Credit: DisneyGone are the days when alcohol was a rarity at Disney parks. Over the years, alcoholic beverages have become increasingly available across the company’s theme parks worldwide. At one location, however, guests must follow a surprising policy.
While other non-castle parks have sold alcohol for a while, it took over 60 years for stiff drinks to hit menus at Disneyland Park. Walt Disney’s original park in Anaheim first started selling alcohol in 2019 with the opening of Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Disneyland Paris didn’t take nearly as long to start offering its guests alcohol. While it initially opened as a dry park, just like Disneyland, this rule was reversed fairly quickly to better meet the expectations of European visitors.
Today, guests can purchase everything from champagne at carts adjacent to Sleeping Beauty Castle (or, if we’re being technical, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant) to fine wines at the princess-themed restaurant Auberge de Cendrillon.
If guests want alcohol at one specific restaurant, however, they must follow a particular rule.
Alcohol Rules at Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates
According to recent Disneyland Paris guests, Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates will only serve guests alcohol on one condition: they also order food.
“Captain Jack’s will not deliver you drinks until you order food,” revealed one guest on Reddit. “At least one appetizer per drink.”
As this is not true of other restaurants at the resort, some have theorized that the controversial rule was enacted due to a flurry of Disneyland Paris guests recommending that parkgoers visit the restaurant to soak up its unique nighttime ambience without shelling out for a full meal.
Like Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland Park and Tokyo Disneyland, the restaurant is located within Pirates of the Caribbean, meaning guests sit waterside and watch the boats pass (and enjoy the ride’s iconic smell) as they dine.
It seems Disney wasn’t keen on guests taking up valuable real estate in the restaurant without spending much for their seats, hence the rule.
Notably, Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates is relatively famous (or rather, infamous) within the community of regular Disneyland Paris parkgoers for its disappointing food.
The restaurant – which serves a combination of exotic seafood and Cajun-inspired dishes – has racked up a string of poor reviews online, with just 3.8 stars on Google. Having dined there for ourselves, we can concur that it isn’t the strongest restaurant on Disneyland Paris property (even if the resort in general isn’t exactly stellar on the food front).
Or, as one Reddit user put it, “The food generally sucks.”
With this reputation in mind, it’s not all that surprising that guests might prefer to skip the €55 ($64) flat rate per adult – plus the added cost of drinks, which aren’t included – to dine at the restaurant.
Bars at Disneyland Paris
Frustrating though it may be for some guests, it’s not totally surprising that Disney wants its guests to treat a restaurant as a restaurant, not a bar.
For those disappointed by the restriction, the good news is that there are plenty of actual bars (or bar-esque spots) serving booze on property.
Within Disneyland Paris, guests can drop by Victoria’s Home-Style Restaurant for beer, wine, and soft drinks, as well as tasty sweet treats. It’s more of a cafe with alcohol, and its opening hours are often a little erratic, but if you manage to get a seat, you can also order a collector flute for your glass of champagne.
At the luxurious Disneyland Hotel – which sits over the entrance of Disneyland Park – guests can visit Fleur de Lys, which serves the likes of signature cocktails, champagne, and mocktails, plus a variety of bar snacks. (Fair warning: these come with hefty price tags, with a cookie and milk setting you back €14, or $16).
A little further from the parks, Marvel superfans will enjoy the Skyline Bar at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. Designed to make patrons feel like they’re overlooking New York from the top of a skyscraper, complete with an occasional cameo from a Marvel superhero, highlights include MCU-inspired cocktails such as the Blue Infinity Martini, the Red Reality Martini, and a Green Dimension Martini.
If coziness is your top priority, your number one destination should be Redwood Bar and Lounge at Disney Sequoia Lodge. The National Park-inspired hotel fits its bar around a grand stone fireplace, making it an ideal destination in the cooler months at Disneyland Paris. However, it’s worth noting that it’s currently unclear when or how Redwood Bar and Lounge will be impacted by the hotel’s upcoming, long-awaited renovation.
Over at Disney Newport Bay Club, guests can also stop by the Captain’s Quarters. This is a nautical-themed bar that serves both signature and classic cocktails (and mocktails), with your typical array of beer, wine, and soft drinks.
Meanwhile, Disney Village – the resort’s onsite shopping and dining district, à la Downtown Disney or Disney Springs – currently has two designated bars: Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon and The Royal Pub. The area is also currently undergoing a thorough refurbishment, with work expected to continue in the area for the foreseeable future.
Do you agree with this alcohol policy at Captain Jack’s – Restaurant des Pirates?