Movies - Pirates of the Caribbean

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	Movies - Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the best-known attractions at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris theme parks.

Its setting is loosely based on the more romantic side of piracy in the Caribbean. The first ride opened at Disneyland on March 18, 1967, was the largest audio-animatronic project to date and was the last attraction which Walt Disney was involved in designing. During the course of the indoor boat ride, guests experience an immersive, larger-than-life pirate experience – complete with gunshots, cannon blasts, explosions and fire. Since the Disneyland attraction was constructed before the advent of life-like research skeletons, the original skeletons that made up parts of the show were genuine medical specimens; most still remain today. It is widely rumored that the skull and crossbones mounted on the headboard of the bed featured in the "Captain's Quarters" are genuine as well, given to Walt Disney as a gift.

Another interesting feature may be seen above the bar in that same scene: the portrait of the lady pirate is an original work by Marc Davis. In addition, the pirate captain in the scene where captured women are auctioned as brides is also a test bed for updates and developments to audio-animatronic technology; many innovations are tried on him first. As a result, his movements are far more lifelike and expressive than virtually any other audio-animatronic in all of Disneyland.

The ride was never intended to be part of Magic Kingdom out of fear that it would not be exotic enough to Floridians, due to its geographic proximity to the Caribbean. Instead, planners intended Magic Kingdom to have a Pirates-type ride called the Western River Expedition, which would featured cowboys and Indians instead. However, guest demand forced the Florida resort to build the ride, although it is shorter than its counterpart in Disneyland. The ride opened in Florida on December 15, 1973, more than two years after the Florida resort opened. It is an original to both Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, having both opened with their parks' opening days of April 15, 1983 and April 12, 1992, respectively. There is no ride yet at Hong Kong Disneyland, but there are plans to add this ride to that park in the near future, but with some Splash Mountain-style elments.

The Attraction

The ride begins amid glimmering fireflies during an evening abuzz with the croaking of bullfrogs in a swamp. Daring adventurers board their boats at Lafitte's Landing, and are at once afloat in the heart of bayou country. Once past several rickety houseboats, the soft strumming of a banjo melody (which is actually Oh! Susanna) can be heard over the peaceful symphony of nature as guests pass by one houseboat, on the porch of which an old man calmly rocks back and forth in his rocking chair. But then a talking skull and crossbones above an archway provides this taunting warning:

:Psst! Avast there! It be too late to alter course, mateys. And there be plundering pirates lurkin' in ev'ry cove, waitin' to board. Sit closer together and keep your ruddy hands in board. That be the best way to repel boarders. And mark well me words, mateys: Dead men tell no tales! Ye come seekin' adventure with salty old pirates, eh? Sure you've come to the proper place. But keep a weather eye open mates, and hold on tight. With both hands, if you please. Thar be squalls ahead, and Davy Jones waiting for them that don't obey.

Then a more chilling sound becomes audible: the thundering of a waterfall, down which guests plunge. Then they hear the frightening echo of "Dead men tell no tales!"

After a second hair-raising plunge further into the depths of an underground grotto, guests behold the skeletal remains of an unfortunate band of pirates, guarding their loot and treasure with macabre delight. As you continue through the caves, foreboding voices overhead taunt the guests:

:Perhaps ye knows too much. Ye've seen the cursed treasure; ye know where it be hidden. Now proceed at yer own risk. These be the last friendly words ye'll hear: ye may not survive to pass this way again...

Suddenly, cannonballs whistle overhead and explosions throw water into the air – a fierce battle between a marauding pirate galleon and a Caribbean fortress is in full swing. "Surrender, ya lilly liverd lubbers!" The village beyond is overrun with sinister pirates, looking for treasures to steal, wenches to auction, and rum to drink. One pirate is even offering cats some rum.

Carefree, tipsy pirates succeed in ravaging the town and setting it aflame, filling the night air with an orange glow, while a rollicking tune echoes over the rooftops: "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me!"

Your boat then takes you through a jail, where imprisoned pirates are doing their best to escape. A small dog just out of the prisoners' reach holds the key to their escape in his teeth; he seems all but immune to the pleas of the pirates trying to coax him closer.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Pirates of the Caribbean ]

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Movies - Pirates of the Caribbean

The Attraction

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