Disneyland Resort’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride is no stranger to controversy, but this time, guest frustration wasn’t about the ride’s content. On December 27, Disney Park guests on the New Orleans Square attraction experienced an unexpected breakdown that left them stuck for an extended period. One guest shared their “nightmare” experience online.
A Breakdown in the Caribbean
On December 27, @blaisemadison shared their ordeal in two videos on TikTok. The guest described being stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean as “nightmare core,” referencing the repetitive loop of animatronics and music they endured. “The song is engrained in me now,” the TikToker wrote.
@blaisemadison The song is engrained in me now 😃 #piratesofthecaribbean #disney #disneyland #ride
Later, the same Disney Park guest shared footage of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride with the lights on and the iconic music turned off, calling the eerie, exposed mechanics “nightmare fuel.”
@blaisemadison Nightmare fuel #pirates #piratesofthecaribbean #disneyland #disney #ride
In the video, Disney cast members could be seen walking along the ride’s emergency exit platform, though it’s unclear if a full evacuation occurred.
An Attraction Steeped in History…And Controversy
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney’s most iconic attractions, with versions at Disneyland Park, Magic Kingdom Park, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland. Its immersive scenes, memorable soundtrack, and storied past have made it a fan favorite for decades. However, it’s also been the source of debate over the years.
In the early 2000s, Walt Disney Imagineering added Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) animatronics to honor the ride’s blockbuster film franchise. Later, in the late 2010s, Imagineers updated the controversial bride auction scene, replacing the brides-for-sale animatronics with empowered female pirates. These changes divided theme park fans, with some praising Disney for modernizing the ride and others lamenting the loss of its original grit.
Still, some Disney Parks fans feel Walt Disney Imagineers didn’t update Pirates of the Caribbean enough. In 2023, a woman amassed attention online after calling the attraction “rapey.” Other Disney Park guests agreed and recalled feeling gawked at by the male pirate animatronics.
One Disney Parks fan said she felt “violated” on Pirates of the Caribbean. “It feels like we’re the entertainment for them and I do not like it,” said another.
Have you ever gotten stuck on a Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort attraction? Share your memories with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
