Pirates of the Caribbean Location Closed in Disney World and Replaced by Gift Shop

in Disney Parks, Walt Disney World

A black and white portrait of a man in a suit and tie is positioned in the foreground. Behind him, one of Walt's Original Ride Designs from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride features animatronic pirates in jail, attempting to coax a guard dog with keys in its mouth.

Credit: Inside the Magic

A popular longtime spot at Walt Disney World has been officially replaced.

A colorful entrance sign to Adventureland featuring decorative masks and bamboo accents against a backdrop of lush tropical greenery and blue skies.
Credit: Disney

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At the Magic Kingdom, guests can choose between several distinct lands to explore, ranging from the futuristic Tomorrowland to the bright and colorful Fantasyland.

While thrills abound in every corner of the Magic Kingdom, Adventureland tends to be one of the most popular and most crowded. Among several exciting experiences, guests will also find Disney’s iconic Pirates of the Caribbean dark ride here.

This pirate hub is undergoing significant changes, with Disney opening a brand-new location on Tuesday.

Pirates of the Caribbean at the Magic Kingdom
Credit: Brittany DiCologero

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Guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort will notice a new location named Tortuga Treasures has opened, replacing the former site of Tortuga Tavern. Tortuga Tavern was a southwestern quick-service location similar to Pecos Bill, which closed indefinitely in June of this year.

This new Tortuga Tavern pop-up shop features typical pirate and adventure-themed trinkets that guests would find around Walt Disney World, like shirts, pins, and stuffed animals.

A lot of the original Tortuga Tavern theming remains visible throughout the new shop, but the food menu board has since been covered up.

This new gift shop is reportedly temporary, with several changes planned for the entire Pirates of the Caribbean area in Adventureland.

Okay so Tortuga Tavern at Walt Disney World has been converted into Tortuga Treasures. The original Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop, Plaza de Sol Caribe is now empty with walls up. This is all for the new Pirates bar/lounge that’s coming. Photo credit to @Blog_Mickey

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At Disney’s Destination D23 event last year, the company announced it would build a brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge near the attraction. This “first of its kind” lounge will further tell the story of Disney’s legendary swashbuckling dark ride.

It’s unclear where exactly this new location will be built, but it’s likely that the new Pirates of the Caribbean lounge will call the former site of Tortuga Tavern and the surrounding areas home in the coming months.

Disney has been tinkering with expanding its theme park rides and attractions into new experiences, opening a Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant at the Magic Kingdom several years ago.

Tortuga Tavern is not the only casualty of current changes in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland.

Captain Jack Sparrow’s meet-and-greet has also been moved due to the ongoing construction in Adventureland. Jack Sparrow’s old meeting area, Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, closed earlier this month, meaning guests hoping to meet the pirate legend will now do so near the new Tortuga Treasures gift shop location.

This new area will serve as Captain Jack Sparrow’s meet and greet area for the foreseeable future, as construction walls, tarps, and other materials now cover a decent chunk of the previous meeting area.

It’s likely fans will get more information about the upcoming pirates lounge at this year’s D23 event, which officially begins on August 9, 2024.

Will you be visiting Magic Kingdom soon? What’s your favorite ride at Walt Disney World?

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