On June 28, 2025, several Disneyland Resort guests were stranded in the dark on Pirates of the Caribbean after the ride broke down. Disney cast members employed a unique strategy to rescue the guests from the shut-down attraction.
The original Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened in Disneyland Park in 1967, and since then, it has expanded to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland. The attraction has long been a fan favorite, drawing millions of visitors over the years. While the ride has undergone several updates, including the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow animatronics and the controversial overhaul of the bride auction scene, one thing remained constant: its popularity.
However, Pirates of the Caribbean has also been a point of contention for some Disney Park guests, especially regarding the male animatronics. One Disney Park guest went viral in 2023 after sharing her discomfort with the ride’s portrayal of male characters, describing it as “a little bit rapey.”
Despite these ongoing debates about the ride’s content, Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t seeing more updates anytime soon, and it typically operates smoothly. However, the breakdown on June 28 was not your average malfunction.
According to TikTok user @cynthiaa822, her group got stuck at the top of a hill on the ride, and Disney cast members made an unusual choice.
“They made us go back n fourth till we pushed down,” the TikTok user recalled.
@cynthiaa822 we got stuck on pirates of the Caribbean 😭😭😭😹 they made us go back n fourth till we pushed down #disneyland #piratesofthecaribbeanridedisneyland #disney #fypシ #ridesatdisney #fyp
After the guests helped rock the boat to get it moving again, Pirates of the Caribbean continued its operation without any further issues.
It remains unclear what exactly caused the ride to break down, as Disneyland Resort rarely issues statements on minor technical difficulties. Nonetheless, Pirates of the Caribbean reopened and continued its normal operations in the days that followed the incident.
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