One of Disneyland’s Most Popular Rides Just Shut Down Indefinitely

If you often find yourself singing, “Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me” from time to time (or is that just me?), I have bad news: Pirates of the Caribbean, the iconic Disneyland ride and must-see attraction for most visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth, is now closed indefinitely. Disneyland shared, “Pirates of the Caribbean is currently closed for refurbishment. Please check back here for updates.” Like the ghostly voices you hear throughout Pirates, the message is quite haunting for fans.

This news comes with another update happening in New Orleans Square. Blue Bayou, the Louisiana-inspired restaurant attached to Pirates of the Caribbean, won’t take reservations until the end of the month… probably. At the time of publishing, the restaurant’s page said it was “tentatively scheduled to reopen in late May.”

It makes sense that Pirates could use a tune-up. The popular ride first opened on March 18, 1967, just three months after Walt Disney’s death. Reportedly the last ride Disney’s founder worked on, it takes guests down a waterfall and into mysterious caverns and immersive battle scenes. In the early 2000s, those memorable pirates were reimagined for the Oscar-winning film series starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom (among many other notable actors).

As we patiently refresh those pages over and over again, there are two big reopenings to celebrate. Both the Monorail and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin in Mickey’s Toontown were shut down for refurbishment in late March, but are back in action as of May 1.

Even if your favorite rides aren’t operating, summer is still a great time to head to the parks. Right now, parents can take advantage of the kids’ summer ticket offer ($50 for visitors ages 3 to 9 from May 22 to September 7). Just make sure you’ve packed water, sunscreen, and of course, your Mickey Mouse ears!