Fan favorite attraction Pirates of the Caribbean first opened to the public on March 18, 1967, at Disneyland Resort, and it quickly became one of the most iconic and beloved attractions at Disney parks worldwide. It’s inspired experiences at Disney parks around the world, and spawned a successful movie franchise that ended up shaping the modern-day attractions guests experience today. In fact, more pirate stories are yet to be told with the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge coming soon to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is right around the corner and our teams are busy gearing up for Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase on Aug. 10. Ahead of all the new and exciting announcements at this year’s show, we’re commemorating and celebrating where we started with historical deep dives into some of our favorite classic attractions. Join me to learn about the unique and storied history – from Disney parks to the big screen – of everyone’s favorite rapscallions, the Pirates of the Caribbean. 

The attraction traces back to Walt Disney himself as it was one of the last attractions he oversaw the development of. The concept for the experience was originally envisioned as a walkthrough wax museum dedicated to eighteenth century pirate history, to be placed in New Orleans Square near a planned “Thieves Market” shopping district in Disneyland park. However, with advancements in technology and the success of Disney’s first Audio-Animatronics figures, the concept evolved into a boat ride, an iteration of the ride system originally created for “it’s a small world,” filled with lifelike, moving pirates, detailed sets, and captivating storytelling.

Pirates of the Caribbean immerses guests in a swashbuckling adventure, starting out in a peaceful bayou scene and escalating into an escapade through pirate-laden waters. The attraction features exciting cannon battles, treasure-filled caves, and of course, scenes of plundering and revelry. The attraction’s catchy and recognizable theme song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” composed by Disney Legend George Bruns with lyrics by Disney Legend Xavier “X” Atencio (who you might remember from our Haunted Mansion historical blog), also adds to its charm and enduring popularity.

With the attraction’s rising popularity and demand at Disneyland, other Disney parks began to bring the beloved pirates to their guests. Walt Disney World added its own attraction in Adventureland in 1973, and at Tokyo Disney Resort a near identical version of the original beloved voyage.

Over in Europe, Disneyland Paris offered a unique twist on the classic attraction. Located in Adventureland, their Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opened in 1992 with a different layout and all-new scenes. Notable for its impressive exterior design resembling an old fort, guests love the different storyline about the pirates’ quest for treasure. Most recently, 2016 saw the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure in Shanghai Disneyland. A reimagining of the fan-favorite attraction, this version features large-scale screens and is closely linked to the film series.

Speaking of the films, the immense popularity and rich storytelling of the Disney parks attractions eventually inspired the feature film franchise. Directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Disney Legend Johnny Depp, the 2003 film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” drew inspiration from the attractions and introduced fans to all-new characters, like Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa.

This first film proved to be a major success and created a dedicated fan base. Furthermore, Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow became so iconic that he earned his first Academy Award ® nomination in 2004, cementing the character as a pop culture mainstay. “The Curse of the Black Pearl” became so popular that four subsequent films, including “Dead Man’s Chest,” “At World’s End,” “On Stranger Tides” and “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” followed over the next 15 years. 

As the franchise grew in popularity, Disneyland and Magic Kingdom began to infuse characters and scenes from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films into their parks. Audio-Animatronics figures of film characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa were added to the attractions and the character Jack Sparrow started greeting guests around the parks. The character has also made appearances in select shows over the years like The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Walt Disney World Resort and Fantasmic! at Disneyland Resort. Currently, he also appears in Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular at Shanghai Disney Resort.

Guests continue to have new avenues to interact with their favorite buccaneers including a new Pirates-themed lounge opening at Magic Kingdom as well as Sparrow’s arrival into the popular online Epic game, Fortnite, earlier this year.

The attraction’s evolution over the years has contributed to its lasting success and popularity for fans and guests. The integration of elements from the film series has introduced movie fans to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and the film’s inspirations, all while keeping the experience fresh and relevant for long-time parks guests.

Pirates of the Caribbean continues to stand as a testament to the power of immersive storytelling and Walt Disney’s creative vision for Disneyland that’s permeated and influenced Disney parks around the world. From its origins as a groundbreaking attraction to its development into a beloved film franchise and back again, it continues to captivate and inspire audiences around the world. Whether through the captivating park experiences or the adventures on the silver screen, it’s a pirate life for all of us.

Check out our other deep dives into Country Bear Jamboree, “it’s a small world,” and Haunted Mansion. Keep up with us on the Disney Parks Blog and social channels during Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, as part of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, as we share all the exciting new updates coming out of the show!