Pirates Caribbean
The Pirate of the Caribbean is a fun ride where users get on a boat and enjoy a voyage back in time when pirates would rule the seas.
The "surprise" part of the ride is the two waterfalls in the beginning of the ride. The drop is done in complete darkness. You may get wet depending on how many people are in the boat.
Warning: Do not place bags on the floor in the boar, the bag will most likely get wet.
Popular sites you will encounter include:
- Pirates Grotto
- The Fort
- Town Square
- Burning City
- The Dungeon
Pirates of the Caribbean Ride Fun Facts
- Open in Disney World on December 15, 1973. (806 Days after the park opened)
- The boat cruise last 9-minutes long.
- The waterfalls on Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland and Disney World are slight. There are waterfalls on both rides. However, the waterfall at Disneyland is longer and therefore broken into two consecutive drops.
- The drop at Disneyland is necessary as most of the ride is located on the other side of the railroad tracks that surround the park.
- The fog that drifts out from behind the boat in the "Battle" area. It is the Mee Fog effect. Water is shot through a pin size hole at 1000PSI. The force of the water is so fast that the water condenses - just like real fog.
- The effect of the cannon ball splashing the water is done with the air cannon. Basically, it's compressed air under the water.
- Pirates was the first ride in the world to end with an exit directly into a gift shop. Many rides now end this way.
- The Pirate Ship that you see after the drop is called the "Wicked Wench."
- The Pirate that you see selling things at the auction, was at one time Abe Lincoln.
- The Mellowmen is the group that sings the "Yo Ho (Pirates Life for Me)." You can download the song on iTunes.
- Mellowmen also sang Haunted Mansion's Grim Grinning Ghost, The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room
- The fire on Pirates is made by shining lights onto a special, moving cloth.
- Near the end of the ride the white hair prisoner in a replica of a long time janitor that worked at Walt Disney Productions.
- The Cocker Spaniel dog that is holding the key by the jail is Walt Disney's Dog. You'll see the same dog as the Caretaker dog in the Haunted Mansion, Small World and on one of the Murals in the Cinderella's Castle
George the Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost
At the Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World, there is "resident ghost" named George. He was an Imagineer that built many of the tracks for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World. He died on the ride when a beam collapsed on him.
Cast Members at Disney World have confirmed the story of George the Ghost. Over the years Cast Member have blamed him for various ride failures.
George is allegedly a friendly ghost. When you are on the ride, make sure to say Hi to George.
Hidden Mickeys
From As you pass the ship where the captain is brandishing his sword and firing cannonballs over your head, his shadow is thrown up on the mainsail. As the captain turns, his shadow turns into you-know-who. Especially blatant at Disneyland it's also effective at Walt Disney World. Although it's not a really clear Mickey when seen from the front. The "ears" are more like tall skinny humps on top of a roughly round shadow. At one point in the sequence, the humps get a little wider and the whole thing looks reasonably like a Mickey. The Mickey is much clearer when you look at the other side of the sail. As you go past the sail continue watching and the elongated shapes that are somewhat suspect in the original shadow become a well formed Mickey head on the reverse side of the sail. Timing is key. The pirate is a moving figure, so his shadow only makes a hidden Mickey when he turns the right way.
In the Treasure room right as you are exiting the room there are a lot of pearl necklaces on the ground on the left. If you are riding the ride, it may just seem like a clump of pearls. If you raise your head a little, some of the Pearls are in a Mickey. It is right as you are about to go into the exit area for the ride.
In the Pirate ship scene right before the drop. If you look at the background behind the ship you'll see a set of clouds that resemble the famous Mickey Mouse symbol