Pirates of the Caribbean: A Sensational Adventure into the Swashbuckling Past
It goes without saying that Pirates of the Caribbean is a fan-favorite; but we aren’t talking about the movie. We’re talking about the Walt Disney World ride!
Years before Captain Jack Sparrow lamented about a lack of rum or sang about a jar of dirt, Walt Disney himself was planning a rollicking adventure worthy of Robert Louis Stevenson (you know, the author of Treasure Island!).
Walt’s vision for a single pirate attraction ended up spanning five theme parks, four countries, and five movies (with a sixth in the works) – more than even his wonderful mind probably imagined.
Throughout the years, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride has gone through some upgrades, and today, it still remains a must-ride. What’s the magic secret??
Listen closely, me hearties, for I have a tale to tell ye…
Animatronics of the Spanish Main
Walt was a lover of stories, which made him a master storyteller.
He enjoyed works of fiction like Alice in Wonderland and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Anything involving high fantasy or action and adventure. So, it comes as no surprise that stories about pirates – some legendary, some true – would inspire his ever-scintillating imagination.
However, his initial plan to incorporate pirates into his California theme park looked pretty different than the Pirates of the Caribbean ride we know and love at WDW! Walt’s first thought was to have a walkthrough pirate wax museum!1
The wax museum idea had been brought up in the 1950s, before the World’s Fair where Walt debuted his spectacular audio-animatronics. But after the 1964 success of his robot Abraham Lincoln, Walt was officially addicted to making audio-animatronics. There was no going back to lackluster, silent statues.
Consequently, the pirates idea evolved into a living exhibit – and not just an exhibit – but a water-based “dark ride” that took passengers through colorful scenes of pirates pillaging the Spanish Main!
Pirates of the Caribbean was the last ride whose construction was personally overseen by Walt. Sadly, he passed away three months before the Pirates’ big debut; however, he did get to experience it, in a way. As it was being built, Imagineers rigged a chair up to a dolly so they could push Walt through the ride at the speed a boat would go. He gave his seal of approval to the sights and sounds, pleased that there was so much to see and hear – passengers would be able to pick out new things on every ride.2
When Walt Disney World was built in Florida, several rides were essentially copied and pasted from Disneyland, California. But Pirates of the Caribbean was not one of them. Imagineers thought that, since Florida was so close to the Caribbean, folks there probably wouldn’t care about having a fictional slice of the Caribbean, too.
It was a rare occasion in which the Imagineers were very wrong.
The Pirates’ absence was duly noted by theme park patrons, and within two years of the Magic Kingdom’s grand opening, a bunch of buccaneers were sailing the seven seas in Florida, too!3
Enter Captain Jack Sparrow
Over the years, Walt Disney World’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride has received some upgrades and updates to keep their animatronic crew living their best buccaneer life. This included nixing the “bride auction” and making the beautiful red-head a pirate herself – complete with a blunderbuss in hand! You go, girlfriend!
Another change came about after the successful debut of Pirates the Caribbean – the movie. Now, hang on, because this gets slightly confusing. Ready?
The movie was based on the ride. The movie originated the character of everybody’s favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. So, then the ride added Captain Jack Sparrow, making the ride now based on the movie. Kind of. Get it?
Eh, close enough.
One thing that has remained the same – aside from the catchy song (Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life For Me!) and the fun of it – is a particular animatronic pup. You might notice the “Jail Dog” looks a little familiar. Where have we seen him before??
Well, there’s Rover in the Carousel of Progress, the Caretaker’s dog at the Haunted Mansion, and the porch puppy in Living with the Land (EPCOT)!4 This furry friend was modeled after Walt’s real dog, which is why the design is used over and over again.5 There can never be too many tributes to one’s best friend!
The “Jail Dog” is such an integral part of the ride, his character – dubbed Poochie – made it into the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Definitely the real star of the show!
Pirates of the Caribbean – Yo Ho!!
Fun for the whole family, Pirates of the Caribbean continues to delight passengers with every ride.
Board your boat and sail into the dimly lit cavern…that’s eerily skull-shaped…and echoing with a strange voice…
“Dead men tell no tales...”
It’s fine. This is fine. I am totally not scared. Not even of those skeletons who’ve been skewered with sabers.
Continue on through the cavern until you reach the open sea – and a full-sized, 18th-century ship that’s firing cannons at you! The captain calls out – he thinks we’re harboring the notorious Jack Sparrow!! (Are we??)
Narrowly avoid the cannon fire (it plops in the water right next to you!) and sail on through a Spanish port town. It’s the middle of the night, but everyone is awake and on edge, searching for Jack Sparrow… Well, except for that one pirate who’s just talking to some cats. Big mood, honestly.
Wait – was that Jack Sparrow peeking out of that barrel??
You’ll need a keen eye to catch sight of him!
Sail onward to be serenaded by a group of pirates (and proceed to have “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life For Me” stuck in your head for the rest of your Disney World trip). The carefree attitude of the singing pirates is heavily contrasted with the background – a burning city, reminiscent of a quintessential scene from Gone With The Wind!
Just before your journey is complete, sail through the jail and say “hello” to Poochie, and catch the last glimpse of Jack Sparrow, living it up in a cell surrounded by treasure. Ah, so this is what it means to be a pirate!
With a real town’s worth of audio-animatronic characters, Pirates of the Caribbean can be ridden again and again, and you’ll still latch on to a new scene, or hear a new piece of dialogue, every time. It gives you a fantastical taste of the pirate life with a dose of original Disney magic.
While the water ride is slow-moving, the littlest kiddos might still be frightened of the dark and some of the gruff-looking pirates. I don’t blame them!
Overall, Pirates of the Caribbean is just a truly fun experience! It can be enjoyed by fans of the movie as well as those who have never had the pleasure of seeing Orlando Bloom dressed like a pirate. If you’re in the Adventureland area, we definitely recommend a quick trip across the seven seas!
Who’s your favorite character in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride? (I’m pretty enamored with the animatronic cats, myself.) Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image
Photo: HarshLight via Flickr
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