Extensive Renovations Underway at Pirates of the Caribbean Exit in Magic Kingdom

Aug 08, 2024 in "Pirates of the Caribbean"

Pirates of the Caribbean Exit and Gift Shop construction walls - August 8 2024
Posted: Thursday August 8, 2024 2:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The exit area and gift shop, Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, at Pirates of the Caribbean are now under extensive construction, with walls blocking most of the space.


Pirates of the Caribbean riders now exit through a narrow corridor of the gift shop and out through a side gate.









No merchandise is available at the exit, but select items have been moved across the walkway to Tortuga Treasures, which occupies the Tortuga Tavern location. The area restrooms remain available.



In June, Disney filed a construction permit for the Pirates of the Caribbean area, assigned to long-time Disney partner Whiting-Turner Contractor Company, which has previously worked with Disney on numerous major projects across Walt Disney World.

It seems likely that Disney is making changes to the gift shop to allow for the construction of the previously announced Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge. One theory is that the open area is being enclosed with a new roof to allow more effective use of the space, which will also include the former Pirates League makeover experience.

When announced in September 2023, Disney said this first-of-its-kind experience will extend the story of Pirates of the Caribbean. While information is scarce so far, Disney did reveal one small detail—the Barker Bird animatronic (pictured in the concept art) will make a welcome return.

Finally, on the outside of the building, refurbishment remain positioned around the Torre del Cielo tower.

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    larryz4 days ago

    Love to see the crews working toward hitting theoretical capacity!

    dmc4934 days ago

    idk when I was there last week I started being a huge nerd at a few different rides and tracking boat release timing (I'm bad with words tonight don't judge me but you know what I'm trying to say). Props to the CMs there, there was a boat launching every 30 seconds almost like clockwork and every single one packed. Good attraction with some real good capacity :)

    peter114355 days ago

    Running even a couple less boats could cause that, but they definitely aren’t running half. The difference between the most and least boats you’ve ever seen operating on the ride is in the low single digits. The more likely catalyst to what you witnessed was not the number of boats on the attraction but rather how efficiently they were dispatching them.

    DisneyRoy5 days ago

    I think they changed something. I used to remember always being backed up past Johnny at the end of the ride. But the last couple of times I've been on it there has been no boats in the unload area. Seems like there are less on the ride then their used to be.

    peter114358 days ago

    ummmm… no

    CAlexander8 days ago

    Feel like that could warrant its own thread. That ride needs a refurb, they often only run half the boats recently.

    JMcMahonEsq31 days ago

    Well obviously. But from a risk management perspective I don't let any of our sites/operations be videoed while active operations are ongoing, just so that we don't inadvertently provide evidence for OSHA violations, improper workplace maintenance, or ammunition for owners. By videoed i mean for third party distribution not for documenting progress or internal use.

    lazyboy97o31 days ago

    It’s in a caption that her role is Assistant Producer.

    solidyne31 days ago

    ...how young people speak. I am ageist not sexist. In my line of work, I encounter many young men with these speech patterns, perhaps even more men than women.

    LittleBuford31 days ago

    Sorry if I seemed to be contributing to it; that was the opposite of my intention.

    LittleBuford31 days ago

    I don’t hear that either. She sounds fine to me! It’s strange that such an inoffensive video should have caused such irritation.

    RosR931 days ago

    love it when we spend time criticizing how young women speak 🙄

    solidyne31 days ago

    Yeah, not too much fry. More uptalk, I suppose.