Pirates of Caribbean Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World

SPARROW LOOKS FOR TREASURE -- Captain Jack Sparrow makes his first appearance in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, lurking behind a dress maker's form as pirates pursuing him pillage the town. The classic attraction re-opens at Disneyland in California on June 26 and in Florida’s Magic Kingdom on July 7 following an extensive three-month enhancement and featuring new characters and elements from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Captain Jack Sparrow Newest Pirate To Join Crew of Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction July 7 at Walt Disney World Resort

First the theme park attraction inspired the movie. Now the movie has inspired the attraction.

JACK SPARROW GETS READY -– A Disney Imagineer prepares Captain Jack Sparrow to join the Audio-Animatronics crew of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. When the classic attraction re-opens at Disneyland on June 26 and in Florida’s Magic Kingdom on July 7, it will feature the addition of two of Hollywood’s most infamous buccaneers, Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Captain Barbossa.

Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," reopens July 7 at Walt Disney World Resort following a three-month closure to add characters and features from the blockbuster motion picture franchise. The Florida attraction's reopening coincides with the opening of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

Both the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida closed the attraction in March for the updates. The attraction re-opened to the public at Disneyland on June 26.

GIVE UP JACK SPARROW -- With Barbossa now at them helm of the Wicked Wench, the epic battle scene of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction takes on added drama as the villainous pirate bombards the town where Captain Jack Sparrow is lurking. The classic attraction re-opened at Disneyland in California on June 26 and will open in Florida’s Magic Kingdom on July 7 following an extensive three-month enhancement and featuring new characters and elements from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films.

When it reopens at Walt Disney World Resort, the attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, Captain Jack and Barbossa add an exciting new twist to the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of plundered treasure.

BARRELS OF ADVENTURE -- Captain Jack Sparrow has joined the Audio-Animatronics crew of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. The classic attraction, which re-opened at Disneyland in California on June 26 and will open in Florida’s Magic Kingdom on July 7, features the addition of two of Hollywood’s most infamous buccaneers, Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa.

Woven into some of the attraction's most memorable scenes, the rival swashbucklers will be seen interacting with some of the more familiar Audio-Animatronics buccaneers found inside the ride-thru adventure. Also making a guest appearance is the ghostly Davy Jones from the second movie in the series, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." But new characters are only the beginning. New special effects will also be added to enhance the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park experience.

"Successfully adding the popular characters from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films with the mythology of our classic attraction is an example of Disney synergy and Walt Disney Imagineering at its finest," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "These additions will result in an exciting new chapter for the attraction and an unforgettable experience for our guests, giving them another reason to come and be a part of our continuing 50th anniversary celebration."

Created under the direct creative supervision of Walt Disney himself, Pirates of the Caribbean is the quintessential Disney theme park adventure, a swashbuckling voyage that transports guests back to the days when pirates and privateers roamed the Spanish Main.

Disney Imagineers John Gritz and Kathy Rogers add a unique, custom-made chest to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Decorated by a Children's Miracle Network cancer survivor, the chest features his monogram and will be displayed among the huge treasure trove in the newly enhanced attraction.

Starring a comical cast of rascals, scoundrels, villains and knaves, the world-famous attraction sends guests of all ages on a boat ride through mysterious caverns where "Dead men tell no tales" and then into a colonial era Caribbean seaport under siege by a band of fun-loving pirates. The attraction's jaunty theme song, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)," sets the show's light tone with its tongue-in-cheek depiction of high-seas lawlessness.

The original incarnation of Pirates of the Caribbean premiered on March 18, 1967, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in California. Featuring more than 120 Audio-Animatronics performers, lavishly decorated sets and special effects, it's considered to be one of the most spectacular and enduring attractions ever created for a theme park.

With its setting revised slightly to fit a Caribbean Plaza location in Adventureland, the attraction opened to guests at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom on Dec. 15, 1973. More than 500 million people have experienced the rollicking fun of Pirates of the Caribbean in California and Florida over the past 39 years.

"Enhancing the classic Pirates attractions with new characters and new technology will ensure their relevance and place in Disney theme parks as timeless adventures," said Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. "We're adding a layer of storytelling from the films to the attraction while retaining all the familiar elements that make it vibrant and exciting for every age group."

From the moment you enter the queue area, you know Pirates of the Caribbean is quintessential Disney! As you wander through the meandering halls leading to the watercraft, you feel as though something ominous looms around the corner. (This is undoubtedly one of the most intricately themed of all the Magic Kingdom’s queue areas.) Even when the park is crowded, the guests flow quickly and smoothly toward the boarding area. And usually, the temperature is kept quite cool here, providing some relief if you’re visiting the Mouse during the “Hot Season” (which is all year except December through part of February).

Once you board your craft, the adventure begins, with some pretty scary sights including skeletons and ghost ships. There scenes are very effective, so you may wish to warn the little ones that it’s all make-believe. Then, a rather personable “skull” warns you to hold on tight, “there be rough waters ahead, matey.” Well, I don’t want to spoil the surprise for any Pirate virgins, but you might wish to take “Skull’s” advice. The rest of the attraction is a relaxing (if you can call being caught in the crossfire of two warring ships relaxing) boat ride through a pirate-plundered village. Pirates is full of Audio-Animatronics (Disney-speak for robots) and special effects, including believable fire effects, gunfire, and bold, broom-wielding wenches chasing several pirates. Though the scenario may sound violent, it’s all in good fun; even the braying donkey joins in with the “Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho, a pirate’s life for me” theme song. And indeed, you’ll probably continue to hum a few bars yourself as you decide what Disney morsel to sample next.

Because the set is incredibly intricate, and the show is amusing, I make sure Pirates of the Caribbean is on my Disney itinerary every trip I make. I’m just hoping for an update soon, with the inclusion of Johnny Depp as an Audio-Animatronics figure. Wouldn’t that be cool?

The following updates are taken from the Summer 2006 issue of DVC's Vacation Magic.

Call it an attraction inspired by a movie inspired by an attraction. The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction took Disneyland guests by storm when it debuted in 1967, transporting them back to the days when pirates pillaged the Spanish Main with reckless abandon. (Is there really any other way to pillage?)

Created under the guidance of Walt Disney himself and featuring more than 120 Audio-Animatronics performers along with lavish sets, convincing effects and perhaps the most infectious theme song this side of "it's a small world," the attraction was an instant classic. Its success inspired the opening of similar attractions at Florida's Magic Kingdom park (1971), Japan's Tokyo Disneyland Park (1983) and France's Disneyland Park Paris (1992), teaching people around the world that "Dead men tell no tales."

The 2003 debut of Walt Disney Pictures' theatrical hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl brought even more attention to those plundering rascals, scoundrels, villains and knaves. (If hearing those four words together give you the burning desire to sing "Drink up, me hearties, yo, ho," check out the song lyrics below.) The elusive Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa quickly joined the ranks of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, prompting the Studio to green light Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, opening in theaters on July 7, 2006.

That brings us back to the attraction that inspired the film, which inspired the people behind the attraction. Got that?

Here's the scoop. The Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts closed in March 2006 to allow Imagineers to enhance these classics with new characters, special effects and a few other surprises based on the films. The enhanced attractions are scheduled to re-open in time for the new movie, with the flagship Disneyland version targeting a June 26 debut and its Walt Disney World counterpart eyeing (with its one good eye) a July 7 premiere.

On those dates, guests will find that new characters have joined the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, as Captain Jack and Barbossa add a new twist to the attractions' original storyline, racing to be the first to claim a cache of plundered treasure.

"Successfully adding the popular characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean films to the mythology of our classic attraction is an example of Disney synergy and Walt Disney Imagineering at its finest," said Ray Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "This enhancement will result in an exciting new chapter for the attraction and an unforgettable experience for our guests, giving them another reason to come and be a part of our continuing 50th anniversary celebration."

Woven into some of the attractions' most memorable scenes, the rival swashbucklers will interact with some of the more familiar Audio-Animatronics pirates in the ride-through adventure.

Also making a guest appearance in the enhanced attractions will be the ghostly Davy Jones character from the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

"The creative legacy of Pirates of the Caribbean has come full circle with the attraction initially inspiring exciting additions to the attraction itself," said Dick Cook, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. "The attraction enhancements capture the same spirit, swashbuckling humor and action that moviegoers loved in the first Pirates of the Caribbean [film], which will continue with the highly anticipated new tales this summer and beyond."

Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, said Imagineers took special care to preserve the classic attractions' legacy while creating the new elements.

"Enhancing the classic Pirates attractions with new characters and new technology will ensure their relevance and place in Disney Theme Parks as timeless adventures," Tom said. "We're adding a layer of storytelling from the films to the attraction, while retaining all the familiar elements that make it vibrant and exciting for every age group."

X Factor: Imagineer X. (Xavier) Atencio wrote the lyrics to the famous "Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me)" song and also lent his voice to the talking skull and crossbones that delivers an ominous warning to passing guests: "Dead men tell no tales."

Everybody Frees: Paul Frees, who voices many of the attraction's rogues, serves as the Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion attraction. (Voice artist Thurl Ravenscroft also voices characters in both attractions.)

Leaving a Legacy: The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland Park was the last attraction personally supervised by Walt Disney

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, we 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 and we pilfer, we filch and we 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 cities, we're really a fright
Drink up, me hearties, yo ho

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

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
We're beggars and blighters, 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.

Enhancing a Classic: How Imagineers Are Breathing New Life
into a Treasured Attraction

Infusing a time-tested attraction with characters and themes from modern cinema is no easy task. Or is it?

Vacation Magic got the inside scoop from Walt Disney Imagineer Kathy Rogers, who is overseeing the upcoming movie-inspired enhancements to the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions.

"Just as filmmakers seamlessly infused the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with scenes inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, we're seamlessly infusing the attraction with characters and themes from the films," Kathy said. "It's really an easy fit to bring Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa into the attraction that launched the films. Our goal has never been to turn this into the Pirates of the Caribbean movie ride, just as the movie didn't aim to literally re-create the attraction. The films and the classic attraction stand on their own. What we're doing is going full circle, bringing some celebrated elements of this fantastic movie world into a beloved attraction that continues to stand the test of time."

So how did the team move from that concept into reality? When exactly did they decide to make this creative leap, and how did they determine which movie elements would allow them to maintain the attraction's enduring mythology?

"We've actually been engaged in this creative process since the first movie hit theaters in 2003," Kathy explained. "The idea started at Disneyland and eventually percolated to include Florida. Coming out of that first film, we looked at its central theme of the 'curse' and started dreaming up these half-living, half-dead pirate-skeleton characters to join the mix in the attraction. We've always had pirate skeletons 'living' among the attraction's flesh-and-bone characters, so adding the cursed, transforming pirates would be a natural fit.

"But as we headed into the design process, the film's enormous success prompted production of the sequels, and we suddenly had a much broader story to draw from. So we began looking at the world of Captain Jack and Barbossa in that broader sense, and we headed in a different direction."

With that widened perspective, Imagineers settled on a new game plan. Adding Captain Jack Sparrow was the proverbial "no brainer" (listen in on guests' conversations in the attractions' queue areas and you'll no doubt hear dozens of references to Captain Jack), as was the introduction of his nemesis, Barbossa. And with the forthcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest opening in theaters on July 7, 2006, artists had another key character to "Imagineer"--the ghostly Davy Jones.

"We started by studying the essence of Captain Jack, which is his knack for being in the middle of the action while still being sneaky enough to kind of fly under the radar," Kathy said. "He's never really the center of attention. So that's how we approached his appearances in the attractions; finding places for him to blend in as he does in the films. Collaborating with Imagineers who have worked on Pirates of the Caribbean attractions around the world and therefore have an astute knowledge of its storyline, we identified numerous opportunities to have Jack seamlessly sleuth through that ransacked town in search of the elusive treasure." (Look for a total of three appearances by Captain Jack in each of the enhanced attractions.)

"One of the attractions' most memorable moments occurs when guests said past the Wicked Wench pirate ship, which is engaged in a cannon battle," Kathy said. "What better place for Barbossa, a ship captain, to take the helm in our attraction?"

"Again, these are natural fits. We look at it as if these characters have been part of the attraction since day one."

In the case of the Davy Jones character, that approach was especially intuitive.

"If you listen carefully to the original attraction dialog, you hear several references to Davy Jones," Kathy explained. "So now we have this opportunity to use new technology and special effects to introduce that subtle character as a bolder visual element. You'll see him for the first time, but he's always been there.

"I think guests will find the Davy Jones effect to be a fantastic addition to the ride experience. He's a very ghostly, mysterious character, so we've employed a few tricks to let guests sail directly through a misty, almost spiritual presence of Davy Jones as they plunge through a 'waterfall'."

Astute moviegoers will notice some of the enhancement-project's finer details, including the addition of a pop from the first Pirates of the Caribbean film to the Disneyland attraction. (Count yourself among those astute fans, as we're about to clue you in to this particular item.)

"The Disneyland version of the attraction has a wonderful extended grotto scene inhabited by those 'living' skeletons," Kathy said. "One scene that's getting a sparkling makeover is the treasure-cache cave, where a skeleton sits famously atop a mountain of gleaming treasure. One of the things we're adding to that scene is the actual Aztec treasure chest used in the first film. It's a fun visual detail for fans with a sharp eye for detail."

Beyond the film-inspired treatments, Imagineers are employing the latest technologies and production techniques to help the attraction come to life like never before.

"Much like we did with the refurbishment of Florida's 'it's a small world' attraction, we saw the Pirates of the Caribbean project as a chance to really go in and enhance the overall experience," Kathy explained. "We're digitally remastering the soundtrack, upgrading the audio system, enhancing our set lighting and more. It's really going to be a spectacular makeover."

Kathy said the project is designed to delight fans who have grown up with the attraction in the theme parks, as well as those whose first Pirates of the Caribbean experience took place in theaters.

"While the attraction has endured as a favorite for generations, many fans, especially young kids, may have experienced the movies before the attraction," Kathy explained. "So bringing some of the movies' characters and themes into the attraction really helps us maintain that continuity between those wonderfully interconnected worlds. We're building on the legacy of one of the great Disney attractions of all time."