Things We Don’t Like About Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World

These are things we could do without on Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Pirate animatronics reach for a key held by a dog animatronic on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. — Credit: Disney

Few rides or attractions are as iconic as Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. The classic dark ride debuted at Disneyland Park in 1967, and the rest is history.

Meant to take riders on dark, action-packed yet still whimsical pirating adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean is both a window back in time and a modern staple of the Disney parks. Sure, the ride has changed over the years, but the overall experience is pretty much the same as it was for your grandparents.

However, there are a few things we dislike about this attraction.

The Line

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

First, Pirates of the Caribbean often has a lengthy line. Waiting in line isn’t something anyone wants to do, but it’s the harsh reality about not just Disneyland and Walt Disney World but any theme park.

With Pirates of the Caribbean being so iconic and so popular, guests can easily expect to wait anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for this one. There are certain times of the day when the ride will be far below this number, but we recommend using the early and late hours to explore other popular attractions, such as TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain.

Getting Backed Up

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

This isn’t a problem specifically about Pirates of the Caribbean, as much as it is with Disney’s water rides in general. Anyone who has been on Pirates or “it’s a small world” knows that these slow-moving boat rides can get quite backed up.

As a result, it’s common for guests to get stuck toward the end of their ride, lodged in between other boats. This affects the overall flow and feel of the attraction, turning a well-paced experience into an attraction guests can’t wait to get off of.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure also has this issue, with logs piling up toward the end of the ride.

Getting Wet

Pirates of the Caribbean ride station at Disney World with people waiting and a worker standing by a water ride boat, preparing for departure. Visitors observe from the platform, showing excitement and anticipation — Credit: Rick, Inside the Magic

This really isn’t that big of an issue on Pirates of the Caribbean, but specific riders on certain boats may end up getting a lot wetter than they thought. Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t a “water ride” in the traditional sense, but a particular spot can leave riders drenched.

Right after the drop at the beginning of the ride, guests are placed in the middle of an epic battle between a pirate ship and the local town. Cannonballs are heard flying through the air, and water splashes all around riders’ boat.

These splashes of water can cause serious damage, depending on where the passengers are sitting and where the boat is.

And that’s it. There really isn’t much to complain about when it comes to Pirates of the Caribbean. The classic dark ride is pretty much perfect and undoubtedly one of the very best attractions in all of Walt Disney World. Don’t skip out on this one!

Do you agree with our list? Do you enjoy riding Pirates of the Caribbean?