Crowds may be thick, temperatures may soar, and the summer surge at Disneyland is officially underway—but one major change is already altering how guests plan their day: Pirates of the Caribbean is officially being removed from the Lightning Lane Multi Pass system.
No fanfare. No dramatic rollout. Just a quiet notice on the official Disneyland website confirming that June 30, 2025, will be the final day guests can book Lightning Lane access for the iconic boat ride. Starting July 1, it’s standby only.
Why the shift? And what does it say about Disney’s evolving ride strategy?
A Temporary Fix That Didn’t Stick at Disney
Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t always part of the Lightning Lane program. It was added to Genie+—which has since been rebranded as Lightning Lane Multi Pass—back in January 2024. At the time, major rides nearby like Haunted Mansion and the then-unopened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure were unavailable, creating a vacuum in the park’s western half.
NEW: Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland will no longer be offered as a Lightning Lane attraction starting July 1. – @ScottGustin on X
NEW: Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland will no longer be offered as a Lightning Lane attraction starting July 1. pic.twitter.com/uaTFkfSD4J
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) June 24, 2025
Adding Pirates to Lightning Lane was meant to spread crowds, ease congestion, and offer guests another high-demand option. And for a while, it worked.
But when it vanished from the app in April 2025, fans took notice. Some speculated it was a test. Others wondered if it was a glitch. Now, it’s clear: the removal was part of a longer-term plan.
What Guests Can Still Book
Once the change goes into effect on July 1, guests will still have access to Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the following Disneyland Park attractions:
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
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Haunted Mansion
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Indiana Jones Adventure
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Space Mountain
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“it’s a small world”
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Matterhorn Bobsleds
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Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
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Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
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Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
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Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
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Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
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Autopia
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Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
So…Why Remove Pirates Now?
While Disney hasn’t officially provided a reason, the timing speaks volumes.
really wish more attractions at WDW didn’t have LL as well – no need for Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Spaceship Earth, etc to have LL – just let the standby line load super quick and move people through it – @TheDBCPod on X
really wish more attractions at WDW didn't have LL as well – no need for Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World, Spaceship Earth, etc to have LL – just let the standby line load super quick and move people through it
— TheDBCPod (@TheDBCPod) June 24, 2025
With Haunted Mansion and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure both now open and drawing major crowds, the park no longer needs Pirates to serve as a filler option in the Lightning Lane rotation. And given the ride’s high guest capacity, Pirates of the Caribbean performs well with standby alone. Simply put: Disney might believe the Lightning Lane slot is more valuable elsewhere.
Removing it also creates an opportunity to shift how guests move through New Orleans Square—especially with summer peak season in full swing.
What This Means for Disney Your Trip
For guests heading to Disneyland soon, this is a strategic heads-up: you’ll need to budget extra time for Pirates. While standby lines are expected to remain manageable due to the ride’s fast throughput, the convenience of skipping the line is gone.
This change may also prompt visitors to re-prioritize which attractions they grab Lightning Lane reservations for, especially as crowd patterns shift with this update.
Bottom line? Expect longer waits and tighter planning—but maybe also a return to the way many of us first experienced Pirates: just jumping in line and setting sail.
Is this change a step backward—or a smart strategy? Let us know what you think in the comments or on socials.
