The Disney Wish debuted on June 29, becoming the newest cruise ship in Disney’s fleet. The 4000-passenger vessel “kicks off the largest expansion in Disney Cruise Line history,” according to the chairman of Disney Parks Josh D’Amaro.
As Disney fans might expect, the Wish is packed to the gills with Disney magic, from the Aquamouse (the company’s first attraction at sea) to themed areas that plop Guests into the world of Frozen, the Avengers, Star Wars, and more. There’s even an interactive game that can be accessed through the Disney Cruise Line app.
It’s exciting news for the company, and for Disney fans around the world. But it got us thinking: what are the best nautical attractions at Walt Disney World? Before we get started, let’s clarify our criteria. We went looking specifically for attractions that take place on ships. That means that rafts (like Kali River Rapids or Na’Vi River Journey), river boats (like those found on Adventure Cruise or the Liberty Belle) fall outside of the parameters. Likewise, while Living with the Land is a boat ride, it’s just a barge ride through a greenhouse. Gorgeous, and a perennial favorite, but hardly a seafaring adventure.
With that out of the way, let’s cast off!
Pirates of the Caribbean
Admit it. You’ve daydreamed about becoming a buccaneer. Who hasn’t? Even the great Mark Twain mused in his classic book ‘Life on the Mississippi’ that “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.”
This masterpiece of Imagineering debuted at Disneyland on March 18, 1967, and opened at the Magic Kingdom on December 15, 1973. Housed inside Castillo del Morro and guarded by the Torre del Sol watchtower, Guests are given a chance to “sail with the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main”. While traveling along with your swashbuckling cohorts, you get to witness bombardments, pillaging, and a fair amount of carousing, with a heaping helping of comedy for good measure. The release of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise led to updates, bringing characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Hector Barbossa aboard.
The attraction’s theme song, “Yo Ho! (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” was composed by Disney legend Xavier “X” Atencio. For such a catchy tune, it’s worth noting that Atencio had no real musical background. Speaking about the experience later, he recalled, “I didn’t even know I could write music, but somehow Walt did. He tapped my hidden talents.”
The original pirate figures seen throughout the attraction were designed by Marc Davis (one of Disney’s Nine Old Men, the company’s core animators). Their exaggerated and cartoonish features help Guests quickly understand the character of each rapscallion encountered along the way.
While everyone has their own favorite character (and there’s a strong case to be made for the mangy dog holding the prison key), it’s hard not to adore the attraction’s newest pirate: a rum-guzzling, Anne Bonny type known as Redd.
“it’s a small world”
Ok. Maybe the world of pirates is a little too intense for you. Or maybe you need to take a nice relaxing trip after a healthy dose of piratical adventures. Lucky for you, the Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed is just a short stroll away from Pirates of the Caribbean.
“it’s a small world” takes Guests on a charming tour of the world. Your leisurely journey will take you through France, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, England, Bali, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Egypt, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Tahiti, and New Guinea, to name just a few. As you float along, you’ll see more than 470 figures, including Audio-Animatronic dolls, toys, and animated props.
The attraction debuted at the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair as part of the Pepsi sponsored UNICEF Pavilion. Disney legends Mary Blair, Rolly Crump, and Alice Davis were all involved in its creation. Of course, when you think of “it’s a small world” you probably first think of THE SONG.
One of the best-known melodies in the world, “It’s a Small World (After All)” was written by Robert and Richard Sherman (who also wrote the music for Mary Poppins, The Carousel of Progress, and numerous other Disney films and attractions).
In its earliest conception, the children of each country would have been featured singing their national anthem, but it was quickly determined that this would result in a cacophony. Instead, Walt asked for, “one song that can be easily translated into many languages and be played as a round.” The rest, as they say, is history. And I’ll bet that song is stuck in your head now too.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Wait. Peter Pan’s Flight? Why on earth is that included? That’s not an aquatic adventure. But hear me out.
While it’s true that it finds you soaring over London and then above Neverland, you do so aboard a galleon. Not only that, but one of the final scenes finds Peter and Captain Hook battling aboard the Jolly Roger. In fact, the ship doesn’t simply make an appearance, it’s one of the most remarkable set pieces in the entire attraction. Spanning 48 feet long, the ship includes deck, masts, sails, and rigging. Broken into two scenes through a clever use of the sail, Guests first encounter the ship as Wendy walks the plank and Pan battles Hook atop the mast. You then fly to the ship’s helm, where Peter has taken command and stands at the wheel.
The original attraction opened with Disneyland on July 17, 1955. It was also a Magic Kingdom original, opening with Walt Disney World on October 3, 1971. Curiously, in its original Disneyland incarnation, Peter Pan’s Flight did not actually include Peter. Guests were supposed to experience the journey as though they were Peter seeing everything in the first person. It left people a bit confused, so scenes with Pan were included in the Magic Kingdom version.
Honorable Mentions
While those are the big three attractions featuring ships, there are other areas to encounter nautical vessels in Walt Disney World. You can see the bow of a ship with a gorgeous figurehead in the shape of Ariel outside Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland.
While it’s slightly smaller than a ship, you can also spot the ‘Miss Tilly’ shrimp boat at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. It sits atop Mount Mayday, which also erupts with a geyser every 30 minutes. Unfortunately, due to its precarious location, the Miss Tilly’s days of bounding on the big blue are well behind her.
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