Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! For years Magic Kingdom guests have been treated to that infectious tune thanks to the beloved, adventurous boat ride. Shockingly enough though, Florida almost didn’t receive this attraction at all, but multiple complaints from guests finally convinced management to install this “castoff” from the original. And why do I say castoff? Well, many who have been on the original in California commonly compare this one to that one, and generally say how this is an absolute embarrassment compared to the original. Having never been on the original, I personally enjoy this swashbuckling attraction immensely.
Located in Adventureland, the attraction’s exterior is themed to a very nice looking, pirate-themed Spanish Fort. While not jungle based like most of the other attractions in Adventureland, Disney succeeded in making Pirates flawlessly blend in to Adventureland with flying colors. But for such a beloved attraction, how are the lines? The few times I have ridden this attraction, it has been a walk-on each time, but I unfortunately haven’t been on it much since it always seems to be down for rehab when I visit Disney, so I really can’t judge its usual wait.
Once seated in the comfortable boats, riders disembark on an adventurous journey that begins with a journey down a waterfall! This effect is arguably one of the coolest featured in the entire attraction, as it utilized projection screens to simulate actually passing through water, and immediately after there’s a brief, but sudden plunge to the attraction’s lower level. While certainly nothing like the drops experienced on Splash Mountain, it is undeniably a nice beginning for this classic attraction.
The rest of the ride consisted of a journey through a Pirate infested town, teeming with Pirates of all statures tormenting citizens and other pirates as well. All of the scenes are flawlessly executed thanks to the incredible attention to detail put into this attraction, with my personal favorites being the gigantic pirate ships complete with the very realistic firing cannons that always make me duck for cover, and the absolutely stunning Jack Sparrow animatronic towards the end. Disney outdid themselves with Jack, as every single on of his dreadlocks moves in unison with himself and it bears an uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp’s character in the major motion pictures. While about only half as long as the original, this one is still a pretty darn long ride experience that lasts a good eight minutes or so.
Pirates is just a swashbuckling adventure where the excitement never ceases from the beginning to the end. From the well-executed plunge that begins the attraction to the flawlessly executed scenes, Pirates is just a great time throughout the nice, long journey. In fact, I really can’t think of any negatives, especially since I can’t really compare it to the original. This truly is a Disney classic, and no visit is complete without one of the best dark rides of all time!
|