Disneyland Is Temporarily Shutting Down a Beloved 59-year-old Ride for Refurbishment
Disneyland Is Temporarily Shutting Down a Beloved 59-year-old Ride for Refurbishment
Colson ThayerFri, March 27, 2026 at 3:56 PM UTC
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The entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at DisneylandCredit: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty -
Two beloved Disneyland attractions will be temporarily closed this spring for refurbishments
The Blue Bayou Restaurant will close on May 4, while a timeline has not been shared yet for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride refurbishment closure
The attractions have been staples at the park since they opened concurrently in 1967
Those planning a trip to Disneyland this spring might face some unfortunate closures of fan-favorite attractions during their visit.
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Blue Bayou Restaurant located in Disneyland's New Orleans Square are set to temporarily close for refurbishment, according to the resort’s website.
The Blue Bayou Restaurant, which offers a Louisiana-inspired dining experience directly adjacent to the beloved pirates ride, will close on May 4, and “is tentatively scheduled to reopen in late May.”
The website adds: “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.”
A dead pirate rests atop a pile of loot aplenty inside Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.Credit: Joshua Sudock/Orange County Register via Getty
However, the park has not shared a refurbishment timeline for the boat ride itself.
A Disney representative did not immediately offer a statement regarding the closures to PEOPLE.
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 founder 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.
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A Jack Sparrow animatronic on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at DisneylandCredit: Jim Smeal/Shutterstock
The pirates ride was a major success when it opened and is still considered one of the most immersive attractions created for a theme park. Disney Imagineers later opened a version at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park in 1973.
The ride also spawned the massive film franchise of the same name, starring Johnny Depp. The first movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, premiered in 2003.
The news of the temporary closures comes more than a month after a classic Disneyland ride slated to close permanently unexpectedly got one extra year at the park.
Families visiting Disney's California Adventure Park will have until 2027 to ride Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!, according to an announcement made by former park president Thomas Mazloum during a press briefing on Feb. 19, per KTLA.
Entrance to Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue!Credit: Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty
The attraction, located within Hollywood Land, was initially scheduled to close in the early part of 2026. The elimination of the ride is part of an ongoing effort to bring new experience to the park, including a land themed to the Avatar films, a Coco ride near Pixar Pier, an expansion to Avenger’s Campus and a new Eastern Gateway parking and transportation hub.
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However, a new revised timeline shifts the construction sequencing, allowing the ride to remain open longer than expected. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue! first opened in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area in December 2005, with a grand opening on Jan. 23, 2006.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
