Subj : Disney Imagineers built a new animatronic parrot for the Beak and To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Sep 05 2025 00:15:08 Disney Imagineers built a new animatronic parrot for the Beak and Barrel lounge and it steals the show Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2025 23:00:00 +0000 Description: The space is packed with immersive elements and effects FULL STORY ====================================================================== If youve ever wished you could step into one of the Pirates of the Caribbean films or linger a little longer on the iconic Disney attraction, the newest experience at Disney World will let you do just that. The Beak and Barrel has all the classic elements of a Disney space immersive lighting and theming that pulls you right in but you wont be boarding a boat. Instead, you step into a Pirates of the Caribbean -themed restaurant and lounge for an almost hour-long experience. Yes, there are themed provisions and libations light bites plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks but where The Beak and Barrel truly shines is in its show elements. Walt Disney Imagineering packed the space with impressive touches: a mind-bending battle between two ships in a bottle, intricate carvings across walls, floors, and ceilings, and perhaps most notably, a brand-new audio-animatronic inspired by Disneys earliest figures. (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) Perched above the bar, on whats likely a hidden track, Rummy the Parrot is the latest creation. Hes lively, with an impressive range of motion, especially in the head and beak, and features detailed articulation powered by compact motors and actuators. Disneys history with bird animatronics stretches back to the 196465 New York Worlds Fair and the Enchanted Tiki Room. Rummy carries that legacy forward with far more lifelike movement and realism. Ken Ricci, Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, told us that much of the leap with Rummy is thanks to smaller electric motors that can now all be packaged inside the birds. Ricci explained the process as the Development starts with figuring out what functions, movement we want, to make it look like a bird, and packaging that into a shell. Rummy doesnt just perch he leads the action, often guiding the cast members playing pirate crew as they serve guests. In one particularly spooky moment that combines spatial audio from hidden speakers and lighting effects embedded throughout the room, Rummy drives off spirits. Without giving too much away, the experience unfolds as a 45-minute interactive show. Guests are seated or standing in one of three themed rooms: a map room filled with intricate design details, a lively mess hall, or the more intimate captains quarters. I tried the latter, settling into a weathered leather chair by a fireplace. Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 2 of 5 (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 3 of 5 (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 4 of 5 (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) Image 5 of 5 (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) It turned out to be the best seat in the house, thanks to the ships in bottles above. These vessels spring to life in a miniature battle, firing cannonballs and artillery at each other. Effects crash and clank sound and light until one ship finally sinks in a stunning bit of Imagineering magic that completely fooled me. @jakekrol Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) - From "Pirates of the Caribbean" - Xavier Atencio & Paul Frees & Thurl Ravenscroft & J. Pat O'Malley & The Mellomen So while The Beak and Barrel isnt an attraction in the traditional sense, its very much a flex of Disneys technical and storytelling chops. It represents the companys ongoing push to redefine what an attraction can be. Ahead of the launch of the Disney Treasure cruise ship, for example, Imagineers told TechRadar how they designed the Haunted Mansion Parlor to ensure show elements work no matter where you stand in the space. The Beak and Barrel follows that same philosophy, as youre not locked to a track inside. It also recalls past immersive projects like the now-closed Galactic Starcruiser or the still-thriving Ogas Cantina in Galaxys Edge . Even though its technically a restaurant, it functions as a show-driven attraction. Yes, youre assigned a seat, but youre also encouraged to wander and explore. @jakekrol Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) - From "Pirates of the Caribbean" - Xavier Atencio & Paul Frees & Thurl Ravenscroft & J. Pat O'Malley & The Mellomen When Rummy bursts into Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me) straight from the ride and films, youll want to join in. On my visit, before the official debut, I even spotted what looked like Jack Sparrows compass floating in the Map Room. The Beak and Barrel officially opened on August 29, 2025, in the Adventureland section of Magic Kingdom at Disney World, right next to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Reservations are required, and each visit runs about 45 minutes with food and drink available for purchase. I wouldnt be surprised if Disney expands this format further. If youre not planning a trip to Orlando, you may still get your chance: a Pirates-themed lounge is already confirmed for the forthcoming Disney Destiny ship, which sets sail in November 2025. You might also like One of my favorite Disney World rides is getting a major tech upgrade and I got a sneak peek This new 4K laser projector is so bright, it really could replace a TV and it has both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support Dyson just released the vacuum we actually wanted an upgraded V8 that costs basically the same as the original ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/disney-imagineers-built-a-ne w-animatronic-parrot-for-the-beak-and-barrel-lounge-and-it-steals-the-show --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .