Disneyland California will temporarily close two popular attractions this spring for renovations. Beginning May 4, both the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the adjacent Blue Bayou Restaurant will shut down for refurbishment, according to the park's website.
The Blue Bayou Restaurant, which offers Cajun-Creole cuisine, will offer a modified dining experience during the closure. The notice states that views will be obstructed and guests may hear refurbishment noise. The restaurant is scheduled to reopen in late May, while no timeline has been given for the ride's reopening.
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride, located in New Orleans Square, has been a staple since opening in 1967. It was the last attraction personally overseen by Walt Disney before his death in 1966. The Blue Bayou opened concurrently, marking the park's first full-service dining experience inside an attraction. The ride directly inspired the Johnny Depp-led film franchise.
The closures come weeks after seven Disneyland employees were hospitalised following a hazmat situation. The employees suffered minor injuries, including dizziness and shortness of breath, after an unknown odour in a backstage area near the Star Tours attraction. The odour was later attributed to building contractor materials.
