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Pirates of the Caribbean reviews

Theme Park Insider readers offer their ratings and reviews for Pirates of the Caribbean, a dark ride in Adventureland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

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Written by
Theme Park Insider Editor
Posted: September 14, 2011

Walt Disney World's Pirates of the Caribbean opened in 1973, two years after the rest of the Magic Kingdom. Originally, Disney Imagineers had planned to build an elaborate "Western River Expedition" dark ride in the Magic Kingdom, figuring that Floridians would have no interest in a Caribbean-themed boat ride.

They were wrong. Disney World visitors demanded their own version of Pirates of the Caribbean, and Disney obliged. Walk through the Spanish fortress and step into a bateau for your ride into a mysterious cavern. Be sure to keep your ruddy hands in board, though, for there be rough seas ahead, ones that will drop you into a musical pirate adventure.

The Magic Kingdom's 10-minute Pirates ride omits several scenes from the Disneyland original, but retains its most famous moments, including the attack on the Spanish Fort, the auction, the chase scene and the burning city. Not to mention X Atencio and George Bruns' famous theme song, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me." In 2006, Disney added Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films to the ride.

Readers' rating:

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166 votes, so far

One of my favorites. The thing that always gets me in the ride is how much it feels like you're outside. If you look up while you're riding, it just looks like sky. I mean if you pic out some of the details you can see it's a roof, but it's just amazing how something that small can make or break a ride for me. It's just fantastic! Yo ho! - Joey Mayberry

Amazed!!! This was one of my favorite rides!!! I believe it was the last one we rode that night and all I can say is wow. The imagination that went into creating that is outstanding alone. Did Jack Sparrow look real to anyone else, especially the last scene with him? - Meg T.

Very classic attraction. It just has a certain Disney charm to it. Its a a very fun ride throughout. - Justin Knight

Still an amazing ride updated with neat, but subtle, mermaid enhancements. Doesn't get the perfect score because of its length though. 9/10 - David L.

This ride is an absolute classic. Love this ride since i first rode it when i was 1. This is the kind of example of that Disney charm that they posses. A definate must ride any time you visit Magic Kingdom. - Justin Knight

I don't think a description of the ride's concept is necessary, this is by now a franchise of its own. For those who don't know what happens inside: This is a dark water ride through various pirate themed scences, including a small drop. The first half before the drop is a little creepy, the rest is charming, recently Jack Sparrow has been added. The detail is great but it's far away from being among the "best" Disney attractions. For this, it lacks too much real highlights and its really short. For Europeans: This is the only ride which is way better in the Paris' version. - Chris W.

9/10. A classic ride in the world's most famous theme park. It's a must do for the whole family. Happy to hear that they have included mermaids in the ride, haven't experienced it yet, but I love that they continue to update this attraction. - Nick Dakuginow

A staple of WDI, but compared to DL's (which I haven't been to), it falls flat. 8/10 - Dominick D

Excellent queue and an outstanding attraction. The more I ride it, the better I like it. Animatronics are superb and the storyline is entertaining... We want the redhead! - Rob Pastor

An often overrated classic of the Magic Kingdom, Pirates pales in comparison to it's brothers around the world. - Sean Huckel

This is one of the best examples of the kind of attractions Disney excels at. The level of detail is amazing and there are numerous humorous parts. - Robert Berry

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