Posts Tagged ‘Adventureland’
A Pirate’s Life
Dark rides; few experiences have greater power to transport us. We enter and we are whisked away to another place; another time. In Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom, we find one of the most well-loved of all the dark rides – Pirates of the Caribbean.
Even before we enter, we are entranced by the architectural details of the building. There are beautiful elements everywhere – grillwork and tiles, arches, scrolls, and turrets, and wonderful lighting.
The atmospheric queue, with its twisting pathways, caves and caches, only hints at the “treasures” waiting beyond.
We climb into seaworthy vessels and head out on our adventure. The darkness intensifies the senses.
We feel the cold sea wind blowing; the ghostly voices cause a shiver of anxiety about what may lie ahead.
Then, suddenly, we are in the midst of a battle with muzzle flash and splashing cannonballs which seem to miss our fragile boats by the smallest of margins. Around the bend and we sail into an amazing nighttime scene. There’s music and mischief, commerce and cavorting, grime and gold as the pillaging crew makes its way through the town.
Disney likes to point out the fact that the attraction inspired the movies of the same name, which in turn inspired enhancements to the original ride. Amongst its dozens of audioanimatronic figures, Pirates of the Caribbean now features several encounters with a strikingly realistic Captain Jack Sparrow.
There’s also a spooky image of Davy Jones that emerges from a curtain of water at the beginning of the voyage.
To complete the adventure, we have the perfect song, one that will play happily in our heads each time we relive our voyage to the Caribbean – Yo Ho!!
Pirates of the Caribbean
Magic Kingdom, Adventureland
Approximately 9 minutes
Guests must transfer from wheelchair and ECV to ride vehicle
No flash photography allowed
FastPass available
Handheld captioning available
Park admission required
Hungry Pirates
If you’re visiting at the right time and looking for a change from the usual fast food fare, consider a stop at El Pirata y El Perico Restaurante, located in Aventureland at the Magic Kingdom.
Open seasonally, the limited menu features food with a Mexican twist including such favorites as burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, with meatless selections for vegetarians. The pleasant ambiance continues the theming of the nearby Pirates of the Caribbean and offers covered open-air seating.
Generous portions and a nice toppings bar make this a great option for a quick-service lunch. El Pirata y El Perico is open only during the busiest seasons, and the short hours, typically from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. require a bit of advance planning.
UPDATE: As of February, 2011, this restaurant has been renamed “Tortuga Tavern!”
Calling all Rascals, Scoundrels, Villains, and Knaves
Make your way to Adventureland to practice your aaarrrrrgh’s and polish your buckle and swash. It’s The Pirates League, where buccaneers-in-training move through rooms filled with plunder to take the oath and join the crew! The transformation is completed with special make-up and accessories. Receive a pirate name, a “share of the booty,” to wear around your neck, a certificate and photo to commemorate your induction, and an opportunity to show off your new pirate persona in the Pirate Parade. There are two packages offered, both priced at $29.95 plus tax:
First Mate Package
- Choice of facial effect (5 to choose from)
- Reversible bandana
- Earring and Eye Patch
- Sword and Sheath
- Temporary Tattoo
- Unique Pirate Coin Necklace
- Personalized Pirate Oath
- Official Pirate Name
- Removable Teeth
- Pirate Portrait in the secret room
- Participation in a daily Adventureland Pirate Parade
Empress Package
- Vibrant and bold makeup, nail polish, face gem
- Reversible bandana
- Earring and Eye Patch
- Sword and Sheath
- Temporary Tattoo
- Unique Pirate Coin Necklace
- Personalized Pirate Oath
- Official Pirate Name
- Pirate Portrait in the secret room
- Participation in a daily Adventureland Pirate Parade
For an additional cost, guests can grab some extra garb from the selection of themed costumes and headgear. Other imaging options are also available. Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance and a credit card is required at the time of booking. No-shows and cancellations less than 24 hours prior to the experience will incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
With the recent price change, this is now an affordable option for the entire family. It’s a great choice for those attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Plan early to make reservations for the morning of the party; then all the Buccaneers and Pirate Maidens in your crew will be ready for the evening’s activities!
The Pirates League
Magic Kingdom, Adventureland
Daily 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ages 3 to adult
Children must be accompanied by adult during entire experience
Park admission required
A Happy Day in History
October 1, 1971 marked the Grand Opening of the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Fort Wilderness Campground at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Fearing the enormous crowds of Disneyland’s opening day, the company chose a time that was historically slower, and the attendance of 10,000 was exactly as planned. However, local media had been projecting much higher numbers and the negative publicity caused a drop in Disney stock prices. Just a few weeks later, on the day after Thanksgiving, the Magic Kingdom welcomed more than 50,000 guests and traffic heading for the park was backed up more than 200 miles.
The park opened with six themed lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Mickey’s Toontown Fair, currently the seventh land, began as Mickey’s Birthdayland in 1988 to commemorate Mickey’s 60th birthday. Renamed Mickey’s Starland at the end of the birthday celebration 1990, it became Mickey’s Toontown Fair in 1996. It will be interesting to see if current plans for an expansion of Fantasyland return the park to six lands.
While many of the original opening-day elements can still be found today,some no longer exist. Shops like the Penny Arcade, House of Magic, and the New Century Clock Shop have given way to new stores or incorporated into larger shopping venues. Familiar favorites such as the Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, the Jungle Cruise, Dumbo, the Mad Tea Party, and Cinderella’s Golden Carousel continue to delight visitors. Others, including the Skyway to Tomorrowland and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, have been retired.
Guests can still dine at the Crystal Palace, the Liberty Tree Tavern, and the Columbia Harbor House, but will no longer find the Mile Long Bar, and will search in vain for King Stefan’s Banquet Hall which has been renamed Cinderella’s Royal Table. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort lost its “village” as well as the Coral Isle Café and Papeete Bay Verandah restaurant. Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Gulf Coast Room restaurant is no more, and the Top of the World is now the California Grill.
Today, Walt Disney World Resort is the world’s largest recreational destination, attracting more than 40 million visitors annually.
