Pirates of the Caribbean
| Pirates of the Caribbean | |
| |
| The exterior of the Pirates of the Caribbean at night. | |
| Magic Kingdom | |
| Land | Adventureland |
|---|---|
| Attraction type | Interior Boat Ride |
| Opening date | 1973 |
| Vehicle names | Boat |
| Vehicle capacity | 23-24 |
| Ride duration | 8:30 minutes |
| Audio-Animatronics | 125 |
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Pirates of the Caribbean is an attraction located in Adventureland
Contents
Attraction History
Creation in Disneyland
The concept for what would eventually become Pirates of the Caribbean began in 1961, as an idea for the New Orleans Square expansion of Disneyland. Walt Disney wanted to create a pirate attraction for the new area, and he tasked Marc Davis with creating concepts for the attraction. Initially, Disney had planned on the pirate attraction being a walkthrough wax museum, which showcased various pirates from throughout history. Blackbeard, Captain Morgan and Captain Kidd were all to be included in the new museum. As development on the attraction continued however, the idea of focusing on real life pirates was discarded. Instead, the attraction took its cue from the pirates that were designed by Marc Davis. These characters were more “cartoony” then the historical pirates that were initially planned on.
During the development of Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney decided to completely change the format of the attraction. Following the success of it’s a small world at the 1964 World’s Fair, the pirate attraction was reimagined as a boat ride. The driving force behind the change was capacity. By changing the ride format, Pirates of the Caribbean would be able to hold 3,000 people (the capacity of it’s a small world) as opposed to the 500 people that wax museum could have held. Furthermore, by making the attraction a boat ride, Disney would be able in ensure that guests were experiencing the scenes in the same way, at the same time.
As for Pirates of the Caribbean’s storyline, Claude Coats and Marc Davis worked together to create most of the characters and scenes. Walt then brought X Atencio in to write a narration, as well as the attraction's theme song ""Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me" (with George Bruns). Furthermore, Bob Gurr was called upon to create the attractions ride vehicles (as well as work on other technical aspects of the attraction) and Yale Gracey (along with Claude Coats) created many of the special effects used within the ride. Also of note, is the fact that Blaine Gibson sculpted the characters in the attraction, which were then clothed by Alice Davis. Pirates of the Caribbean opened on March 18 1967, and quickly became one of the most popular attractions in the park.
Walt Disney World
When Walt Disney World’s Adventureland opened on October 1 1971, there was no Pirates of the Caribbean attraction to be found. Instead, Disney had planned on building the Western River Expedition in Frontierland. Designed by Marc Davis, the Western River Expedition would have featured a boat ride (using the same ride design as Pirates) that would have taken guests through scenes in the Old West. Disney initially planned on creating the Western River Expedition as opposed to Pirates of the Caribbean, because they believed that people on the East Coast would not be as interested in the subject (due to the fact that pirates were a part of Florida’s history and thus part of the local lore). When the Magic Kingdom opened however, one of the most frequent questions that guests asked was “where are the pirates?” Heavily promoted on the Disneyland TV series, Disney quickly realized that there was a high demand for an East Coast version of Pirates of the Caribbean. Due to this demand, Disney quickly authorized the construction of Pirates of the Caribbean Ride inside the Magic Kingdom. To do this, Disney scrapped its plans for the Western River Expedition and instead focused its resources on Pirates.
In order to incorporate Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World's Adventureland was expanded. The area Disney created, called Caribbean Plaza, stretched Adventureland so that it now touched Frontierland on its western border. Pirates of the Caribbean opened in Adventureland on December 15, 1973.
Changes Since Opening Day
No real changes came to Pirates of the Caribbean until 1997 when the scene that showed the pirates chasing the women of Port Royale was altered. Following the refurbishment, instead of the pirates chasing the women for nefarious reasons, the scene now showed the women chasing away the pirates. The other change that came in 1997 was to the “Pooped Pirate”. The “Pooped Pirate” is a pirate located near the women who are chasing the pirates. Originally he told his dog how he was too tired to continue to chase the women, while a blonde woman hid in a barrel behind him. In 1997 his dialogue was changed so that he now told his dog about his treasure map ("This map says X marks the spot, but I be seein' no X's afore me”). Furthermore, the woman in the barrel behind him was given a small treasure chest, apparently trying to keep it safe.
Major Refurbishment in 2006
In 2006, after the success of Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and it's sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest the attraction underwent a major refurbishment. Characters from the movies were added. Jack Sparrow, the main character in the movies now appears in four scenes in the attraction. They are:
- Jack Sparrow hiding behind mannequins next to where the pirates are dunking the mayor.
- In the barrel behind the “pooped pirate” next to the women chasing the pirates.
- The last scene of the attraction in the Treasure Room.
Also added to the ride was an Audio Animatronic Barbosa in the pirate ship fight scene. Previously the ship that Barbosa is in, the “Wicked Wrench”, was captained by Blackbeard. Perhaps the most noticeable addition to the attraction is the Davy Jones Waterfall. Before riders fall down the rides drop, Davy Jones appears projected on a mist waterfall. After the hearing the warning “dead men tell no tales” riders will see Davy Jones appear on a mist waterfall and reply, “Ah, but they do. So say's I, Davy Jones”. In conjunction with the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011, Davy Jones was replaced by Blackbeard (the main antagonist in the movie).
The outside of Pirates of the Caribbean was also changed with the 2006 refurbishment. The Barker Bird who had previously been outside the attraction was removed. Also, the original attraction sign was taken down and replaced with a new black sail sign.
Attraction Plot
Pirates of the Caribbean takes riders through various scenes which show pirates (including Jack Sparrow) attempting to get treasure and other plunder.
Ride Beginning
Pirates of the Caribbean begins as guests board their boats and begin to sail into darkness. As the boat floats forward, guests are given two different warnings. First, that “there be rough waters ahead” and secondly (and famously) that “dead man tell no tales”. After hearing the second warning, guests approach a waterfall which depicts Blackbeard (formally Davy Jones) who answers the second warning by saying, “But they do. So say's I, Blackbeard”. After passing under the waterfall (which is actually just mist), guests find themselves in the middle of a hurricane. As the wind howls around them, the boat passes by a beach that holds pirate skeletons, which lay next to a dug up treasure chest. Based on their skeletons, it appears that pirates were killed while searching for treasure. On the other side of the water guests pass a skeleton pirate steering a pirate ship. With “dead man tell no tales” still echoing in the background, the boats then plunge down a small drop, before entering the next scene.
the Pirate Fight
As guests enter the next room they quickly find themselves in the middle of a pirate ship battle. On the left side Captain Barbossa steers his ship the “Wicked Wench”, as his crew fires cannons over guests’ boat, at an opposing ship. While he gives the orders to attack, Barbossa yells at the opposing crew, demanding to know where Jack Sparrow is.
Port Royale
After surviving the pirate battle, the rider's boats sail into Port Royale. The port is under attack by pirates who have taken the people hostage and are plundering the town. On guests’ right, pirates dunk the mayor of the town in a well, trying to get the whereabouts of Captain Jack Sparrow. A large women yells to the mayor “Don't be a chicken” and they mayor seemingly gives up no information. Jack Sparrow is actually hiding behind a group of mannequins, right behind the pirates. As the boat continues to sail through town, on the left hand side guests see a sign which reads, “Take a wench for a bride”. The pirates have evidently taken the women hostage and are auctioning them off to pirates who are sitting across the river. While the auctioneer tries to sell a larger lady, the other pirates chant, “We want the red-head”, referring who is a small women who is also being held hostage.
Continuing forward (under an overpass) the boats then enter a new scene, still located in Port Royale town. The pirates are all now drinking heavily and enjoying their plunder as an instrumental version of Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me) plays. As the boats continue guests see that the women of the town are now fighting back and chasing the pirates. Below, the “pooped pirate” tells his dog that he has both the key and the treasure map. He also says he'd love to see the look on Jack Sparrows face. In an ironic twist Jack Sparrow appears in a barrel behind him with his eye on both the map and the treasure. As the boats enter the next scene, they pass by a particularly dirty pirate who is drinking next to various livestock.
The Town on Fire
As guests enter the next scene, they immediately see that Port Royale is now on fire. A pirate band (clearly heavily intoxicated) sings Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me) as the town burns around them. Further ahead, all throughout the town the pirates continue to drink and sing in celebration. On the right, one pirate is so intoxicated that he is lying in the mud with the pigs (although apparently having fun). As guests pass under a bridge, a pirate's harry leg hangs down above them as they continue onto the next scene.
Pirates Arrested
The next scene in the attraction shows that the pirates have been captured. On the right, jailed pirates plead with a guard dog to give them the key. The pirates try to use bones and other items to lure the dog over, but with no luck.
The Treasure Room
After exiting Port Royale, guests enter the final scene in the attraction, which shows Captain Jack Sparrow sitting in a treasure room. It seems that the Captain has found the treasure that all of the pirates had been looking for, as he is sitting on a throne surrounded by treasure. While guests past the room Jack Sparrow sings part of “Yo Ho (A Pirates Life For Me) and makes many small comments about his treasure, before the boats arrive back at the unloading dock.
Voice Cast
Jack Sparrow- Johnny Depp
Captain Barbosa- Geoffrey Rush
- Davy Jones- Bill Nighy
Auctioneer/Various Pirates- Paul Frees
Blackbeard- Ian McShane
- Davy Jones appeared in the attraction from 2006-2011, when he was replaced by Blackbeard.
Hear the Soundtrack!
To hear the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, click play below:
Fun Facts and Trivia
- There are two queue lines to choose from, The Soldiers on the left and the Pirates on the right.
- In the queue line, the position of the chess pieces that the skeleton pirates are playing with is not random. Imagineer Marc Davis specifically set up the board so that every move would result in a stalemate.
- The Barker Bird previously located outside of Pirates of the Caribbean is now located at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney. It is right by the Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise.
- From 1973-1980 there was a Pirates of the Caribbean arcade located in Caribbean Plaza.
- The "waterfall" that guests drop down is 14ft high.
- The popular Pirates of the Caribbean film series was based off the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
- Pirates of the Caribbean was the last attraction created that Walt Disney himself personally supervised.
- Disney Legend Yale Gracy came up with the special effect used in the scene where Port Royale is on fire.
- Musical director George Bruns composed the attractions score.
References
http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_pirates.htm
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/adv-pirates.htm
