Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland has always been a Disneyland fan favorite. But on March 18 – coincidentally, the ride’s 58th birthday – it took a detour from its usual smooth sailing and swashbuckling pirates, with riders instead left stranded in the middle of the attraction for over 40 minutes.
Pirates of the Caribbean Faces an Unforeseen Hiccup
Since its grand debut in 1967, Pirates of the Caribbean has captivated generations of visitors with its detailed sets, animatronics, and storyline, which have since inspired sister attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland (although the latter boasts a markedly different take on the attraction).
The ride’s success even inspired the blockbuster film franchise, introducing characters like Johnny Depp’s iconic Captain Jack Sparrow. Over the years, updates have kept the ride fresh, including more recent tweaks to bring the film franchise into the attraction.
As beloved as it is, Pirates of the Caribbean is not immune to the occasional glitch. While small delays are fairly common—boats stacking up or pausing momentarily for safety—something more significant occurred on its birthday. Guests found themselves stuck in the middle of the ride, with no idea when they’d be able to continue their journey.
Chaos on the High Seas
On March 18, a mechanical failure brought Pirates of the Caribbean to a standstill, leaving guests marooned for over 40 minutes.
Multiple boats stopped one after another, with riders trapped in the middle of the attraction. It’s not uncommon for Disneyland attractions to face breakdowns, but the sheer duration of this one stood out, especially during the busy spring break season.
Pirates of the Caribbean got stuck for 40+ minutes
byu/ThaTrillKnight inDisneyland
A video shared on Reddit captured the scene. One cast member reportedly waded into the water to manually push three boats to safety. For some, that response seemed sluggish, but others defended the process, emphasizing that strict safety protocols were likely at play.
“Only so many people are allowed to go into the water in waders and push boats,” explained a former Pirates of the Caribbean cast member. “Some people have to stay on land and pull the boats with hooks (arguably harder than pushing in the water), and some have to manually release the brakes to allow boats to be pushed. Everyone has a specific job they need to do to get people out. Among the many reasons, some people have bad backs and can’t push boats. Others are too tall or can’t fit in the waders. Stop complaining about things you don’t know anything about.”
Long Waits Hit Disneyland
Yesterday was a busy day at Disneyland, with this breakdown not doing much to improve the situation.
Pirates of the Caribbean's line stretched all the way to the Haunted Mansion—a rare sight, even during the peak of spring break.
While this particular breakdown was frustrating for some, it's hardly the worst ride evacuation story to come out of the parks. Some Disney rides are known for their more intense evacuation scenarios. The Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure, for instance, can require guests to exit the ride while over 100 feet in the air, walking along the track to safety.
Have you ever been evacuated from Pirates of the Caribbean?
