Male Pirates Removed From Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean Ride

One Disney Park has quietly removed multiple male pirate animatronics from its Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean first opened in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park in 1967. In the subsequent years, Walt Disney Imagineers created versions of the ride for Adventureland in Walt Disney World Resort’s Magic Kingdom Park, Tokyo Disneyland at Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris Resort.

Pirates of the Caribbean, iconic Disney ride, failing during the well scene at Disneyland Park. A lively scene in a dimly lit, colorful stage set resembling a historic village. Characters in pirate and colonial costumes, reminiscent of Pirates of the Caribbean, are animatedly interacting, with a well in the center and various buildings as a backdrop. — Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic

Although many Disney Park guests assume the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise inspired the attraction, it’s actually the other way around. Following the movies’ worldwide success, Walt Disney Imagineers retrofitted Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) animatronics into the Pirates of the Caribbean rides. But this isn’t the only change Disney has made to the historic ride in its decades of existence.

In the late 2010s, Disney announced it would remove an outdated bride auction scene from Pirates of the Caribbean. They transformed the objectified female animatronics into independent pirates selling chickens–an homage to the former “chick auction” scene.

Like any change at the Disney parks, the auction scene update was controversial. Some Disney Parks fans felt sanitizing Pirates of the Caribbean was wrong, while others welcomed a more inclusive version of the ride. Still, another group of Disney Park guests felt Walt Disney Imagineers didn’t go far enough.

In 2023, a woman went viral after stating that she felt Pirates of the Caribbean was still offensive to women: “I just think this is kind of a weird ride. I don’t know… It’s just a little bit rapey.”

A group of people wait in line under hanging lanterns at the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The ride's sign, featuring tattered black cloth with orange text, is prominently displayed above the queue. The architecture is themed with arches and wooden beams. — Credit: Inside the Magic

Although the guest’s video amassed widespread backlash, some Disney Parks fans agreed.

“It feels like we’re the entertainment for them and I do not like it,” one commenter wrote.

“The way people COMPLAINED abt the forced brides scene being removed,” another replied. “….Automatically on a list.”

Auction scene featuring Pirate Redd, the auctioneer, and townspeople in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World Resort — Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic

Now, one international Disney Park has quietly changed its version of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride–but not because of guest backlash. According to PixieDust.be, multiple male pirate animatronics have gone missing from the Disneyland Paris Resort attraction.

Disneyland Park guests first noticed a popular swinging pirate animatronic had gone missing months ago. Now, two dueling pirates have disappeared behind a black curtain, though the audio of their swordfight still plays.

Pirates of the Caribbean entrance at Disneyland Paris — Credit: Disneyland Paris

Later in the ride, a trio of pirates singing “A Pirate’s Life for Me” has been reduced to two. A nearby donkey animatronic had previously disappeared for maintenance but has since returned.

Disneyland Paris Resort hasn’t publicly commented on the missing pirate animatronics, but they’re likely undergoing scheduled maintenance. The attraction continues to operate normally, and there is no word on when (or if) the pirates will return.

Which Disney Park has the best Pirates of the Caribbean ride? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!