Pirates of the Caribbean! A day at Magic Kingdom isn’t complete without a ride with the pirates. Maybe multiple rides. I have distinct memories of the attraction from my childhood visits. I was scared of the drop so I didn’t ride for years. I still get butterflies in my stomach as the boat nears the ramp, “dead men tell no tales” echoing in the empty caverns. And suddenly you are rushed right into the middle of the action. I think it was Imagineer Marc Davis who said Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t about actual pirates, even though they existed in history and Disney considered basing the rides on real individuals. The ride was about the idea of pirates, focused on telling a story. Not a narrative story, but a fully immersive experience from beginning to end.

This concept art for Pirates of the Caribbean was created by Imagineer Marc Davis.