When Reality is Better Than Imagineering Art: Magic Kingdom's Pirates of the Caribbean

To hardcore Disney theme park fans, Walt Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean has long been considered the lower class version of the iconic Disneyland attraction, but that does not mean it is without its own charms or great design detail! Here above is the original ending scene, courtesy CardCow.com. Those poor soldiers protecting the treasure are overtaken by the rowdiest group of pirates ever to assemble in a Disney park.

When the gold standard of attractions made its debut at Disneyland in 1967, there was nothing like it- and there still isn't to this day! 

Never, ever had anyone in the entertainment industry created a theme park attraction that was almost 15 minutes of one stunning seaworthy discovery after another. Unbelievably, when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it was not on the opening day attraction roster at Walt Disney World! 

As us Disney geeks know, the expansion plan for the Magic Kingdom included a full scaled Wild West styled version of the pirate adventure, Western River Expedition. The Marc Davis imagineered area Thunder Mesa included many other attractions built into one magnificent and very expensive structure.  

There were no plans for this until Magic Kingdom guests demanded it.

It'd be easy to blame it on the energy crisis or the wait and see attitude of Disney accountants, but Western River Expedition and all the attractions at Thunder Mesa were not to be. Park guests won out with their numerous complaints. Executive Card Walker made the decision to toss out Davis' unbuilt masterpiece in favor of a sure bet where most of the hard design work had already been accomplished.

Construction in full swing.

See this concept art in full size! Just click on it.

When it came time to add the Pirates attraction for Florida's Magic Kingdom, Imagineer Marc Davis wanted to add elements that would bring the rowdy story to light in different ways than the one found in Disneyland's New Orleans Square. In Florida, the fan favorite would find its home in an expansion of Adventureland known as Caribbean Plaza. The pirate story would begin as guests entered an old Spanish fort El Castillo (later renamed Castillo del Morro). Good beginning!

Starting in the queue, there would be hints of what was to come, like the dueling pirate skeletons at the dust covered chessboard locked in an eternal stalemate. The biggest change overall would be the brand new conclusion. I've always loved the original ending in Florida. There the Spanish soldiers protecting the fortress are tied up while the pirates grab all that glittering treasure. 

Nothing they could do about it!

Over the years, the attraction lost its steady stream of visitors, but it didn't take long to regain them. Once the films based on the attraction became very popular, both the Disneyland original and the Florida version added Johnny Depp aka Captain Jack Sparrow to the mix. Purists scoffed, but fans of the Black Pearl series and Mr. Depp loved it. Crowds returned to the Florida attraction, filling the queue once again.

Photo by Mike Thomas at Magic and Memories. 

Changes are constantly in play with the attraction. Additions have included other characters from the film and even a hint of deadly mermaid activity in the caverns. Those have been installed and subsequently removed. 

In 2027, Pirates of the Caribbean celebrates its 60th Anniversary at Disneyland. I wouldn't be surprised if the Imagineers are planning for some new surprises to celebrate and honor this landmark attraction. 

(Unless denoted, art and photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)