From Popular Attraction to Blockbuster Film: A History of Pirates of the Caribbean
Yo ho, yo ho… Is a pirates life for you? You’ve seen the movie, you know the song, and chances are, if you are a Disney fan, you have been to the iconic attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean has a long history that started on March 18, 1967, at Disneyland.
Disney
The fan-favorite ride has inspired multiple experiences at Disney parks all around the world and spawned a successful movie franchise that has inspired fans everywhere.
From a new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge coming soon to Magic Kingdom to the iconic attractions at your favorite Disney parks, let’s take a closer look at the history of this classic Dinsey ride.
Disney Attraction History
The concept of Pirates of the Caribbean was originally a walk-through wax museum dedicated to the history of 18th-century piracy. It was actually one of the last attractions that Walt Disney was involved in.
The ride was originally planned for New Orleans Square, but with the modern advancements of technology and Disney’s success using audio-animatronics, the walk-through concept evolved into a fun boat ride similar to “it’s a small world.”
Disney
Pirates of the Caribbean brings guests face-to-face with swashbuckling pirates and a fun adventure. The slow-moving boat ride features cannons, gold, plenty of treasure, pirate shenanigans, and everyone’s favorite song, “Yo Ho (a Pirate’s Life For Me).”
Disney
The attraction gained massive popularity, and other Disney parks added the ride to their lineup. Pirates of the Caribbean came to Walt Disney World in 1973 and also to Tokyo Disney Resort.
Disney
Disneyland Paris also has a Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (1992) with a completely different layout and all new scenes.
In 2016, Shanghai Disneyland opened Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. This version features huge screens and reflects more of the movies.
New Inspiration
The iconic ride also inspired the popular films directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Disney Legend Johnny Depp.
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The movies drew inspiration from the iconic attraction and also introduced fans to new characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa.
Disney
As the franchise continues to grow, both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom have incorporated characters and scenes from the movies into the parks.
Guests can now see audio-animatronics of Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa on the ride. If you are lucky, you might even see Jack Sparrow running through the park.
Disney
These pirates continue to evolve and inspire new fans every day. A new Pirates-themed lounge is coming to Magic Kingdom, and Captain Jack Sparrow will be featured in the popular online Epic game Fortnite sometime this year.
The popular attraction continues to evolve and inspire fans in new ways. It is a true testament to the amazing and immersive storytelling of the Walt Disney Company and a continuation of Walt Disney’s creative vision.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Article Source/Feature Photo: Disney Parks Blog
