The smell of churros in the air, the promise of swashbuckling adventure ahead… and then, nothing. That was the scene at Disneyland this past weekend as Vice President JD Vance rolled into the park—and proceeded to shut down the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean so he could ride it privately. Guests watched in disbelief as barricades went up, K9 units moved in, and another piece of the Disney experience was taken offline.Now, we’ve seen celebrities at Disney before. Beyoncé, The Weeknd, even Tom Hanks have strolled through the parks with a bit of help from Cast Members—but very rarely does it result in complete ride closures and visible Secret Service-level operations. This wasn’t just a backstage tour. This was a public disruption in the middle of a packed summer weekend.They closed the entirety of a pirates and part of New Orleans just so Vance could ride. byu/heavydutybeardbalm inDisneylandAnd fans are livid.“This Was a Power Move, Plain and Simple”Credit: Inside the MagicAs soon as word got out that Pirates of the Caribbean was closed off—not for refurb, not for technical issues, but for a government escort—the internet exploded. Over on Reddit, where parkgoers shared live updates, the backlash was instant.One user pulled no punches:“Exactly! A lot of people in Florida would’ve welcomed her disgusting troglodyte self with open arms; however, CA hates him. This was a power move, plain and simple. I don’t care what political office he ‘holds,’ he’s not a big deal, and no one would give a flying $!?& if he dropped dead in the middle of It’s A Small World. I’ve seen and legit ridden rides with major celebrities that walked around like everyone else. That, or they pay for the privilege of having the park to themselves. I hope every single ride he rode broke down.”And that was just the beginning.Another added:“Oh but ruining the experience for others while being treated like royalty at the expense of American tax dollars is the point. They wouldn’t have it any other way. At this point I’m sure Vance takes pride in all the protests he’s receiving while here.”Many were especially frustrated by the timing of the visit—smack in the middle of summer break, when the parks are busiest and most families are making once-in-a-lifetime trips.“And on a summer weekend. That’s when people who can’t afford to disrupt their lives make the time to take their kids to Disneyland. That’s when the MOST amount of people will be affected by having to make way for this douche canoe. He could go any time he wants but chose a weekend in the middle of July.”Another user summarized what many were thinking:“I’d say this about anyone regardless of politics, but I kind of think you forfeit your privileges to have a normal family day at Disneyland if you are elected to a national office. There’s a number of other ways he could enjoy Disney that don’t involve shutting everything down in your path and taking the experience away from literally everyone else in the park. Paying for a private night party and going without fanfare almost seems like it would be cheaper to the taxpayer than this nonsense.”A Long Road of Political Tension: Disney vs. TrumpworldThis isn’t just about one politician shutting down a ride. JD Vance’s presence at Disneyland is being interpreted by some as a symbolic move, especially considering Disney’s ongoing political feud with Donald Trump and his loyalists.Since 2022, the Walt Disney Company has been in open conflict with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—an ally of Trump—over the company’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The fallout has been severe: DeSantis dissolved Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District, launched investigations into the company’s perks, and positioned himself as the anti-Disney candidate.Trump himself has railed against Disney, calling the company “woke,” a “disgrace,” and claiming it has “lost all magic.” JD Vance, who shares many of Trump’s positions and was recently selected as Trump’s Vice Presidential pick, is now making headlines by… shutting down Disneyland attractions?If it all seems a bit too coordinated, that’s because it might be. One Reddit user put it bluntly:“Yeah that’s the thing. He could have waited until his term was over. But then he wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the perks of being VP. No one should forget this and he should be reminded of it for the rest of his life.”“We Didn’t Ask for This Show”Guests in the park were especially disturbed by how the visit was handled. Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t some obscure side attraction—it’s one of the most popular rides in the park, especially during high-heat summer afternoons.There were no announcements, no explanations. Just suddenly—closed gates, ride vehicles cycled out, security everywhere, and long lines rerouted.One guest fumed:“100% agree. If you need that level of security, pay to do it outside of park hours and accept that your life cannot be normal anymore.”Another added:“I am so pissed the taxpayers are paying for this.”Disneyland’s Ongoing Crisis of Magic vs. RealityThis incident highlights a bigger issue Disney has struggled with in recent years: how to keep the magic alive when the real world comes crashing in. Whether it’s political protests at the gates, viral videos of guests fighting, or now, politicians turning attractions into VIP experiences at everyone else’s expense—Disney’s commitment to being a place “where dreams come true” is feeling harder to maintain.So far, Disney has not issued any public comment about the Vance visit or the ride shutdowns. But the message from guests couldn’t be clearer:“We as a public whole didn’t make the decision for you to seek public notoriety. We shouldn’t have to bow down to your celebrity. You should have to navigate these risks with little to no consequences on the public. A full shutdown and sweep of every ride is asinine. I would say the same for any celebrity or politician.”The happiest place on Earth just became a political photo op—and for some families, a vacation ruined.The post U.S. Government Seizes Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean with Unprecedented Closure appeared first on Inside the Magic.