The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction celebrates its 50th anniversary at Disneyland on March 18, 2017. The adventure has thrilled hundreds of millions of guests from the around the world since its debut in 1967. Click here for more information on how Disneyland Park plans to celebrate the special occasion this weekend.
Below are some fun facts associated with one of Walt Disney’s greatest entertainment achievements – Pirates of the Caribbean:
- Pirates of the Caribbean was the last Disneyland attraction personally supervised by Walt Disney. It was designed by WED Enterprises (now called Walt Disney Imagineering).
- The attraction originally was envisioned as a New Orleans-themed Blue Bayou Mart featuring a Pirate Wax Museum, housed in a 70-foot deep basement. The basement now serves as the grotto section of the attraction.
- Pirates of the Caribbean was loosely inspired by such Hollywood films as “Captain Blood,” “The Sea Hawk” and “The Buccaneer,” plus Disney’s “Treasure Island,” “Kidnapped” and “Swiss Family Robinson.”
- It cost $15 million to build New Orleans Square, the home for Pirates of the Caribbean. This is equal to the amount the United States paid for the real New Orleans in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
- The attraction façade was partly inspired by the Cabildo building in Jackson Square in New Orleans that served as the seat of the Spanish colonial government in 1799. It is also noted for being the site where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803.
- Guests ride through the attraction in a 1,838-foot canal.
- Approximately 120 animated characters (human characters plus nine different types of animated animals) appear in the Audio-Animatronics cast of Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Several original designers and Imagineers for the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction have since become Disney Legends, an honorary title bestowed on individuals by The Walt Disney Company.
- Disney Imagineer X Atencio, who wrote the attraction’s memorable tune, “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” is the voice of the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones, seen just before guests plunge down the waterfalls.
- In the lyrics of the song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” the phrase “Yo Ho” is uttered 18 times.
- Guests ride through the attraction for approximately 15 minutes, on one of the longest rides at Disneyland Resort.
- Approximately 400 million guests have ridden Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Park since its opening in 1967.
- In 1997, Pirates of the Caribbean won the Thea Classic Award from the Themed Entertainment Association. The Thea Classic Award is given to an outstanding “compelling place and experience” which has been in operation for a minimum of 20 years.
- The Blue Bayou restaurant in New Orleans Square allows diners to observe passing boats traveling through a bayou, which is the first scene of the attraction. This table service restaurant continues to be the only dining establishment that looks into a dark ride attraction at Disneyland Resort.
- The concept of Pirates of the Caribbean has come full circle with the attraction initially inspiring the successful film franchise and then the films (starting with the release of “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003) inspiring exciting additions to the attraction.
- Both Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa from the blockbuster films appear in the attraction and the ghostly image of Davy Jones appears on a waterfall.
- Guests can spot Captain Jack Sparrow at three different points during their journey.
- Approximately 400,000 pieces of gold coins and set pieces were added to the attraction during a lengthy refurbishment in 2006 when some of the film characters were added to the story.
- The Aztec pirate chest used in the film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” appears in the Treasure Room as the last thing guests see in that scene.
In 2016, Treasure Cove opened at Shanghai Disney Resort, marking the first land at any Disney theme park inspired by the adventure and swashbuckling fun of pirates. The anchor of that land is the latest iteration of the classic attraction, known there by the name Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. It has won industry awards including Outstanding Achievement – Attraction from the Themed Entertainment Association and a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project. Additionally, an original story about Captain Jack Sparrow opened as “Eye of the Storm – Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular,” also in Treasure Cove.
The fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film called “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” will be released in May 2017. Click here for the latest trailer.
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Source: http://disneylandnews.com/
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