12 fun facts about Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean

When the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction opened in Disneyland on March 18, 1967, it was touted as an immersive experience putting you in the “thick of the action.”

It debuted as a technological marvel and storytelling masterpiece. As it celebrates its 55th anniversary, the attraction is closed refurbishment. The ride has gone through a number of refurbishments, updates and changes over the years.

It was only a few years ago that a new version of Pirates was unveiled with changes to the Bride Auction scene. The human trafficking and fat-shaming aspects of the scene were removed and the “Redhead” bride was transformed into the pirate Redd.

Gone are the brides and in its place are the townspeople, lined up with their belongings to be auctioned to the pirates. Also gone are the calls for “We wants the Redhead” to “We wants the rum.”

The attraction has gone through a number of other changes over the years.

Here are 12 fun facts about the Disneyland ride:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean was the last Disneyland attraction personally supervised by Walt Disney.

2. The attraction originally was envisioned as a New Orleans-themed Blue Bayou Mart featuring a Pirate Wax Museum, housed in a 70-foot deep basement. The basement now serves as the grotto section of the attraction.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean was loosely inspired by such Hollywood films as “Captain Blood,” “The Sea Hawk” and “The Buccaneer,” plus Disney’s “Treasure Island,” “Kidnapped” and “Swiss Family Robinson.”

4. It cost $15 million to build New Orleans Square, the home for Pirates of the Caribbean. This is equal to the amount the U.S. paid for the real New Orleans in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

5. The attraction façade was partly inspired by the Cabildo building in Jackson Square in New Orleans that served as the seat of the Spanish colonial government in 1799. It is also noted for being the site where the Louisiana Purchase was signed in 1803.

6. The canal the boats are in is 1,838 feet long.

7. The Aztec pirate chest used in the film “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” appears in the Treasure Room as the last thing guests see in that scene.

8. About 400,000 pieces of gold coins and set pieces were added to the attraction during a lengthy refurbishment in 2006 when some of the film characters were added to the story.

9. Approximately 120 animated characters (human characters plus nine different types of animated animals) appear in the Audio-Animatronics cast of Pirates of the Caribbean.

10. Disney Imagineer X Atencio, who wrote the attraction’s memorable tune, “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” is the voice of the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones, seen just before guests plunge down the waterfalls.

11. In the lyrics of the song, “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me),” the phrase “Yo Ho” is uttered 18 times.

12. Guests ride through the attraction for approximately 15 minutes, on one of the longest rides at Disneyland Resort.