(March 18, 1967 —Present) BACKSTORY: Envisioned in the late 1950’s as a walk-through wax museum, it evolved into a boat ride through complex show scenes with Audio-Animatronics characters (possible due to advances in technologies from the 1964 NY World’s Fair). Real historic pirates were replaced with Imagineer Marc Davis’ humorous fictional ones. Upon its debut, POTC was Disneyland’s largest AA project and the last attraction Walt Disney worked on. The painting of the female pirate above the Captain’s Quarters’ bar is by Davis. The Auctioneer was a test AA; many innovations were tried on him first, making him the most realistic.
The lusty pirates chasing shapely females in circles (figures on hidden turntables) and the comic reversal of an overweight woman chasing a pirate offended some, so Disney gave the hefty woman a rolling pin. The scene changed again in 1997: pirates chased women with pies and the large woman chased a pirate with a stolen ham.
Another pirate was once shown exhausted from his pursuit of an unwilling female, holding her petticoat and uttering suggestive lines like “It’s sore I be to hoist me colors upon the likes of that shy little wench,” and “I be willing to share I be.” The woman popped her head out from a barrel behind him. The “Pooped Pirate” was renamed the Gluttonous Pirate and recast in 1997 as a hungry rogue. His dialogue included “Me belly be feeling like galleon with a load of treasure” and “I be looking for a fine pork loin I be.” A cat replaced the woman in the barrel.
In 2006, Imagineers made changes inspired by the “POTC” films to coincide with the sequel’s release. This time the turntables feature pirates chased by women with a broom, rolling pin, and a pitchfork. The “Pooped Pirate” character now holds a treasure map & vault key while Capt. Jack Sparrow observes from the barrel.
The refab also included other AA figures of Capt. Jack and one of Hector Barbossa (who replaces Blackbeard on the Wicked Wench), along with new special effects, improved lighting & audio, and a ghostly appearance by Davy Jones, all voiced by the original actors. The final Jack Sparrow in the Treasure Room was supposed to roll a coin on the back of his hand, but the Imagineers were unable to get the effect to work properly, thus causing this Sparrow’s hand to be dubbed “The Million Dollar Hand.” The skeleton beach and hurricane scenes are now accompanied by an instrumental version of "Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” written by George Bruns and Xavier Atencio. As the boats are lifted back to ground level, guests see Capt. Jack with his new treasure.
Photos presented in order you’d see them if you were on this attraction. Most available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. |
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Panavue Slide)
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When buying 