Disney World for pirate lovers

(Article last updated: April 14, 2016)

Fan of those filthy criminals of the seas?

Or maybe just a fan of Johnny Depp?

You're in luck!

Disney provides lots of opportunities to enjoy pirate things at Disney World.

Here's a list of what's available at Disney including where to stay, activities to do and things to buy...

Where to stay

For maximum pirateness (a word that I think should exist), you should definitely consider a stay at Caribbean Beach Resort where they have a section of pirate rooms.

The pirate rooms have beds that look like ships, dressers that look like old crates, a table with a compass on it and Spanish-style lanterns.

A word of warning: these rooms are located in Trinidad South which is a section of The Caribbean Beach Resort that is the furthest away from the main building. I normally only recommend Preferred Rooms at Moderate Resorts due to the distance so just be aware of that. Also, these rooms have full-sized beds, whereas the other rooms at the resort have queen-sized beds.

As a second option, you might want to consider a Magic Kingdom-area resort since that's where most of the pirate activities take place.

Order before your trip

Before you leave for your trip, you can place an order with the Disney Florist to have a gift waiting in the room or delivered on a specific day.

There are a few different pirate gift options to choose from...

And they also have an in-room celebration called Me Pirate Adventure that totally decorates your room in pirate garb. This would be especially fun if you weren't staying in a pirate room at Caribbean Beach Resort because it would give your non-pirate room a little makeover.

The package includes a "beware" sign hanging on the door and then once you go inside your room, you'll find a glowing red-eyed skull, a note from Captain Jack Sparrow, a pirate blanket and a duffle bag. The price for this package is $395. Some elements of it can be personalized.

At Magic Kingdom

Now, normally I would list things to do in each of the parks but when it comes to pirates, Magic Kingdom is where almost all the fun is.

Pirates of the Caribbean ride
Obviously.

Pirates League
Think of Pirates League as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for pirates and mermaids.

You enter near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and receive your official pirate name right away.

Then you get the look of a pirate with a beard, earring, eye patch and scars.

After that, you enter a room to get your pic taken and get some treasure.

See this article with tips on Pirates League for more info.

A Pirate's Adventures: Treasures of the Seven Seas
Like the World Showcase Adventure at Epcot, this is an interactive adventure where you solve clues and make things happen.

Participants first get a mission, map and talisman from the Enlistment Center which is located near the Adventureland arches on the side toward Frontierland.

There are a total of 5 maps and you can do 1 or all 5 or something in between. It could be a relatively short activity in your day or be an all-day thing if you want it to be.

Here's a video showing how it works. Notice that this guy uses his Annual Pass to activate things instead of the talisman. Anything RFID should work, which should include Magic Bands as well.

Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial
Like the Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios, this show includes bringing kids on stage to teach them some things. Obviously instead of learning how to be a Jedi, they are learning how to be a pirate here.

The 25-minute show finishes with kids taking the pirates pledge and singing "A Pirate's Life for Me!"

It also features the kids' moms swooning over the very Johnny-Depp-looking pirate. Ahem.

Here's the whole show...

Tortuga Tavern
This pirate-themed restaurant is located in the - you guessed it - Adventureland section of Magic Kingdom (this area might as well be called Pirateland).

This is a Quick Service restaurant that serves things like burritos, nachos and taco salad (view the menu) and happens to also be pirate themed.

Special activities outside the theme parks

There are a few special pirate-themed things you can do outside of Magic Kingdom as well.

Pirate cruises for kids
These cruises depart from 4 different Disney resorts and are very similar but have slight differences. These take place daily (weather permitting) from 9:30-11:30 for kids age 4-12 (parents don't go). At the end, the booty is split amongst the children and a snack and drink are served. These can be booked by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

• Albatross Treasure Cruise (at the Beach Club/Yacht Club) - kids wear bandannas and solve clues as they set sail to ports of call on Crescent Lake and Epcot. "The Legend of the Albatross" is read during the cruise.
• Bayou Pirate Adventure (at Port Orleans Riverside) - children set sail from the Port Orleans Marina as they hear tales of a New Orleans pirate and get treasures at every port.
• Disney's Pirate Adventure (at The Grand Floridian) - the kids head out to on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake to search for treasure.
• Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise (at Caribbean Beach Resort) - yet another piratey thing at Caribbean Beach Resort, this cruise takes pirates and they set sail with bandannas on their heads in search of treasure as they are told the story of Old Port Royale.

Pirate and Pals Fireworks Voyage
This is a totally different type of cruise which includes the whole family and not just the kids.

Participants meet at The Contemporary where there are lots of snacks (seriously, save room for them!), drinks, activities, games and photo ops with Captain Hook and Smee.

After that, everybody boards their pontoon boat (note: no characters board with you) where the host asks lots of trivia questions and you are positioned to watch Magic Kingdom fireworks.

The cruise takes place daily (times vary and depend on the fireworks schedule that night - good to confirm the time just before your trip) and costs $69 for adults (ages 10+) and $41 for kids (ages 3–9). Reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

Pirate Adventure Room in the World of Disney
The World of Disney in Downtown Disney is so big that I think there's probably a room themed after everything.

The Adventure Room happens to be pirate-themed where you can fill treasure chests and skulls, create your own seafaring hat and interact with an animatronic pirate named Rusty the Blade.

*********************************

If anybody happens to want to use the theme park button at the top of this post, just click on the image and it'll bring up a bigger version that's suitable for printing.