Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island has officially gone dark at Disneyland Park, shutting down the entire 70-year-old Frontierland attraction for its second refurbishment closure of 2026.
A Rare Survivor Among Disney Parks
With this closure, Disneyland Park now stands as the only Disney destination in the United States still offering a version of Tom Sawyer Island. That distinction became official after Walt Disney World Resort permanently closed its own Tom Sawyer Island, along with the Liberty Square Riverboat and Rivers of America, in 2025. Those Magic Kingdom Park attractions were removed to make way for Piston Peak National Park, a new Cars (2006)-themed addition coming to Frontierland.
The Latest Closure at Disneyland
Disneyland Resort quietly updated its website earlier this summer to confirm that Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island would close for refurbishment starting September 14. As is typical for smaller projects like this one, Disney didn't share any specifics about what changes guests might expect once work wraps up.
Construction appears to already be underway. WDW News Today posted a photo to Facebook Monday showing a “wet paint” sign attached to a rope fence blocking the raft loading dock in Frontierland.
This marks the second time in 2026 that the attraction has closed for refurbishment. Back in late April, guests arrived at Disneyland Park to find Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island unexpectedly closed, with no prior announcement from Disneyland Resort. That closure was short-lived, as the attraction reopened in early May with no noticeable changes.
When Might It Reopen?
Disneyland Resort's website currently lists normal operating hours — 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. — for Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island on Thursday, September 17, suggesting a possible reopening later this week. Still, the same webpage encourages Disney Park guests to “check back” for updates, meaning that timeline could shift.
Have you ever visited Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland Park? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
