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Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicA former Walt Disney World Resort cast member recently shared his first-hand account of a horrific injury that occurred more than a decade ago on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Pirates of the Caribbean is the star of Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park, New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park, and other international Disney Park lands. The attraction has undergone numerous changes over the years, from replacing its controversial bride auction scene to adding Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) animatronics.
Updates to Pirates of the Caribbean are incredibly controversial. Some guests say the historic ride should remain the same, while others argue it’s still offensive to some visitors. But on that day so many years ago, no one was worried about updated special effects…
“I was working near the front of the ride at the entrance, and it was very early in the day,” the former Disney cast member (@sweatyoracle on TikTok) recalled.
@sweatyoracle Mickey Mouse, leg&ly this story is both standup and allegedly #waltdisneyworld #disneyworld #disneyland #piratesofthecaribbean #wdw #wdwtiktok #castmember #castmemberlife #castmemberstories #disneycastmember #disneycastlife #sweatyoracle #foryou #fyp
He claimed that a man approached and, in a British accent, said, “I think I’ve lost something on your ride,” while holding up his hand that was missing “about four fingers.”
“He had his hand in the water during the drop,” the TikToker explained. “…He probably shouldn’t have done that because the machinery took his fingers off.”
“It’s so funny to me that the man walked from unload, up the ramp, through the gift shop, to the front of the ride to tell us, passing at least half a dozen cast members,” he continued. “So it was me who got the story points and trauma.”
“He had retired from the British army if I remember right and had known to wrap it and apply pressure!” the TikToker added in a comment. “He was wildly calm and in good spirits.”
The former Disney cast member also claimed that Walt Disney Imagineers used hot dogs from Magic Kingdom Park’s Casey’s Corner restaurant as fake fingers to test the attraction before reopening. He also alleged that the man’s fingers were “still floating around in it somewhere.”
“Allegedly, Disney lawyers showed up before EMS did as if materialized out of the ground,” the former Disney cast member said.
While those allegations could not be verified, one of Walt Disney World Resort’s quarterly injury reports confirms that within a few weeks in July 2014, a British tourist lost part of two fingers, and a 12-year-old severely injured four fingers on Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s unclear whether either incident is related to the former Disney cast member’s tale.
Other former Disney cast members confirmed the story in the comments, which has become somewhat of a legend among Magic Kingdom Park employees.
“I tell people this story TO THIS DAY,” one commenter wrote. “I was custodial across the park!!! I CANNOT believe I forgot the details about the hot dogs and the guy coming up to greeter to say he ‘lost something’.”
“A legend! I was told this story when I was training for a different attraction in a different park back in 2018,” said another.
A Disney Park guest also shared their experience of visiting Walt Disney World Resort after someone was injured on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:
“I was actually at Disney World when this happened! Ride was closed when we got there, my dad asked cast member when they’ll reopen (she didn’t say man got his fingers cut off). We found out later”
“We 100% were reminded before the ride reopened that we weren’t allowed to talk to the press and we weren’t allowed to tell [guests],” the former Disney cast member replied.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen another guest do on a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments.
Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on a personal Disney Parks experience. No two experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Inside the Magic’s personal views on Disney Park operations.