New Orleans Square

Pirates of the Caribbean

Age rating:  Kids and up

No published height requirement

Pirates of the Caribbean is the most popular attraction in New Orleans Square and, in reality, is one of the most popular attractions in Disneyland.  Pirates was renovated in 2006 to include animatromic Captains Jack Sparrow and Barbosa in the fun-filled pirate adventure.  The ride lasts about 15 minutes as you navigate the canals of Isla de Tesoro in a multi-person boat.  Experience firsthand the great special effects through this swashbuckling pirate infested attraction.

Fun Facts:

Since its debut at Disneyland in California in 1967 the rollicking fun of Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean adventure has thrilled guests from around the world. It is an immersive and engaging entertainment experience steeped in detail. Here are just a few of the fun facts and trivia associated with one of Walt Disney’s greatest entertainment achievements.

Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean Secrets

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

• The attraction was originally 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.

• 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.

• The fire effects in the Burning Town scene were so realistic that prior to the attraction’s grand opening the Anaheim Fire Chief asked that the effects automatically shut off in the event of a real fire.

• The attraction opened to the public at Disneyland on March 18, 1967, with an official grand opening on April 19.

• It cost $15 million to build New Orleans Square ($8 million of which was spent on Pirates of the Caribbean). This is equal to the amount the United States paid for the real New Orleans in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803

• The façade of the attraction 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.

• The attraction is housed within two large show buildings totaling 112,826 feet and featuring 750,000 gallons of water that flow through a 1,838-foot canal.

• There are approximately 122 animated characters (68 lifelike humans and 54 animated animals) in the Audio Animatronics cast of Pirates of the Caribbean.

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

• The film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl had its world-premiere on June 28, 2003, at Disneyland in California and featured the longest red carpet in history (trailing from Main Street into New Orleans Square).

Haunted Mansion

Age rating:  Kids and up

No published height requirement

One of New Orleans Square’s premier attractions, the antebellum style Haunted Mansion is a fun-filled doom buggy ride with 999 ghosts.  Inside the mansion, you can witness a room that stretches, as well as a ballroom full of dancing ghosts and many other cool special affects.

Please note that while this ride is a really fun attraction the special affects may be too much for young children.  The Haunted Mansion does not feature scare tactics within the ride, but the images and affects within the dark ride could be a little too much for young children.