Pirates of the Caribbean Closes at Disneyland Today for Refurbishment of 59-Year-Old Ride
Pirates of the Caribbean Closes at Disneyland Today for Refurbishment of 59-Year-Old Ride
Colson ThayerSun, May 3, 2026 at 11:15 AM UTC
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A scene on Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean rideCredit: Joshua Sudock/Orange County Register via Getty -
Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Blue Bayou restaurant are officially closing for refurbishment on May 3
Disney has not announced an official reopening date for the attractions
The ride, which opened in 1967, was the last attraction personally overseen by Walt Disney before his death in 1966
The attraction inspired the blockbuster film franchise starring Johnny Depp, beginning with 2003's The Curse of the Black Pearl
Captain Jack Sparrow and the rest of the swashbuckling sailors featured on Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction are taking a break for the foreseeable future.
At the end of park hours on Sunday, May 3, officials will officially close the beloved ride in order to make refurbishments to the 59-year-old attraction. The neighboring Blue Bayou restaurant, which offers a Louisiana-inspired dining experience, will also close.
News of the closure period first broke last month when Disneyland the Blue Bayou restaurant's webpage to inform incoming guests of the refurbishments.
The entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean at DisneylandCredit: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
The restaurant “is tentatively scheduled to reopen in late May,” the page says. “The restaurant will offer a modified dining experience while Pirates of the Caribbean is also under refurbishment, as views will be obstructed and guests may hear some refurbishment noise.”
An official timeline for the ride's reopening has not yet been announced by Disney. It has closed for refurbishment for relatively short periods throughout its history, most recently in 2022.
According to City of Anaheim building permit records, park officials were issued a permit for the ride on March 4. The permit description reads, “Install 3 service ladders at scene #7. Rockwork, projectors and speakers at scene #11. Replace cabinet and related panels adjacent to scene #17.”
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The entrance to the Blue Bayou Restaurant at DisneylandCredit: Helen Sessions / Alamy
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Blue Bayou restaurant have been staples at the Anaheim, Calif., park since their opening in 1967. The ride was the last attraction to be personally overseen by Walt Disney before his death in 1966. The experiences opened concurrently, with the restaurant uniquely designed to allow guests to watch the boats as they drift by.
The ride, which was considered a major success when it opened, is still one of the most immersive attractions ever created for a theme park. Disney Imagineers later opened another version at Disney World's Magic Kingdom park in 1973.
The attraction also spawned the massive film franchise of the same name, starring Johnny Depp. The first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, premiered in 2003. Four sequels then followed: Dead Man's Chest (2006), At World's End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011) and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
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Over in Tomorrowland, another beloved attraction also remains closed for refurbishment.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, which invites guests to join the iconic Toy Story character as he fights the Evil Emperor Zurg, is currently being refreshed. The attraction's webpage encourages guests to “check back here for updates.” The Disney World version of the ride, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, reopened on April 8 after an eight-month refurbishment.
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