This Iconic Disney Ride is Much Better in California and a Disappointment in Florida

Pirates of The Caribbean is Much Better at Disneyland

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of Disney’s most iconic rides. It wasn’t one of Disneyland’s original rides, having opened in 1967.

However, it quickly became a fan favorite and the main attraction of the park’s ‘New Orleans Square’ area.

It Was the Last Ride at Disneyland that Walt Disney Helped Design

Pirates of the Caribbean opened on March 18, 1967. Sadly, Walt Disney would pass away a little more than three months before its opening.

The Ride Originally Wasn’t Supposed to Appear at Disney World

Magic Kingdom at Disney World saw many of the popular rides from Disneyland make their way over to the East Coast. However, when Disney World first opened there was no Pirates of the Caribbean.

Disney designers thought the ride wouldn’t be as popular since Florida actually borders the Caribbean. However, fans were very vocal about wanting Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World and a version of the ride was announced shortly after the park’s opening.

The Two Pirates Rides Are Very Different From One Another

The first difference between Pirates of the Caribbean in California and Florida is simply their location.

At Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean is in New Orleans Square. It’s located next to the Haunted Mansion and an alleyway resembling New Orleans.

At Disney World, Pirates of the Caribbean is in Adventureland. There is no New Orleans Square in this park so Disney had to find a new location for the ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland is 15 Minutes Long!

Here’s the main difference: Pirates of the Caribbean is 15 minutes and 30 seconds long at Disneyland!

At Disney World, the ride is only about 8 minutes long.

Incredibly, the Disneyland version of the ride is almost twice as long!

What are the Differences Between the Two?

Disneyland Version: You start the ride going through a bayou scene that connects the ride to its placement in New Orleans Square. During this phase of the ride you can see guests dining, houses on the water, and animatronic alligators.

Disney World Version: You immediately enter a cave complex with water and the sound of pirates in the background.

The Disneyland Version has Two Drops

Disneyland Version: Has two drops in the first half of the ride.

Disney World Version: Has a single drop that emerges into the battle scene.

The Disney Land drops were originally put into the ride not for thrill reasons but rather to get the ride to a lower level. That is to say, the drop was put in for design necessities.

At Disney World, the drop wasn’t needed for the ride’s design, but riders loved that aspect so it was included.

The End of the Ride is Also Different

Another difference between the rides is how they end.

Disneyland Version: Guests stay in their boat at the end of the ride as they climb up a waterfall. This serves as a transition out of the ride’s ‘experience.’

Disney World Version: Guests ride a moving walkway to transition out of the ride.

Finally, at Disneyland you don’t need to walk through a gift shop at the ride’s conclusion, but exit into New Orleans Square.

At Disney World the exit of the ride is a Pirates-themed gift shop.

Pirates of the Caribbean Was Almost a Wax Experience

Walt Disney originally envisioned Pirates of the Caribbean as a walk-through attraction filled with wax pirates.

However, after It’s a Small World used animatronics and became a huge hit, Disney expanded his vision into a ride filled with moving pirates.

Fans Argue About Disney World vs Disneyland Versions

When fans argue about which rides are better are Disneyland vs Disney World, Pirates is usually near the top of the list. However, it’s not the only ride that’s controversial.

• It’s a Small World: Fans complain that the Disney World version has a cheap exterior and is inferior
• Jungle Cruise: Has added scenes at Diseny World.
• Space Mountain: Has differences at both parks and is argued over, with some preferring Disney World while others prefer Disneyland’s version.