Chapter 11 - Magic Kingdom - Adventureland Part 3                     
                       Pirates of the Caribbean                              posted Sept 2017  Updated Feb 2019

Pirates of the Caribbean

We're heading on in Adventureland to the Caribbean for an adventure with the Pirates. The scope and backstories in the Adventureland attractions have been very involved and the Pirates of the Caribbean is no exception. 
 
Sadly the Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland was the last attraction that Walt Disney was directly involved in the design and supervision of the project before he passed away. In 1966.
 
Walt Disney originally intended Pirates of the Caribbean to be a walk-through wax museum. The subsequent boat ride that originated at Disneyland in March 1967 was due to the success of Disney’s AudioAnimatronics exhibits at the 1964 New York World’s Fair:  “It’s a small world”, “Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress", “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln",  and of course "The Enchanted Tiki Room".
 
At Walt Disney World, the Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t part of the original 1971 Opening Day experience. The company didn’t think it would be popular in Walt Disney World due to the close proximity of the actual Caribbean. An elaborate substitute, “Western River Expedition,” was being developed. However, guests requested a version of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Walt Disney World as well, so the ride was added in December of 1973 and has been very popular ever since.
Note: We'll discuss the "Western River Expedition" in the Frontierland Chapters.
As the guests enter the Caribbean Plaza they’ll note a building that appears to be a Spanish Fortress. The Imagineers based many elements of this fortress on Castillo de San Felipe del Morro located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (as you approach, listen and watch the cannon, it periodically fires at imaginary pirate ships.)
The fortress tower is named Torre del Cielo. This means Tower of the Sky. It is styled after a Caribbean-style watchtower that guarded many Caribbean island harbors.
Barker Bird
Back in Chapter 9 we discussed the how the Imagineers attracted guest to the Disneyland Enchanted Tiki Room with an AudioAnimatronics Barker bird placed near the entrance.
In the Magic Kingdom the Imagineers did the same at the Pirates of the Caribbean. For the attraction, they placed a peg-legged, tattoo sporting parrot near the entrance to lure guests onto the attraction. With theme song “Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me" playing in the background, this salty ol' parrot said such things as:
Heave to, maties! There be long boats waiting down by Pirates Cove ... waitin' to take ya to the Spanish Main! Right this way! Through the arches and down past the dungeons, in the old fortress. We sail with the tide, sail with the tide! Don't miss the boat, maties!
If you be seeking adventure and salty old pirates, salty old pirates, salty old pirates! We pillage and plunder! Rifle and loot! Yo ho, me hearties, yo ho!"

If you want to see more on the Barker Bird check out this youtube video:
The barker parrot was removed from his perch at the Pirates of the Caribbean in 2006 and moved to the "Boys Apparel and Toy" section of the World of Disney store at Downtown Disney. But during a recent remodeling of Disney Springs and this shop he has disappear completely.
Prior 2006
Post 2006
At the same time when they removed the parrot, the Imagineers also did away with the original attraction sign and replaced it with a ship's mast and crow's nest. Stationed high above is a skeleton with spyglass, checking on all those who dare to enter his lair.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
 The interactive card game is also played in Adventureland there are 5 portal in Adventureland. One is at the base of the Tower of the Pirates of the Caribbean Fortress. So play on!
Ahoy Mates! It’s time to venture into the Fortress and discover the secrets within.
There are two queues you can take, both takes guests through the Spanish fort. As is typical for the Imagineers, the queues are designed to keep guests entertained. Both twist and turn in a darkened, cool underground cavern through what appears to be storage areas for the fort, weapon rooms, dungeons and eating areas for the residence and finally it leads to a boat dock and ride.
On the right side queue, through one of the dungeon cell windows are two skeletons playing a game of chess. The backstory has it that Imagineer Marc Davis carefully arranged the pieces so that any move would result in a stalemate. As neither proud player would admit to a tie, they died playing the game and are here to this day. Sometime in the 1990's, the attraction received a major refurbishment and the chess pieces that the pieces were accidentally moved during a minor refurbishment and were not returned to their proper positions until someone found Marc Davis’s original sketches.
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride has inspired the cinematic genre franchise that spans five current movies and these movies have also inspired change in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
  1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
  2. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
  3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
  4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
  5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
On to the Ride
Let's follow the ride scene by scene:

  • The ride begins with your boat passing into a cave and then as you turn the bend it passes through a mist screen image of Davy Jones.
  • Since the release of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” in 2006, guests had the opportunity to view the ominous presence of Davy Jones in the mist, staring them down. After the fourth film “On Stranger Tides” in 2011, guests could see the sinister Blackbeard in the misty waterfall screen. Today, the attraction alternates between either dastardly villains.
  • Once you pass through the waterfall mist, you will hear the enticing and hypnotic sounds of mermaids. Their song will echo throughout the caves, and the remains of one of them can be found on the island to the left (she was removed in 2018), along with skeletons of pirates and buried treasure.
  • There is a second mermaid that most people do not ever see. On the left side of the boat, a mermaid can be seen swimming across, her seafoam glow glistening against the surface of the water. She is very fast, so keep an eye out.
  • You continue and pass by the wreckage of a ship in a storm with a skeleton at the wheel. He is named the Helmsman, but not much is known about this man's life. It is known however, that he became a pirate, and that he was part of a pirate crew that sailed the Caribbean in search of a cursed treasure hidden in the subterranean grotto of Dead Man's Cove. When they came near Isla Tesoro, their ship was wrecked on the rocks. The pirate's skeleton remained at the helm of the wrecked ship, steering the wheel for all eternity. The Helmsman inspired the movie poster for the movie   Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
  • As you then pass the island with the skeletons of pirates and Mermaid,you’ll hear a disembodied voice saying "Dead Man Tell No Tales."
     
  • A classic piece of Pirates of the Caribbean history has returned. The talking skull that used to leave passengers with the infamous “dead men tell no tales” line is now back, but this time the speaking skull serves a new purpose. Now an on-ride photo has been added to the attraction just before the big drop. The flash for the photo happens just after the skull (now sans crossbones) delivers a line about Davy Jones. A crash of thunder is heard along with a flash of lightning as the photo is taken.
  • As the guests enter into a dark tunnel they will take sudden plunge down a hill right into the middle of a vicious battle between a pirate ship and a coastal fort. Many guests automatically assume that the drop exists for extra thrills on the attraction, but it has a functional purpose. Pirates of the Caribbean was built after the Magic Kingdom was already open to the public with the Walt Disney World Railroad running on a continuous loop around the exterior of the park. The main attraction area for Pirates of the Caribbean was built outside of the Train track’s loop, so guests need to pass down that drop in order to go underneath the railroad tracks and be able to reach the rest of the attraction.
  • Beware of the dreadful pirate ship captain! Captain Barbossa leads the assault from the deck of the pirate vessel named the Wicked Wench.  When he first appeared, he wore his classic coat and feathered hat from the Pirates trilogy. Now he can be seen draped in his British uniform from the fourth film. From the deck of the Wicked Wench, Barbossa yells: "Strike yer colors, ye bloomin cockroachers, by thunder we'll see ya to Davy Jones! They need persuasion mates. Fire at will! Pound 'em lads! Pound 'em!" When a cannon is shot, guests may feel a powerful blast of air coming from the cannon, followed by a large splash and underwater lighting effects to simulate cannon fire.
  • The boat continues to pass through the fictional village of Puerto Dorado on Isla Tesoro being ransacked with pirates in search of treasure. The first sight is the town square, where some pirates have kidnapped the mayor, Carlos, and threaten to drown him in a well if he doesn't divulge the location of Jack Sparrow. Carlos' wife tells him to be brave and not talk; she is shot at as Carlos is repeatedly dunked in the water while several other captive city officials look on
In the next scene, Captain Jack Sparrow is seen hiding behind some dresses and looking back over his shoulder at the pirates who are searching for him.

Note: In 2009 the ride was updated to include Captain Jack Sparrow
  • While there are many iconic scenes throughout the attraction, one of the most recognizable features an enterprising Pirate auctioning brides to the highest bidder. Nearby pirates constantly chant their impatience for the beautiful redhead waiting in line, and guests love hearing their demanding phrase!
    "We wants the red-head!"
    The voice of the auctioneer is Paul Frees. Mr. Frees’ voice also serves as the Ghost Host, the narrator for the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square.
  • You go under a bridge and see pirates stealing a treasure chest, and an old lady chasing a pirate with a broom. In the next scene, foolish buccaneers who have stolen food are chased by an angry woman holding a rolling pin.
  • The original scene featured several pillaging and plundering pirates, while on their quest to raid the towns, were seeking out and chasing giggling female villagers. This particular scene has been changed several times to keep up with what modern guests felt was appropriate for a Disney park ride
  • At one point, the heavyset lady was given a rolling pin to chase the pirate off. Later on, the ladies and the pursued pirate were given food items, changing the object of the pirates’ desires from the ladies themselves to the goodies they were carrying. The giggles were dropped from the soundtrack as well.
  • But, the “Red-Head” bride auction scene remained unchanged until 2018
  • The changes were not well-received by all. X Atencio, one of the attraction’s original script writers, called the so-called “improved” version, “The Boy Scouts of the Caribbean.”
  • After a 1997 refurbishment, the pirate talked to the dog about how "X marks the spot".  The woman who popped out of the barrel behind him was altered to hold a small treasure chest.
     
  • This scene was revised again in 2006 when Jack Sparrow in the barrel was added.  

More Background:
  • Also in scene there is a pirate sitting on the left holding a map says that Jack Sparrow will not be able to find the treasure without his map and key. You then see that Jack Sparrow is behind him hiding in a keg and looking right at him.
     
    The scene has been altered twice since the attraction opened.
    The original scene went like this:
  • Pooped Pirate:  Oh, shiver me soul.  Its dead wore out, I be.  Am I too fast these lot footed wenches be for the likes of an old swag-bellied pirate such as I?   Now, where be that fascinatin' little old treasure?  Ay? Heave to, maties!  Say, have you set your eyes on a bewitchin' maiden in your travels?  Oh, she be a lively lassie she were!  Oh, I tell you true, it's sore I be to hoist me colors on the likes of that shy little wench. Favor, keep a weather eye open maties.  I be willing to share, I be!


  • On the right is a very drunk pirate named “Old Bill” surrounded by and talking to cats. "Old Bill" wants to share rum with a group of terrified alley cats.
  •  The boat then pass under another bridge and the scene shows that the town is on fire.
  • As the boat enter the scene, there are three singing men, a donkey and a dog  on the left who are singing along to the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me.)".
     
     The “Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me”) was sung by The Mellomen, a barbershop quartet that also sang many songs for Disney films. They also sang as backup for Elvis. The frontman of The Mellomen, Thurl Ravenscroft.
     
    Note: Thurl Ravenscroft can be heard as a singing bust on the Haunted Mansion, Buff the Bison at Country Bear Jamboree, was the voice of Tony the Tiger, of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, and also as the vocalist in “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.
     
    The tone is probably going through your head by now, so here are the words:

    Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!
    We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot.
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
    We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot.
    Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!
We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!
We kindle and char; inflame and ignite.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
We burn up the city; we’re really a fright.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

We’re rascals and scoundrels. We’re villains and knaves.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho.
We’re devils and black sheep. We’re really bad eggs.
Drink up me hearties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!
We’re beggars and blighters and ne’er-do-well cads,
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
Aye, but we’re loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!
  • As you float along you see more pirates stealing treasure, singing, and carrying the torches which set the city alight. The Carefree, tipsy pirates succeed in ravaging the town and setting it aflame, filling the night air with an orange glow.
  • You then begin to pass under a bridge, there is a pirate on the right passed out and surrounded by pigs.
  • Above on the bridge a pirate dangles his hairy, dirty leg down with a Parrot next to him.
    Look up at the pirate sitting on the bridge with a dangling leg. Knowing how close guests would be to this particular pirate and aiming to be as authentic as possible, the Imagineers ensured that the hair on his leg and dirt on his foot look real.
  • Now the boat enter a prison scene with the prisoners trying to escape from their jail cell as flames draw near. Just out of reach is a dog who has keys in his mouth. The prisoners are trying to lure him over to them. But he seems immune to the pleas of the pirates trying to coax him closer. One of the pirates holds a noose, hoping to trap the dog. But as Jack Sparrow says in The Curse of the Black Pearl movie, “The dog is never going to move.".
  • On the left the scene shows opened doors, with Jack Sparrow rocking in a room full of the hidden treasure (the treasure vault as mentioned by the Pooped Pirate). He is draped over a large throne-like chair, waves his new treasures around happily while chattering to himself and to passing guests. Every once in a while he sings, "Drink up, me hearties. Yo ho!".
  • However, the scene was a lot different before the changes in 2006. The then showed a captured Officer and the pirates displaying their loot.
Before 2006
after the changes in 2006
  • As you past look above Jack Sparrow to spot a crest with an interesting name, Marco Daviso. It is a tribute to Marc Davis, an Imagineer who was instrumental in helping to come up with concepts for the attraction.
  • Up a ramp and the ride ends as you exit to your left, up a moving walkway.

Note:
  • The Pirates of the Caribbean has plenty of Animatronics, it 126 audio-animatronics, 69 of them are pirates.
  •  X. Atencio was one of the best animators at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He is credited for exceptional work on the classical pictures of Dumbo and Pinocchio. But it was Atencio that Walt decided should be his scriptwriter. “I wondered if Walt was talking to the right guy,” Atencio said. “I had never scripted anything before, but Walt said, ‘I know you can do this.’ And that’s how I became a writer.” 

Reference reading:

Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar

As guests exit the attraction they’ll enter the Plaza De Sol Caribe Bazaar Market, which has a carries a wide selection of Pirate themed souvenirs are available.
 Guests who are fans of the attraction and film franchise can find some amazing merchandise in this location which can’t be found elsewhere in Walt Disney World.
House of Treasure (1973 - 2001 closed)
The House of Treasure was a store located at the exit to Pirates of the Caribbean. After you exit the ride, it was located behind a double door on the right hand side of the area. The doors are still there, but the areas is now used for the Pirate League. Originally, it sold a variety of pirate-themed merchandise that can now be found in the central shopping area.

The Pirates League

The Pirates League is the male version of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Here, boys and men (as well as girls and women) can receive a buccaneer makeover.
In just about an hour, guests can transformed into a pirate, empress or mermaid complete with a new pirate name and a bag of pirate booty. All Pirates League participants can return at 4:00 pm to take part in a "pirate procession" using instruments to parade through Adventureland.

Note: The Pirates League makeover wil no longer be offered after the spring of 2020.
For more information go to:

Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial

With a Pirate makeover, it’s time to get some training.

Arrrr....Captain Jack Sparrow holds court in the Plaza across from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. He enlists budding pirates in joining his crew.
Alongside Captain Jack is Mack, his steadfast shipmate. Together they'll teach the Captain Jack Sparrow secret of being a swashbuckling, sword wielding pirate on the Adventureland Promenade Stage.
Things are always changing so check the Magic Kingdom Times Guide to see if and when the Pirates Tutorial is still being given.
  • https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/magic-kingdom/

More information about the Show see:
Note: Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial at the Magic Kingdom will be coming to an end in September 2018.
But Captain Jack is still holding a Meet and Greet at the Promenade Stage.

Caribbean Plaza

When exiting the shop, take a look around the Caribbean Plaza. The Imagineers have created a seaport town modeled after British and Spanish colonies of the 17th and 18th century West Indies.
Adventureland Entertainment
 
There have been many entertainers at Walt Disney World, and noted one for the Magic Kingdom is J.P. and the Silver Stars. J.P. and the Silver Stars were a Caribbean style steel band that spent around 28 years entertaining the crowds at the Caribbean Plaza across from the Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom. The band got its name from J.P. Pouchet, the band's leader, they performed almost from the Pirates' opening day,  ending in September 1999.
The band line-up changed occasionally, but consisted of several musicians (usually 6), with 5 different registers of steel "drums", bongos, congas, and a trap drum set, and they played a variety of music, from Disney melodies through Calypsos to opera and jazz. All their music was arranged and/or written by their leader, J.P.Pouchet.
Here’s a little taste of their performances in Adventureland:

Tortuga Tavern

Across the Plaza for the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is the Tortuga Tavern. The name translates to "The Pirate and the Parrot." Originally called El Pirata Y el Perico (The Pirate and the Parrot), this spot was recently renamed Tortuga Tavern to tie it into the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
 
It’s counter service restaurant with covered open air seating which is common south of the border. This restaurant operates on a seasonal schedule, only opening when the park is very busy.
 
For current menu see link: 
Notice how the exterior of this building looks like multiple businesses, with the main entrance resembling a tavern where pirates might have enjoyed a glass of grub and grog.
El Pirata Y de Perico
Tortuga Tavern
The interior of the Restaurant is definitely worth a walk through.

Hanging near the food ordering station is a sign announcing the Tortuga Tavern Code of Conduct.

Which states:

Every man has equal title to fresh provisions -- iffin he has the gold

Ye fair ladies shall be treated in a favorable manner -- wenches be not fair ladies
A witness shall be present for gaming at cards or dice -- Short Drop and Sudden Stop for cheatin scallywags
Duels by cutlass or pistol shall be taken outside with witness -- ye witness must have one good eye
Damages unto an establishment shall be paid in gold, doubloons, or pieces of eight -- parrots be not legal tender -- ye be warned
Microsoft
The Imagineers typically like to pay homage to old attractions and facilities when they are replaced. If you look carefully in the rafters there is an old El Pirata Y el Perico keg that once was the marquee for this establishment.
Picture



There is an interior walkway that connects the Tortuga Tavern dining room with the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café dining room, which isn’t always open.

The Fountain of Fortune

Mostly overlooked next to Tortuga Tavern is La Fuente de la Fortuna (The Fountain of Fortune). This is important to the communities because it represents the towns well where families fetched their daily bucket of water and gossiped with their neighbors.
Looking around the Plaza guest will note that the Imagineers purposely chose Spanish influenced architecture for this section of Adventureland. This helps provide a seamless transition between this part of the park and the Spanish influence American West of adjoining Frontierland.
La Princesa de Cristal 

Across the way, is another merchant sells hand-crafted rings. Here you can have you name or initials carved into brass, sterling silver, and gold.

Under the arch at the end of the Caribbean Plaza are several shops. One small shop featuring Arriba’s Brothers crystal, jewelry, and glass items as well as other collectibles. 
If you are interested in the process of creating these works of art, make sure you check out Crystal Arts on Main Street U.S.A. to watch these master craftsmen at work.

See Chapter 7 – Main St. USA – East Side

Technically, the arch represents the end of Adventureland and the beginning of Frontierland, but there is one more Adventureland attraction on the other side.


wine.com


The Crow’s Nest (Closed)

This shop offered all your photo needs from film to batteries and albums.

After Kodak ended its Disney sponsorship, this shop was converted into a new attraction, "A Pirate's Adventure -- Treasures of the Seven Seas."

A Pirate's Adventure: Treasure of the Seven Seas

A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas is an interactive game attraction for the Magic Kingdom that debuted in the spring of 2013.
The game focuses on guests using a pirate map and magic talisman to help them complete five different pirate raids throughout Adventureland.
The goal is to help locate different Treasures of the Seven Seas and fight off pirate enemies like the Royal Navy and Captain Barbossa, among others.
If guests help Captain Jack succeed in all the missions, they'll be welcomed as part of his new crew.
 
List of the 5 different Treasure Hunts:
Heads, You Lose
Blackboard
The King's Ransom
Guardian's Curse
Haven Defense
 
Guests seek around Adventureland for magic idols throughout Adventureland and complete missions to become a member of Captain Jack Sparrow’s crew.  This experience is similar to the Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom, but guests are limited to just Adventureland.
How to Play
Each map contains four to six treasure locations. Each location is marked by a special emblem. Some of these are a skull & crossbones, a parrot, a snake, palm trees, and a cannon. After reaching your first location, you tap your wristband or ticket on the emblem. This activates some activity or voice, giving you clues to the next location to visit. Some of these clues are vocal instructions, but others feature simple AudioAnimatronics. You might see a parrot talk, skeletons appear from beneath the water, or a treasure chest open wide. When you have found all of the treasure on your map, you can go back to the starting point for another hunt until you've completed all five adventures. It takes about 15 minutes to complete one treasure search.
When guests complete each pirate raid, they can get a Collector Card reward at Pirate Headquarters.  An additional card will be given when all five raids are completed.
We have reached the end of Adventureland. That was a lot behind what the Imagineers designed into the attractions and surrounding areas. It took 3 chapters to get this far. Again this is intended to be a pictorial tour with the basic backstories. It may have seemed that we cover it in depth, but this was only a surface coating. Please check out the reference links for much more information and detail.
Now before we head into Frontierland lets stop off at the Golden Oak Outpost for a refreshment. We’ll need a rest after our Tour of Adventureland and recharge our energy before tackling Frontierland.


Next Chapter 12, we’ll be off to Frontierland, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Tom Sawyer Island and the Country Bears.

    We would definitely like to hear from you.
    Let us know what you think, suggestions, ideas, and absolutely if we've missed anything.
Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour.
While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and attraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with references and links to the original articles and authors, giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of misinformation, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost.
So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions.

Thanks,
WDWMousing