Following its debut at Disneyland in California in 1967, the “Wildest crew to ever sack the Spanish Main” created an outpost of buccaneer fun in 1973 in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Like its predecessor, the Orlando version of the attraction has become a classic Disney entertainment experience beloved by guests from around the world. Here are just a few of the fun facts and trivia associated with one of Walt Disney’s greatest entertainment achievements.

MAGIC KINGDOM PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN SECRETS

• Pirates of the Caribbean wasn’t included in the original plans for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort – the Disney Imagineers thought that since Florida sits in the middle of the real Caribbean there would be little interest in a Pirates-themed adventure.

• Soon after opening in the fall of 1971, Walt Disney World Resort was inundated with guest comments expressing disappointment that the renowned Disneyland attraction was no where to be found in the Magic Kingdom. By fall of 1972 Pirates of the Caribbean was under construction in Florida.

• Pirates of the Caribbean opened in Florida’s Magic Kingdom on December 15, 1973. It was one of the first major additions to the park following its grand opening in 1971.

• To accommodate the unexpected addition of Pirates of the Caribbean inside the Magic Kingdom, a portion of Adventureland was dubbed Caribbean Plaza, borrowing its theme from the 18th century English and Spanish colonies found in the West Indies.

• The façade of the attraction is an impressive Spanish fort dubbed El Castillo (The Castle) and is based on the Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

• The Florida version differs from its California counterpart by featuring a shortened sequence of haunted grotto scenes but is highlighted by an entirely different finale featuring the sacked village’s Treasure Room.

• Inside the fortress guests wander through its arsenals and dungeons. One distinctive scene features two skeletons playing chess and seemingly locked in an eternal state of check. Legendary Disney Imagineer Marc Davis created the sight gag and sharp-eyed guests will notice that the skeletons are literally deadlocked in a tie game.

• A coat of arms hanging over the entrance to the attraction’s finale scene – the Treasure Room – reads “Marco Daviso.” This is a sly tribute to Disney imaginer Marc Davis, who designed virtually all of the attraction’s characters and comical sight gags.