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Attraction review: Pirates of the Caribbean
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Dead men tell no tales...
Story: Guests board their own vessel and set sail for adventure as they enter the world of Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Lowdown: Pirates of the Caribbean is one of those classic Disney attractions that will never get old. It’s also one of the few “rehabs” that I think Mickey did right. Guests board a small boat that slowly navigates a dark pirates’ cave. The theming is incredible and the addition of a ghostly Davey Jones ads a bit of the supernatural to the previously empty cavern. The slow ride is interrupted by a small drop that thrusts your ship into the middle of a firefight between Captain Barbosa and a fort. I think Disney should have gone the extra mile and re-themed Barbosa’s ship to be the Black Pearl, but it does the job. We meet Jack Sparrow a little bit past there, the story being that the pirates are all on the hunt for Jack. The Jack Sparrow animatronics are nothing short of incredible and stunningly life-like. Luckily the Disney Imagineers of old did such a good job on the other pirate animatronics that he blends almost seamlessly. The ride ends with Jack sitting in a tremendous treasure room after outwitting his enemies and singing the famous “A Pirate’s Life for Me” song.
For fans of the old ‘Pirates’ ride, fear not. The Jack story only adds to the theming. What has been replaced is relatively small, leaving most of the old attraction intact. The biggest change is the final scene mentioned above and on some levels that too, is an improvement. (If you are a Disneyphile, you would note that the original featured drunken pirates shooting at barrels of explosives. In the Disneyland version, the explosion is supposed to SHOOT your boat up and out of the dungeon. However Disney World’s version of the ride just puts us on a conveyor belt.)
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Cue Review: The cue is well themed and features the exciting Hans Zimmer score from the popular 'Pirates' movies. There are lots of neat things to look at, especially the pirate skeletons playing chess in the dungeon.
Attraction Theming: 5 out of 5
Wait Time: Even at it’s busiest; this attraction manages to keep wait times down. The most I’ve ever waited was just shy of 40 minutes and that was when the new Jack Sparrow audio animatronics had been added. Typically you’re looking at 15 minutes. (Shorter if you follow my tip below!)
Must See? Absolutely.
Tip: There are two (yes, two) cues for Pirates of the Caribbean. Guests tend to gravitate to the left. If you choose the cue on the right, you will usually cut your wait by a considerable amount of time.
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