Pirates of the Caribbean has been closed at Disneyland Park for roughly a month, and the work now visible in the queue area offers the first tangible signs of what Disney cast members have been up to inside one of New Orleans Square's most iconic attractions.
Fresh Paint Spotted in the Queue
WDWNT reported on June 2 that a Disney cast member had been observed repainting sections of the Pirates of the Caribbean queue area in New Orleans Square. The alternating tan and terracotta rectangular panels located beneath the black metal railings of the queue appeared noticeably brighter than the surrounding areas. Tarps were laid across the ground near the newly painted sections to protect the pavement from drips, and paint buckets were spotted nearby.
Exterior queue repainting suggests the refurbishment is progressing systematically through the attraction's various components rather than focusing exclusively on the ride experience itself, boding well for the overall condition of the 59-year-old New Orleans Square attraction when it eventually reopens.
Pirates of the Caribbean closed for refurbishment on May 4, 2026. Disneyland Resort's website offers no reopening date and simply encourages guests to “check back soon” — suggesting the closure timeline remains open-ended.
Blue Bayou Reopens Without View Into the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
The closure of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride has created an unusual dining experience next door. Blue Bayou Restaurant — which has built its entire atmosphere around the view of Pirates of the Caribbean boats drifting past tables in the dimly lit bayou setting — also closed for refurbishment on the same day as the New Orleans Square attraction.
It has since reopened, but with a noticeably different experience: plywood walls now block the view into the attraction, removing the signature element that has made Blue Bayou one of the most sought-after dining reservations at Disneyland Park for decades. The full menu remains available, but the ambiance that defines the restaurant is on hold until Pirates of the Caribbean comes back online.
Disneyland Resort has not shared any details about the scope or goals of the Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment, leaving guests to piece together the picture from what's visible around the ride queue and Blue Bayou.
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