A sudden closure at Magic Kingdom Park’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride recently caught the attention of Walt Disney World Resort guests and fans online. While the attraction is no stranger to routine maintenance, this unexpected shutdown left visitors stranded in the water, forcing Disney cast members to step in and evacuate guests.
A Disney Classic Faces an Unexpected Halt
For over 50 years, Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of the most iconic attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. Inspired by the original Disneyland Park version, the Magic Kingdom iteration opened in 1973, bringing guests on a swashbuckling adventure through treacherous pirate-infested waters. The ride became even more legendary when Disney Imagineers added animatronics of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) following the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.
Though the attraction has seen updates over the years, including the controversial transformation of the bride auction scene, Pirates of the Caribbean has remained a fan-favorite. However, recent guest complaints have sparked debate over whether additional modifications are needed. Some have criticized the male animatronics for ogling female visitors, while others believe the classic attraction is fine as is.
“I just think this is kind of a weird ride,” one Disney Park guest said in 2023. “I don’t know… It’s just a little bit rapey.”
“I always felt violated on this ride,” another visitor agreed.
Guests Stranded When Pirates of the Caribbean Ride Breaks Down
On February 20, Reddit user u/AffectionateHouse120 shared this image of Pirates of the Caribbean with its overhead lights illuminated, an eerie sight for any Disney Parks fan. Guests were left waiting in their ride vehicles, unable to move forward, as cast members worked to evacuate them safely.
current status
The post quickly gained attention, amassing more than 1,600 upvotes and drawing curious reactions from fans.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Pirates with the lights on,” u/SabotTheCat wrote. “…Why did I always imagine the water beneath the boat was AT LEAST waist high?”
“I never imagined the water was that clear,” u/Cirrus-Startus responded.
While the behind-the-scenes look was fascinating for a moment, the guest grew sick of being stuck.
“Have to admit I also wanted this to happen at some point but gotta say… sitting for 30 min in the back of that boat got old kinda fast,” the Disney Park guest said. “…Novel for about 5 min and then you’re over it.”
Another Disney Parks fan, u/it4brown, agreed: “It’s miserable. The seats are extremely uncomfortable, the air goes stale, and it can take a WHILE before evac. Happened to my wife and I last year, we sat there for 45 minutes before they came to get us.”
What’s Next for Pirates of the Caribbean?
While Walt Disney World Resort has not publicly commented on the cause of this temporary shutdown, Pirates of the Caribbean eventually reopened and was operating normally at the time of this article’s publication. Ride breakdowns are not uncommon, especially for aging attractions requiring frequent upkeep.
Has a ride breakdown impacted your trip to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
