A reference to a character from the original version of Pirates of the Caribbean was recently added to the Disneyland version of the attraction.
Who is the Redhead?
The Redhead character came from the mind of Disney artist Marc Davis while he was working on the original 1967 version of Pirates of the Caribbean. Preliminary sketches of the attraction included an auction scene where one noticeably bold character, the Redhead, appeared more interested than other women to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Walt Disney was a bit leery about the whole auction, but the scene ultimately made the cut, including a full Redhead Audio-Animatronic.
Marc Davis’ wife, Alice Davis, was hired to costume the pirates in the attraction. Walt was so enamored with her work on “it’s a small world” that he brought her onto the Pirates project. Audio-Animatronics costumes present a unique challenge in that they must look and function like normal human clothes, but also allow for the complex wiring and precise, repeated movements of a robot. The Redhead proved to be an even greater challenge: her midsection, from right below her bust and down to her hips, was nothing but a two-inch tube.
In March 2018, Walt Disney World reimagined the auction scene in Pirates of the Caribbean. Instead of an auction of women, it became an auction of housewares and animals. Most notably, the Redhead was replaced with a new female pirate now known as Redd, a nod to the original character. Disneyland followed suit and updated their auction scene in June 2018. Disneyland’s Redhead Audio-Animatronic found a new home at the Disney Archives the next year.
Reference to Original Redhead Character Added
In June 2026, Pirates of the Caribbean reopened at Disneyland after a two-month-long refurbishment. Notably, the Pirates Grotto—the treasure room scene before the Battle of Tortuga—received a new transforming skeleton Audio-Animatronic. During our recent visit to the attraction, we also noticed another change in this room: The addition of a reference to the Redhead.
Amongst the piles of treasure, a picture frame can be spotted near a treasure chest. The picture inside the frame depicts the Redhead character with her hands on her hips and wearing her recognizable dress and oversized hat.
Disneyland has not yet officially disclosed or commented on this addition, but the framed image will serve as a welcome easter egg to memorialize the original character brought to life by Marc and Alice Davis.
What do you think about this new nod to the original Redhead? Let us know on social media.
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