The ride
never was intended to be part of the Magic Kingdom at
Walt Disney World
Resort
because of concerns that it would not be exotic enough due
to Florida's geographic proximity to the
Caribbean
and
New Orleans,
the settings of the Disneyland attraction. Instead,
Imagineers developed plans for a similar attraction called the
Western River
Expedition,
which would have featured
cowboys
and
Indians
instead as well as banditos, coyotes, miners, and a climatic
drop bigger then Pirates. After many Walt Disney World guests
complained about the lack of Disney's celebrated pirate
attraction, an abbreviated version opened in Florida on
December 15,
1973.
The
Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is located in
Adventureland, to the left of Main Street USA, at
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The attraction is housed
in a golden Spanish fort called Castillo Del Morro. Inside the
blue bayou has been replaced by Pirate's Bay and into a short
grotto with Davy Jones, dead skeletons, and the hurricane
lagoon. Following the plunge down one waterfall the remainder of
the ride is identical to Tokyo and California, the only scene
missing is the arsenal. With the popularity of the movies also
comes popularity in the attraction. After walking through the
underground cavern and loading into a boat you will float
through a cave that bring you to a surprising dark plunge.
Between cannon shots and a trip through the city this ten minute
attraction is great for all ages. Don't be too concerned about
lines; each boat holds 30 people so lines go quick!
