10On Monday evening, Walt Disney World Resort’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride shut down as part of a widespread system outage at Magic Kingdom Park. One Disney Park guest shared a video detailing how Disney cast members rescued guests from the Adventureland attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean has been entertaining Magic Kingdom Park guests for 51 years. The attraction has changed over the years, from the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) animatronics to the controversial auction scene update. In the late 2010s, Walt Disney Imagineers reimagined brides-for-auction into independent female pirates, including the beloved Captain Redd.
Some nostalgic Disney Parks fans weren’t happy that modern cultural viewpoints were inserted into the decades-old Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions. Others were thrilled to see a more inclusive Pirates of the Caribbean, with some Disney Park guests advocating for even more change to the ride.
In 2023, one woman went viral after saying she felt ogled by male pirate animatronics on the classic Disney boat ride: “I just think this is kind of a weird ride. I don’t know… It’s just a little bit rapey.”
Although the guest’s video amassed widespread backlash, some Disney Parks fans agreed with her take.
“I always felt violated on this ride,” one commenter wrote.
“It feels like we’re the entertainment for them and I do not like it,” another replied.
Nevertheless, Pirates of the Caribbean continues to draw thousands of guests daily. On February 10, dozens of those guests embarked on a truly unexpected adventure when the ride broke down.
On Monday night, Magic Kingdom Park’s central pressurized air system malfunctioned, shutting down most attractions throughout the theme park and even breaking fountain drink machines. One guest (@marzman71 on TikTok) stuck on Pirates of the Caribbean at this time shared this video of a Disney cast member helping guests evacuate the ride:
@marzman71 Send help ASAP!! #disney #disneyworld #piratesofthecaribbean #trapped #waltdisney #yummy
“POV: You board Pirates of the Caribbean expecting adventure…but end up getting trapped,” the Disney Park guest wrote. “Send help ASAP!!”
In the video, a Disney cast member wearing waders walked through the ride water. Guests were instructed to remain seated until the cast member dragged their ride vehicles to a safe evacuation platform.
Luckily, everyone evacuated Pirates of the Caribbean safely on Monday evening. After technicians resolved Magic Kingdom Park’s system outage, the attraction reopened. It has operated normally in the hours since.
Have you ever gotten stuck on a ride at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort? In the comments, share your experience with Inside the Magic!