Official Report Confirms Severe Guest Injuries on Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean Ride

A chilling tale from Walt Disney World Resort‘s Pirates of the Caribbean ride has resurfaced, bringing a confirmed history of severe injuries to light. What some Disney cast members considered an urban legend gained new traction after a witness shared his story on TikTok.

A Cast Member’s Shocking Recollection

A former Walt Disney World Resort cast member, known as @sweatyoracle on TikTok, recently shared his first-hand account of a guest suffering a horrifying injury on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

@sweatyoracle Mickey Mouse, leg&ly this story is both standup and allegedly #waltdisneyworld #disneyworld #disneyland #piratesofthecaribbean #wdw #wdwtiktok #castmember #castmemberlife #castmemberstories #disneycastmember #disneycastlife #sweatyoracle #foryou #fyp ♬ original sound – sweaty oracle

“I was working near the front of the ride at the entrance, and it was very early in the day,” the former cast member recalled.

A British man approached with a serious but calm expression.

“I think I’ve lost something on your ride,” the guest said, holding up his hand, which was missing several fingers.

The TikToker explained that the guest had been injured by the machinery, which severed his fingers after he submerged them in the water during one of the ride’s drops. Despite the severity of the injury, the man reportedly remained calm and even navigated the ride’s exit path and gift shop to alert Magic Kingdom Park cast members.

“He had retired from the British army if I remember right and had known to wrap it and apply pressure!” the cast member added in a comment.

Hot Dogs and Lawyers?

In a macabre twist, the TikToker alleged that Walt Disney Imagineers tested the ride before reopening using hot dogs from Casey’s Corner to simulate fingers and ensure safety. “Allegedly, Disney lawyers showed up before EMS did as if materialized out of the ground,” he added.

While these claims remain unverifiable, the story has become a legend among Disney Parks cast members. Other former employees commented on the video, sharing their memories of the incident. “I tell people this story TO THIS DAY,” wrote one user. Another shared, “A legend! I was told this story when I was training for a different attraction in a different park back in 2018.”

The Official Record

Walt Disney World’s quarterly injury reports confirm that within a few weeks in July 2014, a British tourist lost part of two fingers on Pirates of the Caribbean. In a separate incident during the same time frame, a 12-year-old guest severely injured four fingers on the same ride. While the exact connection between these reports and the TikToker’s tale remains unclear, the official documentation adds weight to the infamous story.

Pirates of the Caribbean Ride Closure 

A Disney Park guest who visited Magic Kingdom during one of the incidents shared their experience. “I was actually at Disney World when this happened! Ride was closed when we got there,” they wrote. “My dad asked cast member when they’ll reopen (she didn’t say man got his fingers cut off). We found out later.”

According to the former cast member, Disney employees were reminded not to discuss the incident with guests or the press before the ride reopened.

“We 100% were reminded before the ride reopened that we weren’t allowed to talk to the press and we weren’t allowed to tell [guests],” he explained.

Have you witnessed another guest behaving inappropriately on a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort ride? Share your story with How to Disney in the comments. 

Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on a personal Disney Parks experience. No two experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with How to Disney’s personal views on Disney Park operations.