Pirates of the Caribbean has long been a cornerstone of the Disney experience, but we’re starting to get concerned about one location inspired by the franchise.
There are iconic Disney rides, and then there’s Pirates of the Caribbean. First opened at Disneyland Park, the boat ride – which combines groundbreaking audio-animatronics and immersive storytelling to take guests on a journey through a swashbuckling adventure – has inspired similar versions at Magic Kingdom Park, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland (with the latter putting a modern spin on the attraction).
Beyond the initial ride, Disney has also introduced other Pirates of the Caribbean features to its parks over the years. Walt Disney Imagineering recently announced plans for a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland, describing it as a haven for “pirate-kind” of all ages. This new venue, designed to expand the ride’s classic story, will apparently occupy the space once held by the Pirates League.
However, while anticipation builds for this addition, the fate of another Pirates-themed location—the quick-service restaurant Tortuga Tavern—remains unclear.
Tortuga Tavern has long operated seasonally, but its current closure has left Disney World guests wondering about its future. Earlier this week, the Disney World website listed operating hours for the restaurant beginning Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Despite this, the restaurant failed to reopen as planned.
Disney has updated the page. However, don’t go looking for a reopening date to add to your calendar any time soon—the page now lists Tortuga Tavern as closed through at least March 3, 2025, which is the latest date currently visible on the calendar.
This extended closure is unusual. As we said, the restaurant – which is inspired by the film franchise inspired by the attraction, in which the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) visit the port of Tortuga on multiple occasions – has been seasonal for a while.
However, it’s now been months since Tortuga Tavern last served food, with the restaurant skipping out on several peak periods for restaurant traffic at Magic Kingdom, like the summer and the holidays.
From August to November 2024, it temporarily operated as Tortuga Treasures, a gift shop for Pirates of the Caribbean while its regular retail space, Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, underwent refurbishment. During this time, Captain Jack Sparrow also made appearances at the location.
Rumors of a permanent closure circulated in 2024, sparking concern among fans of the restaurant. Given the limited quick-service options at Magic Kingdom, we hope Tortuga Tavern does make a return at some point in the near future. We’ll keep a weather eye on the horizon.
What are your thoughts on Tortuga Tavern’s closure?
