Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the best-known attractions at Disneyland and Disney World. It opened at Disneyland in 1967, and was the last attraction of which Walt Disney was involved in the design. During the course of the ride, guests experience an immersive, larger-than-life pirate experience -- complete with gunshots, cannon blasts, explosions and fire.

The ride begins amid glimmering fireflies during an evening abuzz with the croaking of bullfrogs. Daring adventures board their boats at Lafitte's Landing, and are at once afloat in the heart of bayou country. Once past several rickety houseboats, the soft strumming of a banjo melody can be heard over the peaceful symphony of nature. But, then a more chilling sound becomes audible: the thundering of a waterfall, and the frightening echo of, "Dead men tell no tales!"

After a hair-raising plunge into the depths of an underground grotto, guests behold the skeletal remains of an unfortunate band of pirates, guarding their loot and treasure with macabre delight.

Suddenly, cannon balls whistle overhead and explosions throw water into the air -- a fierce battle between a marauding pirate galleon and a Caribbean fortress is in full swing! The village beyond is overrun with sinister pirates, looking for treasures to steal, wenches to auction, and rum to drink. Carefree, tipsy pirates succeed in ravaging the town and setting it aflame, filling the night air with an orange glow, while a rollicking tune echoes over the rooftops: "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me!"

Your boat then takes you through a jail, where imprisoned pirates are doing their best to escape. There are sound of popping and crackling wood, and an orange and red glow can be seen all around. This can mean only one thing – the pirates have set fire to the town! Timbers are smoldering and cracking overhead as you sail through a storage room filled with gun powder, cannon balls and whiskey-filled, gun-shooting pirates.

The final shoot-out between the inebriated crew and captain of the pirate ship in a flaming ammunition warehouse threatens to demolish the entire village at any second! Somehow, you manage to slip by, undetected, and return to the sleepy bayou where you started your journey.

While some have criticized the perceived glorification of the pirate lifestyle, a closer look at the ride reveals that it is instead a harsh indictment of piracy, showing the consequences and corruption of such a lifestyle.

In 2003, a film based on the ride was released: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.