Guest parties are called in groups to enter with the caveat that this is a 45 minute adventure and informed that there is group seating.  (Think Biergarten at EPCOT or Oga's Cantina at Hollywood Studios.)

We were seated in the "Captain's" room at a table for two.  Seating, and or standing if in the "Map" room, is at tables, booths, the bar, and wooden stools along the walls.  And, given one menu to read in a dark room--I got out my phone for both pictures and the flashlight app.  Our seater warned us that we would only have 45 minutes. 

Our server arrived shortly complete with pirate garb and scratchy pirate voice and accent.  We ordered Island Provisions, an assortment of chips and dips which were tasty, and Cook's Corn Griddle Cakes with Chipotle-braised Chicken which was spicy and I found the griddle cakes hard and tough to cut/chew.  There is a Griddle Cakes option without the chicken.  The only other "bite" on the menu is Kraken's Catch which is octopus tentacles.  

For guests over 21, libations are on the menu with a 2-drink maximum.  We tried the Hibiscus Rum Punch Royale and Salty Seas mARRRgarita.  Each drink came in a different cup--again think what would be found on a pirate ship.  There is a souvenir drink with cup available for purchase--Plunderer's Punch.  There are wines, beer, and reserve rum selections, too.  While there is a bar, this isn't an order your favorite spirit or drink location as far as we could tell.  

Magic Band is interacting with attraction down below

Our server, too, warned us of the 45 minute limit and that he would return half-way through to inquire about a second round of drinks.  Our food came quickly and our server was friendly and attentive. 

Click here for The Beak and Barrel menu. 

The Beak and Barrel is a unique experience that will fit the bill for many guests and fans, as is evident by the nearly full and difficult to snag reservation system.  

If you are looking to fill empty bellies during a day at a theme park, The Beak and Barrel would not be a top choice.  While the menu is allergy friendly, it is not picky eater friendly.  And, it's pricey!

We saw parents wandering with littles looking for a restroom inside the establishment.  I had inquired and knew the restroom is outside the lounge, on the far side of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.  

Speaking of wandering, guests are welcome to move about and take in the theming, but best to do it at the end of your experience as to not use up the 45 minutes allotted to your table. 

Note:  Partway through our experience at The Beak and Barrel, the lounge lost its lighting--not electricity as the music continued to play, but all of the lights.  Suited Cast Members were suddenly on their phones, servers got out flashlights and/or used their phones, guests pulled out their phones for illumination, and important people began filing through the door.  The second entrance was opened for light. We were checked on by multiple Cast Members making sure we were okay.  The lounge stopped seating guests, many guests paid and left, and we were smiling at the adventure and munched on chips.  The husband ordered a second drink.  We were told to take our time and soon Guest Experience Team members (blue shirts) arrived with their tablets and scanned park tickets and MagicBands to add a Lightning Lane entitlement to accounts.  We were told this has never happened before.  The husband blamed "George" the supposed ghost that haunts Pirates of the Caribbean.  We do say good-bye to George on our way up the escalator belt when we exit the attraction! 

We paid our bill; I signed the receipt with a flashlight pointing.  The lights did turn on before we left, and we were able to capture photos in a relatively empty lounge and took a small tour.  On the other side of the door was a flood of guests waiting to enter.  

To top off our experience, we scanned our MagicBands on the Lightning Lane entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean and of course, said good-bye to George on our way out. 

Williams Family Blog: Some Days Do Not Go As Planned

 

Some days do not go as planned and yesterday was one of those days.  A Sunday, in August, with a planned destination of the Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort.

I checked the weather in the morning--a slight chance of rain around 4:00 pm.  No worries, we'll be home by then.

The husband made egg, sausage, cheese on English muffins sandwiches and wrapped them in foil along with a baggie of sliced apples while I showered and dressed.  We'll eat in the car.  Off we went around 11:00 am as the sky loomed dark in the distance.  On our way, the rain started and by the time we were rounding the last bit of roadway to the Magic Kingdom, torrential rains were straining the windshield wipers.

Scanned our MagicBand to at the parking toll booth and made our way to the parking lot. Interestingly, the parking lot was missing the team of parking guides in their yellow vests, and we snagged a spot one space away from the tram lane.  We weren't the only ones holed up in our cars waiting for the rain to subside. And, it gave me more time to finish breakfast.

In the 30 minutes we waited, the cars around us began to empty as guests decided to brave the elements and give it a go.  Children wailed as they were put into strollers and covered with plastic tarps.  Since we had not prepared for rain, we decided to head back home, but by way of the gas station to fill up the car.  Alas, I needed to cancel our park reservation for the day.  After finagling with the MyDisneyExperience app and checking an email, I realized I had made the park reservation for the day prior!  And, I didn't cancel it!  I can just hear Disney saying "tsk tsk" while wagging a finger like the cap peddler in the children's book, Caps for Sale.

Using another app, Upside, that earns cash back for gas, I claimed a deal at a nearby gas station and off we went.  Tip:  The gas station right outside Magic Kingdom is on Upside!

With a full tank of gas and full bellies, we headed home and set into household chores.  There is always laundry and the husband brought out the stepstool and cleaned the lanai's ceiling fan blades. The afternoon whirred on with activity and conversation.

By evening, we settled on the lanai to play cards, a favorite setting with a favorite activity.  Our lanai is on a corner and ground level.  Trees, bushes, various wheeled machines, water, walkers, other lanais, and animals are within our purview.  A family that lives across the street and uses their screened door as their main entrance waves and says hello often.  Their son graduated from high school this last spring and is off to college in Gainsville.  Yes, I know all of this from across the street waves, activity, and conversations.  The mom had gone out for a jog and came back to find the door locked.  I hollered, "Do you need to use my phone?"  She replied thank you but no--someone was coming to let her in.  A few moments later, the young son came across the street with a bag of Guatemalan coffee to give as a gift.  How sweet!  We had another visitor, too.  A raccoon limped across the street, back leg injured and walked right by our lanai door.  Add this to other animals that have visited us right outside our door--rabbits, a turtle, a possum, and squirrels. I would say all the birds and lizards, too, but they are more like homesteaders. 

Pivoting and perspective are great tools for a day that doesn't go as planned!