There are so many delicious places to eat in Magic Kingdom!
From table service spots to quick service restaurants to snack stands, this park is filled with iconic eats. But one of the spots that gets mixed reviews is Tortuga Tavern. We’ve had both good and not-so-good meals here, but it looks like we might not get the chance to dine there for a while. What’s going on?
When we checked the Disney World website page for Tortuga Tavern this morning, we noticed that it wasn’t showing hours for any days in the next several weeks. What?!
It was open its regular hours just a few days ago, so what’s going on here? We stopped by a Guest Services stand to ask about its status and were told that Tortuga Tavern would be operating seasonally and is going through a closure period.
Now, this restaurant has been considered seasonal for a while, but the past couple of years, it’s been operating pretty much daily, so we were surprised to find it closed. It’s especially weird for something to be closed “seasonally” right as we go into the summer!
However, we do have a theory! Disney has announced that there will be a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge coming to Adventureland soon, though they haven’t shared too many details beyond some concept art.
We don’t know yet the location of this new lounge, but it’s possible it could take over Tortuga Tavern’s space — it IS right across from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, after all! And if Disney were preparing for a new lounge, that would make the random closure of the restaurant make more sense.
However, there was also recently a permit filed by Disney for construction on the opposite side of the walkway from Tortuga Tavern. This permit doesn’t expire until August 31st, 2025 and it’s for “general construction.” So could the new pirate lounge be located here instead?
No matter what happens next, we’ll have to wait for Disney to share some updates and give us confirmation before we know for sure. The lounge will be the latest in a series of big changes for Magic Kingdom. The park is getting ready for the grand opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and the reimagined Country Bear Jamboree show is set to open this summer.
In addition to those things, Disney is currently in the planning stages for a major park expansion, making use of land beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any important news from Disney, so stay tuned to AllEars for the latest. We’ve got you covered!
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Do you like Tortuga Tavern? Tell us in the comments!
Pirates lounge is going to be in Pirates League. They want a nice restaurant there, perhaps they will convert Tortuga into something better.