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Credit: Inside the MagicWalt Disney World Resort has temporarily covered up part of the exterior of its controversial Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It’s unclear what work is being done in the area, as it seems unrelated to the ongoing construction of the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge set to open later this year.
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney’s oldest and most discussed theme park attractions. The first version opened in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park in 1967. Magic Kingdom Park’s version followed in 1973, and Walt Disney Imagineers later recreated the attraction for Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.
The decades-old attraction isn’t quite the same as it was opening day. Although many of the ride’s original animatronics remain, some scenes have been tweaked or wholly reimagined.
In the early 2000s, Walt Disney Imagineers retrofitted Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) animatronics into Pirates of the Caribbean following the success of the film franchise. In the late 2010s, Disney announced that it would reimagine an outdated bride auction scene, turning objectified women into independent female pirates.
Any change to Pirates of the Caribbean is controversial. While some Disney Parks fans welcomed a more inclusive version of the ride, others felt it was wrong to sanitize the reality of piracy for theme park guests. Another group argued that Disney didn’t change the ride enough.
In 2023, a TikToker went viral after stating she felt uncomfortable riding Pirates of the Caribbean: “I just think this is kind of a weird ride. I don’t know… It’s just a little bit rapey.”
Although the video amassed backlash, some women agreed with the influencer’s opinion and shared what offended them about the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
“It feels like we’re the entertainment for them and I do not like it,” one commenter wrote.
Despite heated conversations among Disney Parks fans, Walt Disney Imagineering hasn’t announced any further updates to Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom Park or Disneyland Park. However, Walt Disney World Resort is set to open a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge near the Adventureland attraction this summer. The family-friendly dining location will “welcome pirates of all ages with a sea-worthy selection of grogs and grubs.”
As crews work on the lounge, some mysterious construction has appeared near Pirates of the Caribbean. On Tuesday, WDWNT reported that rolling planters now block part of the attraction’s exterior, blocking an area near the clock tower that is usually accessible to guests.
A black scrim covers the ground in the blocked-off area, suggesting that crews are completing routine maintenance on the pavement. However, Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t publicly confirmed anything about this project.
Pirates of the Caribbean remains open for guests to enjoy.
Do you enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? Share your memories with Inside the Magic in the comments!