Magic Kingdom’s Pirates Of the Caribbean
Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean is a must-do attraction for most guests visiting the Disney Parks. This ride is original to the park and offers the opportunity to take a step back to the days when pirates ruled the Caribbean.
There’s even a catchy tune that plays throughout the ride, ” Yo ho, Yo ho, a pirate’s life for me.” So indeed, you’ll be humming along by the end of the ride.
This review of Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom will cover the need-to-know details for experiencing the ride. I’ll also add a few tips on attraction extras and the best times to ride.
Here’s a quick reference chart for the pirate’s ride at Disney.
| Pirates of the Caribbean | Magic Kingdom |
Location | Adventureland |
Disney Height Requirements: | None |
Disney Genie+ Eligible | Yes |
Ride Type: | Boat Ride |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Three to Four Per Row |
Rider Switch at Disney: | No |
Good For: | Nostalgia Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean Almost everyone |
Scare Factor: | Mild, but it is a dark ride. |
Must-Do List: | High Priority |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | On Ride Photo Opportunity |
Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean is located in the back of Adventureland. It’s around the corner after you pass Jungle Cruise.
The queue for the attraction is broken down into two parts. The first part is a covered outdoor area. Then you’ll head into a full interior queue.
After that, you’ll wind your way down to the boarding area. The queue and overall ride are both reasonably dark.
The actual ride is portrayed during nighttime, which helps with the special effects and animatronics.
Each boat has five rows and holds about three to four guests per row. Parties will be seated together in a row.
As you set sail on what is not “the happiest little cruise that ever sailed,” you’ll head into a deep, dark cavern.
Related: “it’s a small world” Attraction Review
Pirates of the Caribbean On-Ride Photo Opportunity:
For those with the Memory Maker purchase, look up at the skull hanging overhead to the left immediately after you pass the initial scene. The skull’s eyes light up red, and there will be a flash around the time you focus.
It is one of the more difficult photo opportunities to get just right, similar to the one on Haunted Mansion.
After the on-ride photo, you’ll float through a mist and encounter a mild drop. This drop is the only drop during the ride. There are not any restraints, so it’s pretty insignificant. However, you might get splashed a bit.
Will I get wet on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride?
Many people want to know if you’ll get soaked while riding this attraction. In most cases, you’ll barely get splashed.
However, expect a small splash when you come down the only drop. The drop isn’t steep but comes as a surprise if you aren’t familiar with the ride.
The main splash comes from the cannonball blasts in the first scene immediately after the drop. If you’re on the right side of the boat, you could receive a decent splash of water. Or it might completely miss you.
A couple of years back, Pirates of the Caribbean received new boats. Unfortunately, when they started operating the new boats, there were many problems with the splash effect.
From my experience, this issue seems to have been resolved. However, it is good to err on the side of caution and try to keep personal items out of the way.
As for the rest of the ride, you’ll encounter various pirate scenes. Most of the scenes have Captain Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp) placed somewhat inconspicuously in the background. Make sure to look for him if you are a fan.
And a few years back, a new scene was added to the attraction featuring Redd, the pirate.
Pirates of the Caribbean is an extremely popular ride and can have a pretty decent wait time during the prime hours of 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Pirates of the Caribbean is a Genie+ eligible attraction. So if you purchase the service, you might consider using it during those prime hours.
As for the best time to ride, consider it during the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the afternoon.
The other time you might like to ride Pirates of the Caribbean is later in the evening during fireworks. The fireworks will draw most crowds to the park’s center around Cinderella Castle.
You might also want to check out these other Magic Kingdom Rides:
- Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
If you are planning a Disney vacation, visit our Walt Disney World Resorts overview. They include the following resort categories:
If you are considering staying in the Orlando area and not on Disney property, try these resort reviews:
- Best Off-Site Resorts Near Disney World
- Best Marriotts in the Disney World Area
- Orange Lake Resort Review
- Wyndham Grand Orlando Review at Bonnet Creek
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
So, are you a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean? Is this an attraction you always experience when you visit Walt Disney World? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
