We all have that one ride we just HAVE to rope drop in Disney World, right?

Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom

Maybe you always run straight to Spaceship Earth as soon as EPCOT opens because you need to hear Dame Judi Dench tell you about the history of communication. Maybe it’s making a beeline for Pandora to ride Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Perhaps you want your first ride in Magic Kingdom to be Pirates of the Caribbean, but if that’s the case, you may not want to do that.

We get it. Pirates of the Caribbean is awesome — those animatronics, that song (we bet you’re at least humming it RIGHT NOW), and THAT SMELL. We might be tempted to make a run for that attraction at rope drop, too. But we’re telling you that you should reconsider. Here’s why.

It’s often closed

Imagine this: rope drop has just happened and you’re walking (not running!) very very fast to get to Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. Except that when you reach the ride, Cast Members are standing outside of it telling you that it’s closed. Think this is a fluke? Think again. This ride has been having a lot of issues recently and has been closed a lot. Sometimes, it’s even been closed for almost entire days.

A recent Pirates of the Caribbean closure

That includes first thing in the morning, shortly after rope drop. So save yourself the disappointment and don’t make Pirates of the Caribbean your rope drop ride. Recently, we saw the ride closed most of the day on August 4th, and all day on August 5th. Before that, it was closed for an extended time on July 31st. 

Why You Can’t Count on Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World These Days

More popular rides should be your priority

Here’s the thing: Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t going ANYWHERE, and making it your rope drop priority may not be a good use of your time. There are far more popular rides you’ll probably want to head to first, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Even rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion would be better ways to use your rope drop time as those rides tend to have longer lines as the day progresses.

Make other rides your rope dropping priority

So don’t make Pirates of the Caribbean the first ride you head to for rope drop — you’ll be wasting valuable time you could’ve spent on knocking out more popular rides.

Best Rides for Adults at Magic Kingdom

There are better times to ride Pirates of the Caribbean

Instead of wasting that rope drop time on Pirates of the Caribbean, you’ll find shorter lines for this attraction later in the day. For example, during fireworks, you might likely be able to walk right onto the attraction. This is also true during meal times, and later at night.

Wait until later to watch this scene

In fact, you can hop in line for Pirates of the Caribbean just before park close and avoid much of the crowds leaving Magic Kingdom. By the time you’re off the ride, those crowds will have dissipated some and you’ll have a quieter Magic Kingdom to yourself as you leave.

The Pirates of the Caribbean Detail You’ve Probably Walked Past 100 Times in Disney World

Again, if you MUST rope drop Pirates of the Caribbean, we understand. This classic Disney attraction is timeless, fun, and utterly charming (and even a little scary sometimes). So we’re not going to tell you what to do, but you could enjoy the ride with a shorter line later if you just have a little patience. To quote Captain Jack Sparrow: “The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can’t do.”

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YOU CAN, TOO.

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How much of a priority is Pirates of the Caribbean for you when you’re in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments.