Adventureland invites exploration more than direct storytelling. Caves, bridges, and small lookouts encourage guests to wander. Yet, one of the land’s most recognizable structures has quietly shifted from play space to set piece, prompting confusion among returning visitors.
At Disney parks, temporary attraction closures are routine. Seasonal maintenance, refurbishment, staffing patterns, and safety evaluations all play a role. For example, Kali River Rapids is closed for seasonal maintenance right now at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, while Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is set to shutter in a few days at EPCOT to axe its 3D elements.
Some rides and walk-throughs reappear quickly. Others take significantly longer, leaving guests unsure whether they’re waiting for a reopening or witnessing a slow retirement.
The Pirate Galleon at Disneyland Paris falls into the latter category. The ship remains visually prominent on Adventure Isle, yet it rarely opens. The result is an attraction that looks functional but is often inaccessible without any official explanation.
Pirate Galleon Faces Recurrent Closures at Disneyland Paris
The Pirate Galleon is separate from Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Paris. It’s a themed climbing and play area that once served as an anchor point for Adventure Isle’s atmosphere. However, its sporadic availability has become widely discussed.
One guest wrote on Reddit, “I have seen posts dating back to 2016 with people saying the Pirate Galleon is shut, and I was there in June 2025 and it was closed, and it still says it’s closed now. Does anyone know why they initially shut it, and do they actually have any plans to reopen it or will it just sit there as decoration forever?”
Disney’s website still promotes the attraction, stating: “Jump aboard this famous Jolly Roger-flying galleon for an ‘all hands on deck’ buccaneering blast. Arrr!” There is no closure notice listed.
Some fans cite weather. One commenter said, “The problem is usually weather. The wood gets slippery when wet, and people might fall and hurt themselves… they tend to shut down everything as soon as any amount of rain has fallen.”
However, this explanation doesn’t cover every closure. Another guest pointed out that during a stretch of extreme heat exceeding 35 degrees (Celsius, not Fahrenheit), with no rain for weeks, the ship remained closed. They asked, “What was the excuse during that time I wonder?”
Why Does Disneyland Paris Close Pirate Galleon So Often?
Maintenance concerns are another frequent theory. One guest said, “DLP doesn’t maintain anything on time, so things get damaged and become dangerous, and then they close them. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a structural integrity issue, and not just a problem of ‘slippery when wet’.”
Staffing has also been suggested by some, though Disneyland Paris has not confirmed any specific reason.
The Pirate Galleon has opened occasionally. Some guests reported access in 2022 and again for short periods more recently. However, across visits made in 2024, 2023, 2020, and 2019, we did not see it open.
Adventure Isle was built as an active, exploratory environment. When a centerpiece structure remains closed, the land’s energy shifts. Instead of an interactive play space, the ship becomes more decorative than experiential.
Disneyland Paris has not announced a refurbishment, retheme, or permanent closure. For now, the Pirate Galleon remains visible, photographed, and largely inaccessible.
Have you ever experienced Pirate Galleon while it was open – or only as scenery?
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