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. The concept art was good, but the final execution was just brilliant!

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.)

Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign

When it comes to art, design detail matters. Finally in the last decade, it has seemed like Imagineering has a real firm handle on what the Disneyland Resort is. A design masterpiece and a piece of history. Walt Disney was forward thinking! Now generations later, even home town fans of Walt Disney World are recognizing the impact of Walt's castle park and what grew around it. The Disneyland Hotel has embraced its vintage / retro feel to great success. Downtown Disney is leaning into this too. The result fits perfectly. This sign is an instant classic!

Imagineer Dorothea Redmond's Beautiful Concept Art for Cinderella Castle

While we fans await the return of Cinderella Castle to its initial and carefully planned color scheme, we can take a glance at this genuinely lovely piece of concept art by Imagineer Dorothea Redmond. She may be best known for her atmospheric pieces for New Orleans Square at Disneyland, but the woman could pull off anything! The delicate water colored hues she uses for the courtyard of the Florida park's icon is design at its best. There's no need to scream look at me; the design detail speaks for itself. In a new Disney world where subtlety may be a truly lost art, the old school Imagineers understood the value of guests slowly discovering the rich atmospheres they created. This added to the charm of the castle parks and all others that followed.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: New Orleans Square

The beautiful New Orleans Square at Disneyland is the very best example of Imagineering art in Walt's original kingdom. The newer Galaxy's Edge may contain the most impressive E Ticket attraction ever, but the area is still developing and not worthy of the crown. Every single detail in New Orleans Square was designed to reinforce a story of elegance and exploration. The place feels alive. It's charming, layered, and seems lived in. 

This piece of concept art of the French Market area is by a Disney artist unknown to me. From the style, it's neither Herb Ryman or Dorothea Redmond, the two Imagineers that most influenced the look of this land, both on the outside and on the inside of the shops and restaurants. Everywhere you look, the design detail is lovingly crafted, and it shows. From the railings to the signage to the subtle changes in texture and color, nothing is left to chance, and it all works together seamlessly. When you toss in the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, it's tough to name another land that is so enjoyed after almost 60 years. Just incredible really. New Orleans Square remains the ultimate Disney land in any park anywhere.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Islands of Adventure's Port of Entry Tops The List of Florida Theme Park's First Acts

Sorry, Walt Disney Imagineering, but even the beautiful Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom or the iconic Spaceship Earth at Epcot can't compare when it comes to the grandest, most intriguing "First Acts" of Florida theme parks. The winner of them all is found at Universal Orlando's powerful Port of Entry at Islands of Adventure. It's definitely not the biggest or even the one studded with attractions. It is, however, the one that best captures what kind of day is to come.

 

The art direction, the design detail as I call it, shows what the artists at Universal Creative can do to create the mood, the atmosphere,  of a park that is like no other. You can feel the sense of adventure and excitement in the air. The anticipation of thrills, wonder, and discovery to be found beyond the mix of exotic and whimsical buildings, lush plantings and fountains, all set to a soundtrack that amps up the suspense. 

Watch this video to get the vibe.

At Epcot, Spaceship Earth used to set the stage for what was to come, but the attractions found within the front half of the park no longer deliver a look at the future, belying iconic structure's promise. At the Magic Kingdom, the real "First Act" is better seen once guests reach the hub and can see Cinderella Castle with the other land's entrances around it. The closest Disney competitor is really the grand reveal of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. Even though the park's entrance gardens are beautiful, they hit one note.

Universal Creative did not hit a home run at all of their Florida parks. Sadly, Universal Studios' entrance area feels barren, flat and rather  unimpressive. Beyond the turnstiles, the front of Epic Universe is lovely but doesn't come close in what's presented at the resort's second park. 

The winding path through Port of Entry furthers the impact. Guests can help but be drawn into whatever comes next. Yet, not every piece of Islands of Adventure scores so high. Beyond the entrance, the two lands to the left are nominal in its effectiveness and appeal even if their attractions are some of the strongest (and definitely wettest) in the park.  No matter. More is coming, and these three parks will only get even better, giving Disney's biggest competitor in Orlando a winning hand.

(Top photo copyright Mark Taft. Other images and video copyright Universal Creative.)

Design Detail: Walt Disney World's Jungle Cruise

With the "Jingle Cruise" already in operation at the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World, it's easy to focus on this rather hokey overlay versus the brilliance of the original. It's even harder as less and less of the original is left. Regardless of all the changes, the queue remains a brilliant example of design detail. Disney Imagineering doesn't have to do what they do when they go this deep. They do it for the love of the art of theme park design. Yes, when it is in the queue, it helps set the story and makes the wait time more bearable. But it is also just plain fun as this photograph proves.

(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Design Detail: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

This is certainly no surprise to anyone who is a theme park fan: When it comes to their newer attractions in the last decade or so, the men and women of Universal Creative are matching the design excellence that once belonged only to Disney Imagineering. The new Epic Universe park is the epitome of what they can accomplish so far. Dark Universe, in particular, stands out in this regard, but the grandaddy of their work seems to remain Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It's not my favorite Potter themed attraction- that'd be a tie between Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Escape from Gringotts- but the sheer attention to detail is unsurpassed. You're not just in the movie, you've been taken out your ordinary world into theirs. My only regret with this award winning attraction is how intense it is on my body! Even with dramamine to kill the effect of riding, I still pay a pretty high place to do so. Yet, the experience as a whole is worth it if not for the queue through the castle. It's that well done!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.) 

Design Detail: Great Moments at the Movies

Great Moments at the Movies? You don't remember that Walt Disney World attraction? Sure you do! You know it by a different name. It's found over at Disney-MGM Studios aka Disney's Hollywood Studios. There it is at the centerpiece icon of the park, the Chinese Theater houses the iconic Great Movie Ride. 

Back in 1989 when the park opened- the year I first visited- the newest theme park was filled with amazing design detail as a love letter to the Hollywood of old. There are few attractions, but they were good ones. Of course, the Great Movie Ride was king. But the Backstage Studio Tour, the Art of Animation, and the Monster Sound Show made up a pretty great day. It was small but charming, a lovely way to spend an afternoon. 

There's been so many changes, and the park now ranks as my least favorite Disney park in Florida. Wasted space, too many poor quality attractions, and a very confusing layout headline its many problems. Yet, its history is rich and fascinating. Here's a look at 35 years of the park's history, including rare concept art and plenty of photographs. One part trip report from the first opening days and much, much more. Trust me, you'll find it fascinating! 

Design Detail: Magic Kingdom's Pirates of the Caribbean

Disneyland may have the lengthiest Pirates of the Caribbean, but it is certainly not the only one to be loaded with design detail! The Magic Kingdom version is quite wonderful on its own. And I find I prefer the exterior of Walt Disney World's Adventureland version much better than the original in New Orleans Square in Walt's park. Take a look at this photo from Jeff Bergman. It's from awhile ago, but the clock, the tattered sail and the beaten up crow's nest show Imagineering still knows how to do it right when it comes to setting the stage. Everything works together as it should to create a seamless presentation.

(Photograph copyright Jeff Bergman Photography.)

A Trip Down Harry Potter's Knockturn Alley

A taste of the dark side. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley is an incredible space. It's "hidden attraction", Knockturn Alley is filled with creepy spaces, eerie noises, and surprises at every turn. It's not for everyone. In fact, parents should think about the potential impact on their littlest ones. It can be nightmare inducing. And evil is real, just as good is- so who knows what is going on "behind the scenes". But from a design detail standpoint, Knockturn Alley is an excellent example of how Universal Creative is beating Disney at their own game. Ot at least, tying the game. More on that later.

Design Detail: Tokyo Disneysea's Sindbad's Storybook Voyage

In the world of Imagineering, Tokyo Disneysea is certainly a standout when it comes to design detail. Everything from the landscapes to the pathways and structures oozes thoughtful creativity in order to provide guests with the most immersive experience.

Sometimes the design details are not in the smallest, least noticed aspects of the park. They may be in the things unnoticed or unrealized, those items we take for granted.
 

Attraction posters just because.

Look at the photo above from the very enjoyable "8 Bit Theme Park" site. Look closely. This particular design detail is large, very large. In fact, It's Mount Prometheus. The centerpiece volcano of the park is perfectly placed between the two colorful domes found in the Arabian Coast section. I guess I should say the placement of the domes is carefully designed to offer an incredible view of Mount Prometheus smack in the center. 

Attraction posters once more. 

The land itself seems very overlooked, although that could change with the opening of Fantasy Springs because guests will have to travel through it in order to get into the newest section of the park. If they can even get in. Those in charge of Disney's second park in Japan have made it very difficult to do so. They are moving to a caste system of guests. It's a very sad business move and quite elitist.

Sinbad's Seven Voyages or Sindbad's Storybook Voyage- which do you prefer? The original and darker seven voyages had vibes of Pirates of the Caribbean in its approach. The new version is more playful and kid friendly. Both beautiful and engaging in its own way.

As we leave the Arabian Coast, I give you this beautiful photograph from Tokyo Cheapo. Enjoy it in a very large size.

Design Detail: Shanghai Disneyland's Treasure Cove

Design detail is what used to make the Disney parks unique. It's not exclusive to them anymore as Universal Creative has made huge strides to transform old spaces into highly detailed ones as well as create modern day theme park masterpieces. Their Diagon Alley at Islands of Adventure is the best single Intellectual Property themed land ever. (Proof is here.) But that is not to say Disney Imagineering has given up on delivering lands rich in artistry and hidden design gems to discover.

In spite of how large the park is and how this creates a lack of charm, Shanghai Disneyland holds a fair amount of design detail. When the lands feel sterile (surprisingly, Fantasyland for example), it's really bad. But when it's good, it's really good.

When it comes to Mainland China's Disney park - let's be clear here, it is not the other way around- it seems everyone is focusing on Zootopia right now. That's expected as it is brand new, but I'd like to look at a different area instead. The pirate themed Treasure Cove is also an example of great design. 

Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure excels in this area. From entrance to queue to the incredible attraction itself, Imagineering hit a grand slam! 

But on the smaller side of the scale, take a look at the top photo of the almost hidden prison cel just above the waterline of the bay that straddles both Treasure Cove and Adventure Isle. There's a skeleton of the last prisoner peering out from behind the bars. You can only see if from the canoes, but it is something that they did not have to add. These thoughtful touches bring something to the park that most guests probably can't put their finger on, but when found all over, they add a depth and richness to the entire park.  Storytelling at its finest.

Here's one more to be found in Treasure Cove...

There's more design detail posts on the blog as these are part of what make great theme parks compelling. At least to me. And probably to you as well if you've read this far!

(Photographer unknown.)

Imagineering the Design Details at the Tokyo Disney Resort

Lots and lots of Disney park fan sites (including this one) can get very serious at times. While I sincerely love all the insightful journalism, sometimes you just want to have fun. And let me tell you, if you are a fan of the Tokyo Disney Resort, one of the most enjoyable sites on the web is 8-Bit Theme Park Japan. 

The site's host is clearly a lover of Imagineering, focusing on both old school craft and newer attractions. With a warm presentation full of childlike innocence, you can almost hear shades of the wonder like those found in descriptions of Disneyland in its early years. A very nice change of pace from what's popular these days.

From the spectacular fan favorite Pooh's Hunny Hunt to the lesser known Pan Galactic Pizza Port, The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast to Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin, the video linked above touches on the best of the park's illusions. It's all in the details. Big or small, nothing is overlooked. 

Watch a few videos. You just might get hooked on these. I know I can't wait to see what comes next.

Zootopia Land Forces a Rethinking of Shanghai Disneyland- and the Once Proposed Addition to Disney's Animal Kingdom

As a movie, Zootopia was a fun and better than average coming of age detective story, but nothing I saw more than once or found myself raving about. As a fully developed theme park land, however, it may be an entirely different story. 

Big, bulky, and in many ways impressive but at the same time very awkward looking, Shanghai Disneyland is the equivalent of your distant cousin pumped up on steroids. Everything about it is massive, loud, and in your face. Even the perennially sweet Fantasyland loses its charm there. For better or worse, it is one of a kind.

 

Nick and Judy in Audio-animatronic form. Pretty cute!

Back to the newest land to open soon in China. The only ride to be found is Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, a trackless dark ride with terrific sets and a handful of Audio-Animatronics. Although the POV videos on line reveal too much time in front of screens, the attraction as a whole seems fast paced, very creative, and quite immersive. 

How does it compare to other trackless rides before it? Hard to say exactly as I haven't ridden it. But it looks to be in good company with those that came before: Tokyo Disneyland's iconic Pooh's Hunny Hunt and brand new Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast; the clever Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland; the charming Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and the budget busting Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. There's also Ratatouille : L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy at Walt Disney Studios Paris- something I totally forgot about until reminded by "B" below in the comments. Thanks, B!

 

The park map reveals a fully realized land.

Would a new trackless ride based on a movie I've seen once make me go to China's second Disney theme park? No, but the land its in does make me reconsider the appeal of the park. There's so much design detail to be found throughout the land that it feels full of energy. That's something sorely missing from the ambitious but lifeless Galaxy's Edge. Congratulations to the Imagineering team who created this land.

Detail is everywhere!

With TRON Lightcycle Run now at the Magic Kingdom, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is all that's left to make me want to travel there. Well, that's not 100% true as I'd like to see China, but there are many more places I want to go, and I don't have time or money at this point in my life to see them all. There are enough differences that make this park unique that maybe bundled together I'd consider it. Adventure Isle's ropes course does appeal to me.

Striking!

Now, the bigger question: Would I want to see this Zootopia land come to Disney's Animal Kingdom? Maybe. It would have to be hidden far enough back in the park as not to interfere with the very natural and yet international feel of what's gone before it. Especially at night. There's a vibe at Animal Kingdom that would be destroyed if it was prominently placed in view of everything else. 

The skyline.

Perhaps if Zootopia was first built in place of the original very cheap looking Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama and not as a replacement for Dinoland U.S.A., there would be a more favorable fan response to it. That said, the land is so well done in China that maybe you could convince me to replace Rafiki's Planet Watch with this. The movie's characters are already coming to the Tree of Life's theater show to replace It's Tough to Be a Bug. 

Will more characters invade the beautiful and elegantly understated Animal Kingdom? You know it's inevitable. So, I think we'd better be prepared.

(Photographs copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: Gertie Dresses for Christmas at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Dinosaur Gertie at Disney's Hollywood Studios may be my favorite unofficial park icon at Walt Disney World. She's not nearly as grand as Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom, Spaceship Earth at Epcot, the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom or even her home park's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but she possesses an undeniable charm. Here, dressed in her finest Christmas garb and photographed by 4K WDW, Gertie is positively in the holiday mood. She even has layers of snow. 

Just as festive in the evening!

Fans know Gertie's dusting of snow is there year round, but at Christmastime in Florida, this touch from the Disney Imagineers makes it an even more sweet design detail. Well done!

(Photograph courtesy 4K WDW.)

Wait A Minute! The Magic Kingdom's Frontierland is Now Set in 1927?

Tiana's Bayou Adventure will be the BIG push for anyone heading to Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom in 2024. But with the installation of the new "Tiana Foods watertower", does this really mean that Frontierland is now centered on the year 1924? This is really a mistake for the current Imagineering team that wants to erase the Tony Baxter and team masterpiece. 

What happened to the 1800's? It's fine if Splash Mountain is no more- or is it- but please do not destroy what is the themed land dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the Old West back in the days of the brave men and women who made their way across the land. Is this a precursor to the filling in of the Rivers of America and the closing of the Riverboat? Lord, help us if it is.  Princess and the Frog has some pretty great elements, but it does not take place of one of the Magic Kingdom's opening day lands.

Will I enjoy the ride? Of course- it's built on the carcass of one of Imagineering's best achievements. I'll love the visuals, the music, and the thrills. Does that mean this transgression of design detail doesn't bother me? Absolutely not. 

Come on, Charita Carter and Carmen Smith- You can do better than this.

Disneyland's Design Detail in New Orleans Square Gives Way to An Effective Crowd Exodus

The bridge between crowded Adventureland, the overpass of Pirates of the Caribbean's entrance, into Disneyland's equally crowed and popular New Orleans Square, has rarely been shown in concept art. Until now. Imagineering devised this plan in 1987 to combat congestion. Make no mistake, it's congestion the suits created once Fastpass kept guests out of queues so they could spend money in the shops and restaurants instead. 

The simple, elegant, and befitting entrance to arguably the park's most beloved attraction, was replaced with this complex but effective bridge that spanned the lands but ruined the aesthetic. With Fastpass and all that followed, no longer would New Orleans Square or the rest of Disneyland be a place to linger. Now, they could cherry pick attractions. And the practice continues to this day as masses of guests could more quickly and safely rush off to the Haunted Mansion or Splash Mountain at the expense of enjoying the layered design details that make Disney parks not just another amusement park. 

It really is a loss for simpler times and richer touring.

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Design Detail: Harry Potter's Amazing Diagon Alley

Could Universal Orlando Resort's Diagon Alley be any more epic? (Pun intended!) When making like a muggle and finally pulling off that Escape from Gringotts, the exit brings you into this absolutely stunning little shop. Harry Potter and his friends certainly would have stopped in at WiseAcres on their way elsewhere. Why? Look up! What an absolutely beautiful piece of art. Intricate but ornate and simply stunning. 

Universal Creative was able to pull off one other piece of magic- the place feels alive, teeming with live, adventure and mystery. 

No, Escape from Gringotts isn't as sophisticated as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but I'd take a few hours in Diagon Alley over any in Galaxy's Edge- and here's why. Check out why this Disney Imagineering fan- (me!) calls Diagon Alley the best themed land ever created.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Design Detail: The Disneyland Hotel's Blank Wall

Given the freedom and budget, the famous Disney Imagineers can even create beautiful work for a blank wall. Proof positive is this once blank exterior wall at the Disneyland Hotel. It'd be easy not to notice it as you are on your way to the main lobby or maybe even leaving the main lobby on your way to get into Trader Sam's, the hard to get into location for all things Tiki done Disney style.

The deep rich tones fit perfectly with the surrounding area. The shapes remind me of Mary Blair's work for It's A Small World. Certainly not a coincidence! 

Where Walt Disney World may be known for it's "wow!" inducing big, splashy icons, Disneyland is known for its smaller charms that must be discovered by guests as they explore the much more limited space. There's layer upon layer of beautiful design detail in California. Part is this is certainly by necessity. However, the end result gives "Walt's park" a dreamlike fairy tale atmosphere, making guests believe for just a moment that the man himself could be just around the corner.

Conversely, for those of us who can be "Disneyland snobs", taking the time to discover the beauty of the Florida resort and appreciating it as the unique experience it is can take a firm mental shift. In fact, each resort evokes different feelings, but just as much beauty- and design detail- can be found in the Sunshine State. Some folks even prefer it to California. Imagine that.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Design Detail: Disneyland's Omnibus Attraction Posters

For lovers of attraction posters, the ads that used to be displayed on the Disneyland omnibus are almost as equally appealing to collect. Here's a cool looking one for Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland. Or just Storybook Land. 

From Dizavenue.com

                                                                               

These eye catching pieces traveled up and down good old Main Street U.S.A. providing a bit of charm and promotion of what could be found in lands beyond the hub. Quaint, charming, and unique. 

It's these little touches of detail that make Disneyland that great place it is- a place where the feel of Walt Disney can be found at every turn. 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)