Yes, the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction turned 50 years young a little more than a week ago today. It underwent a few small touch ups and fixes for the last couple weeks, and was open with that "new pirate smell" right in time to celebrate its historical birthday. I always say that "this attraction is a staple of the Disneyland Resort" on this blog, and that's usually true. But this attraction is very special. While it is a staple of the Disneyland Resort, and a big one at that, it is special because the Pirates of the Caribbean was the last attraction overseen by the great man himself, Walt Disney. He designed parts of it, and it was his idea. Tragically he died in 1966, a year or so before its opening on March 18th, 1967. This was a hard blow to the people and imagineers at Disney Enterprises, but after a while, they picked themselves up, and carried on. And the first thing they finished was the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and what a ride is was.
Most people who have watched any film about Disneyland have seen the iconic clip, where all the audio-animatronics for the Pirates ride left the studio and made their way down the California freeway in the back of a pick-up. Its special to see Disney when it's outside of Disney. This is a good foundation for the ride to begin on, nostalgically speaking, and it only got better from there. The Pirates of the Caribbean is a classic attraction to be sure, and it's a staple of the Disneyland Park to also be sure. The actual entrance is one of the more special ones, that throws you into the ride's theme and setting, more so than some of the other attractions. If you enter on the ground level, you go under a bridge, and up a winding ramp. You feel like you have entered the world of the "Wildest crew to ever sack the spanish maine". The surrounding New Orleans Square and part of Frontierland rally sets the mood of what time you are in and what people lived like.
The ride itself, is a masterpiece of art and engineering. Walt planned it so that you enter and exit the world of the pirates via waterfall. Thats right, you go down a waterfall to get there, and what do you do to get back? You go up the waterfall "because anything is possible at Disneyland", said Walt when asked about that specific thing. The many audio animatronic figures that fill the ride are so individual and unique, and the dialogue that goes with them just adds to the loads of character they already have.
Even though you are 100% sure you are underground, you feel as though you are out in the Spanish Maine, watching the pillaging, plundering, rifling, and looting (drink up me hearties yo ho). The observant park goer will have noticed the clouds above, as well as the real skull and crossbones on the head of the bed, in the bed scene. (contrary to popular belief, this is the only real skull and crossbones. I have heard they all used to be real, and then were replaced.) The incorporation of the Pirates of the Caribbean films came later, adding something the guests could relate to.
But we all know this stuff, right? We know how amazing the ride is, we know it's much cooler and colder than outside, we know its fun and has "That one part at the beginning where you fall in the dark". But I think we take pirates for granted. It's a ride you can ride over and over and over again and still find new things, while at the same time getting bored of the ride. There are parts of the ride that stay with us forever, the smell of the water, the roar of the waterfall in the darkness, the silly and drunk pirates, the creaking wood in the burning town.
There is more iconic parts of the ride than others however. It's sort of a "iconpotition" if you will. The first iconic scene is actually the sequence of scenes at the beginning of the ride. The next icon is the canon fight scene, where the boat fights the spanish fortress. This is where the ride opens up more from the previous caves, the room is filled with smoke and cannon balls are hitting the water left and right. The next is the Bride Auction scene, where we hear the classic line, "We wants the Redhead!". This is less of the star of the show, but still an important piece of the pirates puzzle. The next scene that comes to mind is the jail scene. Three desperate pirates and a few of their mates are trying to lure the dog, who has the keys in its mouth, with bones and sticks so it will come to them and they can escape their burning and crumbling prison. This is one of the more beloved scenes, probably due to the humor employed and the cute, shaggy dog.
Pirates is one of the most classic attractions, thus it's one of the oldest. Many generations have ridden it, and many will continue to do so. The magic of this ride is that it will never truly get old. It's a hidden ride, that everyone knows about. They don't just know about it, they love it. Its every little kids first memory of the park, and it's everyone's go to when there is nothing else with a short line. Everyone can remember the smell of the pirate water, and the creaking of the wood in the burning town. They will always remember the drowning man in the well, and the desperate pirates attempting to lure the key laden dog. So next time you ride Pirates of the Caribbean, try riding it cause you want to rather because its a short line. Pirates is a work of art, not a last resort (as contradicting as that sounds). And be sure to say hi to the parrot upon entering for me. :)