On July 24, 1966, New Orleans Square became the fist new “land” added to Disneyland since park opening, though Imagineers had been working on concepts for it since 1957. The first attraction to open in the new land was Pirates of the Caribbean.

Pirates of the Caribbean opened on March 18, 1967 and was the most advanced, elaborately-themed attraction that had ever been built. Over 60 Audio Animatronic human characters, around 50 Audio Animatronic animals, and rich detail made this 16-minute attraction an instant and perennial favorite.

It’s also the last attraction that Walt Disney personally supervised and oversaw. New Orleans Square opened about five months before he died, and Pirates opened about three months after. Major work was complete by the time he passed away on December 15, 1966, 10 days after his 65th birthday.

Pirates of the Caribbean has seen two major changes over the years since opening. In 1997, the ride was closed for about 2 months for an update that included modifying a scene where pirates were chasing women so that they would be chasing food instead. The dialogue of the only pirate that speaks in this scene (sometimes unofficially known as the “Pooped Pirate”) was also changed to conform to the new scene. This update led to what show-writer Francis Xavier “X” Atencio referred to as the “Boy Scouts of the Caribbean”. In 2006, Captain Jack Sparrow and others from the Pirates of the Caribbean films (which were inspired by the attraction) were added.