Pirates of the Caribbean, a classic attraction in Magic Kingdom theme park that appeals to big kids, teens and adults, features a 14-foot drop over a waterfall into pirate caves. The boat then floats through a town where pirates are pillaging and Captain Jack Sparrow is hiding.
The Pirates of the Caribbean journey begins at the end of the Adventureland area where a skeleton pirate sits in a crow's nest attached to a ship's mast. He guards the stately Spanish fortress, El Castillo - Torre del Sol. Pass under his black sail and pirate flag to the cool, covered, cavernous queue quarters. If ye be seekin' adventure, climb aboard a boat.
Take heed: there may be rough waters ahead. Or at least a quick plunge over a 14-foot waterfall! Land in the middle of a pirate battle. The Wicked Wench galleon blasts canons under the direction of Captain Barbossa, who demands the capture of Captain Jack Sparrow. Can you spot Sparrow before his archenemy does?
As you meander through the town, keep a look out for Captain Jack Sparrow. He's on the lookout for the treasure map, the key to the town's riches-as are the other roguish swashbucklers who are trying to beat him to the booty. Even the town's magistrate, Carlos, can't escape the pirates' inquisition. He gets dunked in the water well while being asked, Where's Cap'n Jack? Meet more Pirates of the Caribbean as they jauntily sing their theme. "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates Life for Me," they declare as they chase ham-carrying maidens.
In the town being pillaged by the Pirates of the Caribbean, there are rackets and revelry. Chess-playing pirates remain locked in an everlasting moment of stalemate. A mischievous mutt holds the key to release the imprisoned pirates-but he's not giving it up for all the bones in the dungeon. The wenches are wily. A salty marauder hangs his hairy leg over the edge of a bridge. Even the cats are surly. Buildings burn. The town has been plundered. Is this the work of Captain Jack?
Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," has added new characters and features from the blockbuster entertainment franchise that debuted Jully 2006 along with "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
Touring Tips
- This is a classic Walt Disney attraction and should not be missed!
- This is a great attraction when it's hot outside since most of the waiting queue is indoors.
- The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is quick loading and each boat holds about 30 people.
- There is a small drop (14 feet) in the beginning of the ride.
- Captain Hook and Mr. Smee from Peter Pan are often sighted in these parts. Check your daily Times Guide for the schedule.
Facts
- Opened December 15, 1973.
- There are two queue lines to choose from - Soldiers or Pirates.
- There are a total of 23 vehicles.
- There are 630,000 gallons of water, 53 audio-animatronic animals and birds, and 75 audio-animatronic pirates and villagers in the attraction.
- This was the last attraction which Walt Disney himself participated in designing and was originally envisioned to be walk-through wax museum attraction.
History
The attraction, guarded by the Caribbean watchtower Torre del Sol, is housed in a golden Spanish fort called Castillo Del Morro, inspired by Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in the Old San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico."Pirates of the Caribbean"
Inside, the Blue Bayou has been replaced by Pirate's Cove and into a short grotto with Blackbeard, skeletons of dead pirates, the hurricane lagoon, and an echoing "Dead men tell no tales". There is no treasure room sequence as found in other parks. Following the plunge down one waterfall, the remainder of the ride is similar to Tokyo and California. Unlike in California, however, riders do not return to ground level in their boat; instead, they exit the boat immediately after the Jack Sparrow in the treasure room scene, then take a speed ramp up to the ground floor gift shop. The Florida version also does not include the scene past the powder room with the intoxicated pirates firing cannons.
The exterior of the attraction was slightly altered during the 2006 modifications. Included in the changes were the removal of the barker bird and original attraction sign. A new sign was placed on the outside corner of the fort facing toward the entrance of Adventureland. The design of the new sign is a ship's mast with the attraction name written in its black sails, and a skeleton of a pirate up in its crow's nest. The barker bird was eventually moved to the Pirates of the Caribbean section of the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney.
The position of the pieces on the chess board in the attraction's pre-show is not random. Marc Davis carefully arranged the pieces so that any move will result in a stalemate; thus, the skeletons have been playing the same game since 1973. The pieces were accidentally moved during a minor refurbishment and were not returned to their proper positions until someone found Marc Davis's original sketches.
Hidden Mickey
- In the area just behind boat loading point, the second group of cannonballs includes a large ball and two smaller ones.
- Right after you load onto the boats, you go straight ahead. Right before you make the first right turn, look straight ahead at the wall. It seems as if the entire center of the wall is carved with a giant tri-circle Mickey. The shadows make it hard to see, but also the shadows also help to form the Hidden Mickey. It is clearly visible just as your boat begins the ride before the first right hand turn. It is created from shadows as well as the wall itself.
- Where the first pirate is drinking beer and when he tilts his head, a Hidden Mickey appears behind the man's hat.
- As you are going under the 1st bridge with the pirate sitting on top of it turn and look over your right shoulder. On the right back wall of that section there you will see a Mickey silhouette.
- Treasure Room-iron work on the bottom of four lamps on the left side, one located on each of two columns and two more located on either side of the archway walls.