The Secret History of Disney Rides: Pirates of the Caribbean

Gather ‘round, me hearties, and prepare to set sail on a voyage through time. Before Jack Sparrow ever swaggered onto the big screen there was a little boat ride in a New Orleans–inspired corner of Disneyland that changed theme park history forever. This is the story of Pirates of the Caribbean — one of the most beloved, ambitious and downright iconic attractions ever built.

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The Secret History of Pirates of the Caribbean

Walt Disney had always been fascinated by pirates. Back in the early 1960s, he dreamt up an ambitious walk-through wax museum filled with pirate scenes. But when "it’s a small world" debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and proved guests loved floating through elaborate sets, the pirate idea got a serious glow-up.

Pirates of the Caribbean was the final attraction Walt personally oversaw before his passing in 1966. Unfortunately, his death came three months before the boat ride was finished, so he never saw the final product. Pirates of the Caribbean opened to the public on March 18, 1967, and it was an instant hit. With over 15 minutes of ride time, two drops and dozens of audio-animatronic pirates pillaging, singing and sword-fighting their way through town, it was unlike anything anyone had seen before.

Some of the talented and creative Imagineers working on Pirates of the Caribbean included Marc Davis, Francis Xavier Atencio (known as "X"), Claude Coats, Yale Gracey, Blaine Gibson and more. X, who wrote the lyrics for "Grim Grinning Ghosts" of Haunted Mansion, also wrote the lyrics of the memorable "Yo Ho (A Pirates' Life for Me)"!

We all have a favorite moment in the ride. The drops. The sleepy pirate with the pigs. The prisoners trying to bribe a dog for the keys. It’s all iconic. Over the years, Disney updated certain scenes to reflect modern values. Gone are the days of pirates chasing women through town. Now they’re after food, treasure or just a good time. "It's the rum they want!" But don't worry. There's still lots of looting and swashbuckling.

In 2006, to tie in with the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Disney added Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa. Jack’s appearances are seamless, allowing guests to experience classic nostalgia while enjoying a few nods to the blockbuster movies.

Today, you can visit almost any Disney park in the world and find a Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride! Magic Kingdom's pirates attraction in Adventureland opened on December 15, 1973, and Tokyo Disneyland opened its own on April 15, 1983. Disneyland Paris decided to open the doors to its own Pirates of the Caribbean on April 12, 1992. And on June 16, 2016, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure opened in Shanghai along with Shanghai Disneyland. This iteration of the pirates attraction is toadally unique and high-tech, utilizing a magnetic ride system, screens and practical sets for the ultimate immersive experience.

Why We Still Love It

Despite the decades gone by, Pirates of the Caribbean remains one of the most beloved attractions in Disney history. It’s charming, creepy, adventurous and just the right amount of silly. It’s the perfect mix of Disney storytelling and innovation. And a time capsule of what Imagineering can do when imagination is the captain.

So the next time you're drifting through a burning seaside village or locking eyes with a smirking animatronic Jack Sparrow, take a moment to thank Walt and his team of dreamers. Without them, we’d never know how fun it is to be bad!

Pirates of the Caribbean Fun Facts

• The ride depicts the life of a pirate in reverse. That's why we see skeletons in the beginning and live pirates at the end.
• During the ride's battle scene between the pirate ship and town's fortress, you'll hear cannon balls whizzing over your head and dropping in the water. Using real cannon balls is obviously pretty dangerous. So the illusion is created by moving cannons, flashes of light, and blast from beneath the waves!
• One of the most memorable scenes from the ride is the town of Tortuga in flames! This effect is actually just created by a bunch of different cloths, fans and lights.
• The Anaheim Fire Chief feared people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the fake flame illusion and a real fire. He asked Disney to install an automatic shutoff in case of an actual fire!
• There are over 120 Audio-Animatronics on Pirates of the Caribbean ride. This is a mixture of both human and animal animatronics.
• There's a creepy rumor that some of the human bones used on the ride are real! This has never been actually confirmed, though.
• In 2012, mermaids were added to the grotto scene at Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom. You can easily see the mermaid skeleton on shore. If you look harder, you'll also catch the one swimming port side in the water!
• The film characters added to the ride are all voiced by their original actors. Some of the ride's original Audio-Animatronics are voiced by Paul Frees; the "Ghost Host" from the Haunted Mansion!
• The ride was originally planned for just the New Orleans Square area. But it became so complex they had to build most of it underground, even digging beneath the Disneyland Railroad!
• The Blue Bayou Restaurant, where the boats float past at the beginning, was a revolutionary concept: the first time a fine dining experience was built inside a ride.

Well, I hope you learned a thing or two during this secret history of Pirates of the Caribbean post! Hop here for Pirates of the Caribbean wait times, ride details and more! Let us know your favorite fact about the ride in the comments below. Don't forget to check out our other secret histories!

Stay cool!