A Pocketful of Pixie Dust

As I mentioned yesterday, planning what you want to see and do during your visit to Walt Disney World, and how to do that in the most effective way is very important to ensure you get to experience the Disney magic - but there is something else you should consider - and that is the stories that form the foundations of the parks.

We’ve all been to theme parks; Alton Towers, Chessington Adventures, Six Flags - parks with thrill rides and not-so-thrill rides - where you stand in line and then get strapped in for a couple of minutes of fun - and that’s what theme parks are all about right?

Wrong.

Yes, Walt Disney World is made up of four *theme parks* but every *attraction* has a back-story, a reason for it being where it is in the park, and a theme to enhance your enjoyment.

Take Pirates of the Caribbean for an example - this attraction opened in Disneyland, California on March 18, 1967 and the Disney World version debuted on December 15, 1973 {yes, that’s right, the movies are based on the attraction}.

The attraction was one of the first to use life-like audio-animatronics to bring the story to life; as you float through each scene of this fantastic adventure surrounded by pirates.

As with most Disney attractions, the story begins in the queue area; as you pass through the caves you will hear the sounds of cannons in the distance - be sure to look through the *windows* as you may see a pair of skeletons trapped in an eternal game of chess.

Once you’ve boarded your boat you will find yourself in the midst of a pirate attack on the nearby port; and soon you will be caught up in a town being plundered by said pirates in search of treasure and adventure (and determined to pick up a bride along the way!).

There are 125 audio-animatronics involved in this adventure, and if you keep your eyes peeled you will see not only Captain Jack Sparrow himself but recognise other scenes from the movies.

This is a not-to-be-missed attraction at the Magic Kingdom and you may need to ride it more than once to take in all of the details. So be sure to stop by and spend a too-short eight and a half minutes, immersed in a pirate adventure that was dreamt up by a group of imagineers more than 50 years ago yet tells a story that became the basis for three block-buster movies of recent years.

“Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A pirates life for me!”

• Want to learn more about the attraction? Visit Daveland for more information on the back story and some photos (these are of the Disneyland attraction so may differ in places)
• Not seen the movies yet? You can purchase them from Amazon through the following links:
• The curse of the black pearl
• Dead man’s chest
• At world’s end

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