Pirates of the Caribbean
Magic Kingdom · Adventureland
Overview
Pirates of the Caribbean began as the last attraction Walt Disney personally worked on, at Disneyland, before he died in 1966; Florida's version opened in 1973 inside a stone fort at the edge of Adventureland. After a single waterfall drop, about eight minutes of continuous show work follow: firing cannons, burning village facades and dozens of animatronic pirates. Jack Sparrow figures were folded into both this ride and its Disneyland counterpart in 2006, well after the core show was already built.
ParksLog verdict
Don't skip this on a rushed day — the density of show work per minute is still unmatched by most newer dark rides anywhere, Disney or otherwise. Sit toward the back if you want to stay dry on the drop; front-row guests can get splashed. Florida's version is shorter than Disneyland's, but the burning town and the jail scene still land.
About this experience
Set sail on a swashbuckling voyage to a long-forgotten time and place when pirates and privateers ruled the seas.
Best for
- All ages
- Dark ride enthusiasts
- Adventure and pirate theme fans
Tips
- The front of the boat gets the most water spray on the drop — sit in the back if you prefer to stay dry
- The fort-like queue is cool and dim, which makes it one of the more comfortable waits in Adventureland on a hot afternoon
- Lightning Lane is available and worth using on busy days when standby queues grow long
Details
History
Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Magic Kingdom on December 15, 1973. Its Disneyland original, which opened in 1967, was the last attraction Walt Disney personally worked on before his death in December 1966. Jack Sparrow figures based on the film series were added to both parks in 2006.
Fun facts
- The Disneyland original was the last attraction Walt Disney personally oversaw — he died in December 1966, months before it opened
- The attraction's iconic 'Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)' song was written by Xavier Atencio, a Disney Imagineer who also wrote the Haunted Mansion theme
- Florida's version is shorter than Disneyland's, with a single drop and no Blue Bayou opening scene; it sails straight into the grotto