The Subliminal Storytelling of Pirates of the Caribbean

[@igamelotsbro5468]

The reason Walt disney says “you believe in pirates right?” Is because earlier when he shows her the haunted mansion demo he asks if she believes and ghost so the comment about pirates is supposed to be a little joke. If you want to watch the clip go to Imagineering Department - The Haunted Mansion

[@gr33ngirlsea]

It's so much funnier out of context, tho! 😂

[@GeekFilter]

I was just about to type the same thing!

[@laotasurfs1110]

Yes. Still, I'm reminded of a joke from the Venture Brothers -- Hank: "Brock, if pirates really exist, that means Santa Claus and the tooth fairy can even be real, right? It’s like all bets are off." Brock: "Hank, nobody ever said pirates don’t exist." Hank: "So you agree with me that this is impossible."

[@hanonondricek411]

I was gonna say, he's sort of has a script but he's affably ad-libbing as he was good at. I wondered if he just happened on the same line for the Haunted Mansion in his head and said it on reflex, or if it was intended as wry parallel.

[@kristenhanisch8508]

I went into the comments section just to bring this up! Guess I didn't have to, lol!

[@pumodi]

As a sound designer who's done a bit of work in attraction design, I can't tell you how exciting it is to see someone recognize all that hard work. A common mantra in my field is 'if it's working right, no one will notice'. Usually if they notice it's because something isn't sounding right. Those times when someone notices because it sounds great and catches their ear is always encouraging. That opening filled my heart my friend.

[@TheJoyster]

So as a former Ride Op, one factoid that I was taught in training was that only one cast member that is a pirate in the story of the ride is the one you meet at unload. Everyone else you meet at the ride is a Pirate descendants that found the haunted cave and they have now set up shop to give guests an accurate glimpse into what Pirate life was like. The waterfall drop and the steep moving ramp at the end after you exit are the time travel zones.

[@fredlopez5213]

The storytelling in attractions like Pirates really show that theme parks are capable of being their own artform that can tell stories in ways other mediums cannot. I feel that the recent obsession of immersing us in the movies has led us away from that, as now the rides are just seen as an extension of the movies. It's easier and more effective to do this environmental storytelling in an original concept since the riders have never experienced this world in any other way before.

[@igamelotsbro5468]

Agreed, I love rides like rise of the resistance but you need a mix of different types of ride in the parks and I feel they should do more like pirates

[@MrBulbasaurlover]

14:50 That's really how I feel. In Pirates or Haunted Mansion I can really just turn my brain off and watch all the wonderful things in front me. It really takes you away from everything. Even if you're bumping into other boats at the end.

[@drewstorey7430]

Thank you for using Pirate Overture as the background music. It's my favorite song in any of the Disney parks. The bass flute melody is so soothing

[@lefish5277]

According to a former imagineer who had a mega crush on my grandma, the old man on the porch is having a dream about his old pirate days, you’re in the dream, and the dark drop at the beginning is him falling asleep and the dream beginning. They cast his face multiple times so you just have to look for him. Saved you 20 minutes.

[@SphericalAce]

11:52 The reason Walt asks if she believes in pirates here is because he's calling back to earlier in the same program when he asked her if she believed in ghosts while they were talking about the Haunted Mansion.

[@Senor0Droolcup]

Absolutely brilliant analysis. Been riding pirates since 1970. It’s my favorite ride and I just learned a ton of things. One thing I don’t like about the “get you involved” rides is that it’s way too busy. Sometimes you just want to get on a ride and relax like a movie. I don’t need characters constantly talking to me and making me pay attention to them. It also really kills the re-ride value. I could go on Pirates of the Caribbean 100 times in a row because it’s taking me away to another world and I can decide what to focus on. A ride that’s constantly talking at me doesn’t do that.

[@jimcampbell]

I think there is a story on pirates of the Caribbean. But we may have to go back before Johnny depp was added for it to really make sense.) the caves are a preview and a warning. This is what happens when you become a pirate. It’s not glamorous. It ends in death. “Dead men tell no tales” is a warning to us. If you want to tell story of what you’re about to see, don’t be like them, because once you’re dead you have no story to tell. Then we see the actual pirates. They invade the port. The dunk the mayor. They kidnap the women.. everything seems to be going well. But then it all quickly falls apart for them. Their victory is short. The women start escaping. (The last turntable, and the girl in the barrel) the pirates are too drunk to escape the city they’ve set on fire. Some of them have been captured and put in a prison that is also now on fire. In the end, in the armory the pirates are drunkenly shooting at each other with barrels of explosives all around. They’re gonna kill themselves. We go up the waterfall and thank god we didn’t get drunk and behave like the pirates and now, unlike them, we have escaped back to the outside world. And since we didn’t join the pirates we are alive and we CAN tell the tale. (I was very annoyed when they added “ahhh but they DO tell tales” because it undermined the whole thing. Thankfully they removed that part.

[@humanities-english]

Agree. Not only does it end in death, but you may be thrust into a fiery hell for your actions. Kaboom.

[@MCastleberry1980]

I have ridden on this god knows how many times and have never noticed the skeletal parrot before. Really shows how many details are in there.

[@stardustgirl2904]

But it's a classic

[@Rollermanfromspace]

For some reason he’s not always there. For me, half the time he is and half the time he’s not. It’s almost a game for me, to see if he’ll be there this time or not

[@laurendouglas6452]

Bringing my husband on pirates for the first time was one of the best experiences ever- seeing someone you love experiencing something you love for the first time is the real magic✨

[@justjeff4186]

Are you a bot? You kinda sound like a bot. Do you have to tell me if you’re a bot? Hahahhaha… the internet sucks!

[@laurendouglas6452]

@@justjeff4186 The internet only sucks if you make it suck, kid ✨

[@TheInfintyithGoofball]

YES! THIS THIS IS WHY I LOVE SHOWING MY FAVORITE SHOWS TO MY PARENTS! THEY NEVER GET IT AND THINK I JUST WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW OR THAT I JUST WANT TO SHOVE IT DOWN THEIR THROUTS, NO! I WANT TO SPREAD THE GREATNESS OF GRAVITY FALLS YA DING DONGS!

[@YourHolidayKing]

Woohoo! OffHand Disney posting in my birthday is truly one of the best things that has happened to me today so far LOL

[@Becca_TheWorm]

Happy birthday!!

[@YourHolidayKing]

@@Becca_TheWorm thank you!

[@tufab3494]

Happy Bday mate!

[@yesyesyesyesyes686]

Happy birthday! :D

[@fahsky]

Happy birthday! 🎂

[@JustcallmeDebbieB]

I sometimes put the queue music on at work. It takes me right back there ♡♡

[@jeffreycarroll3631]

As an observer on an attraction, Disney has done an excellent job of sensory loading. The participatory attractions have an element outside of the physical senses. Those that encourage physical action, like the shooting galleries (midway mania), succeed because there’s an overload of physicality. The attractions that ask for mental/emotional involvement are not as successful in that regard

[@bsharp3281]

You're saying humans care more about the physical world than the dream? Are you a programmer? Cuz that's just wrong.

[@cmaden78]

I haven't been keeping up with your videos 😢. I just came here to say that while I normally prefer short hair, your curls are gorgeous. Lol my (now 15 yr old) son started watching your channel together a long time ago and he just sent me this because I have always argued that they are called at at's; and he calls them A.T. A.T.'S!😂 I swear there's media from when I was little (early 80's) that called them at at's😂 Either way, you just made his day. Thanks for all the years of hard work.✨💀🖤❤️💛✨

[@happiestplace3754]

I knew exactly where you were going with this video, because yes, I too felt the announcement of the Coco boat ride was a return to environmental attractions. I never heard the words, "...needs your help", or "...but then something goes wrong..." during the D23 presentation of Coco. They are very common attraction tropes that Disney (and other major theme parks) have fallen into in the last 20 years. I feel like all theme park attractions used to be environmental, passive attractions, but then someone got the idea that let's make the guests part of the story, which honestly is a great idea. However, after 2 decades of that same storyline, I'm also ready for a good old-fashioned passive attraction. I think that's why people love the new Frozen in Tokyo's Fantasy Springs because it is a well done, book report attraction. No need for us to "save the day", by passively sitting there.

[@naturejane2000]

I 1000% agree with this video. I had already pressed the like button toward the beginning and kept wanting to go back and press it again because I agreed with so many points you made. I also have great hopes that the new Coco ride is more atmospheric and less "interactive" where we have to "help" Miguel do some task. I'm thinking that the Imagineers are trying to mimic shows like Dora that ask for your help with some task and then thank you, assuming that the viewer actually participated. I can't even get my nieces and nephews to participate in those kinds of shows. I think that being immersed in a new world and just watching the story unfold as a spectator is what draws me into Disney rides.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

It's an annoying trend as of late. It feels like they are trying to copy some of Universal's more NEGATIVE attributes

[@igamelotsbro5468]

I’m dying thinking of being on a boat ride and he’s like “hola soy Miguel, and you say Alebrijes”

[@igamelotsbro5468]

But I feel that some story do need to put you in the story because rise of the resistance would not be as good as it is if you just watched the story, but yes something like coco needs to be you watching the story

[@wdwnutjm]

I could not agree more- there is something really special about just riding through and taking everything in

[@MichaelSavidgeStoryteller]

The former Imagineer Margaret Kerrison talks about the difference between the non-participating spectators and active participants in her book "Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds". It goes into more detail about the different types of audiences than I expected (apparently, there are different levels of participation an audience is allowed to experience in a ride or attraction). The book is an interesting read; while a good amount of examples are Disney-based (she was a writer for Disney Imagineering), she also uses examples from outside Disney and typical theme park attractions (one of the examples in her book is a museum from her hometown)

[@ConnorCampbell-ch5mk]

Congrats Dallin, you’ve now achieved the ability to have bots in the comment section

[@slowazzd2165]

It's the one true mile marker for success on youtube in 2024!

[@ConnorCampbell-ch5mk]

First step on the road to 1 mil

[@JackDaloots]

They're not bots! Think of them as "audio animitronic" commenters!

[@KLGChaos]

I'm guessing the bots are why the original patreon comments were deleted.

[@slowazzd2165]

​@JackDaloots this comment is so funny lmfao

[@hemiseraph]

One of my favorite rides since childhood!!! Can’t wait for this deep dive

[@Grievar]

I'd argue that, while the queue in florida fits the narrative of the overall ride better, the disneyland queue is doing something different and actually really special. it's about going back in time from contemporary New Orleans to the era of Pirates it's romanticizing and feels way more magical than the Magic Kingdom one.

[@tyceohollow]

Pirates will always be my favorite ride from my childhood to now it always blows my mind. It feels like peaking into another reality. It breaks my heart that there are nearly no other rides to the level of Pirate's immersion. Truly wish theme parks would be more common and tell stories through themes and rides like it. Involving us in the stories is fine and all but strokes the already massive egos in the modern day. Its also sad that preexsiting properties are all the focus now as well there's less encouragement of new ideas and stifling human creativity sucks. It's called IMAGINEering for a reason 😭 Maybe someday folks we can always dream just as Walt did. Great vid as always and much love everyone

[@michelleneal6860]

I rode Tiana's for the first time tonight. First of all, it is beautiful. The smells are beautiful and green, the flowers and foliage, the critters, the colors, they are al gorgeous and so visually appealing. I loved following Tiana around as she gathered her band and prepared for her party. The criticism that there is NO story doesn't detract from the enjoyment I found in the experience. It's like taking a walk in the woods with no particular destination. The joy in the journey is the destination. It's okay to be a casual observer of something beautiful. The involvement of being "shrunk" serves to help us see the world from a different perspective. Momma Odie is magic, she can do whatever she wants. Lol! I didn't detract anything from my enjoyment..

[@host_theghost507]

Videos like this are why I keep Offhand Disney at the top of my list.Well, that and our belief in the inevitable return of the People Mover. I'm so over the trend of the conscripted audience. The best classic rides like Pirates and HM give you room for your imagination to wander. If they made Pirates from scratch today, we'd have Captain Jack Sparrow telling guests that he needs us to retake the Black Pearl. We'd all have little pistols and we'd shoot at projection-mapped targets, and at the end he'd say, "Great job, Mateys!" No wonder all these rides are the same nowadays.

[@princessmarlena1359]

I used to visit Disneyland by and large growing up, as I lived one county away from Anaheim, CA. Galaxies Edge wasn’t completed when I was last there, so I never saw it. I moved over 2,000 miles away from California, back in 2018. One of the few things I miss about California are In-N-Out, See’s Candy, and the amusement parks.

[@DarkFr3ak101]

You can say the same thing about Tower of Terror, there really is no audio except the video riders watch of Rod Sterling. You take in all the surroundings of the queue and the holographic scene before the drop.

[@imaginationstationyt6948]

Love Pirates! Watching now. Can't wait for the refurb where they finally add the Jean Lafitte Post Show. :D

[@Xtremeinfla2008]

This is my 3rd favorite attraction 1st is Haunted Mansion and 2nd is PeopleMover Great video! ❤❤

[@igamelotsbro5468]

Let’s gooo! PeopleMover gang, I live in Florida and I’ve have actually rope dropped the PeopleMover several times

[@Quixotic1018]

I love the storytelling in lines particularly Indiana Jones and Runaway Railway. Makes the waiting go by that much easier. Astro Blasters also gets an honorable mention for me.

[@MagicMonkey96]

Also in Indiana Jones and runaway railway, the guests are part of the story but play the role of tourists so there’s no narrative dissonance

[@mcraerivers573]

I don’t think I’ve EVER been this early! I know it’s gonna be a great video

[@Br1ttany1992]

I love this ride so much. It’s my 2nd favorite theme park ride after Haunted Mansion. It’s so relaxing and fun. Love the music too.

[@slowazzd2165]

As much as people like to complain about galaxys edge, it's an entire land of fantastic environmental storytelling which is part of why i love it so much

[@KLGChaos]

Awesome video and I fully agree. There is a time and place for direct storytelling and for more ambient, subliminal storytelling. It feels like the latter is a lost art form and a lot of that is due to technology advancements, I think. The original imagineers had to get creative because they only really had audio animatronics and other practical effects. There's less need for that when computers can do everything for you. One day I'll get to west coast and ride the longer Pirates ride. It's on my bucket list.

[@letthePigeondrivethebus]

Just got back from my trip and miss the "research"/planning stage. This helps!

[@SupraRZ95]

Best ride in the history of any theme park. Ever.

[@keySkullghost]

Unrelated, but I’ve heard the Shanghai Pirates is epic. Has anyone here gone?

[@loganwilliams640]

I related to scents of the cockpit as I am a pilot! Love it!!!

[@PoleTooke]

2:47 As a deaf person, I think this is a huge part of why this is my favourite ride

[@Undrave]

Congrats on the milestone!

[@bigheadtales]

I fear that Disney will not make another attraction on the level of Pirates or Mansion for many years to come, if ever. They are too focused on selling IP, selling lightning lanes, and selling Multipasses. It's not about storytelling anymore, it's about driving profit solely to benefit the stock price and executive bonuses.

[@MagicMonkey96]

They need a new CEO for sure

[@lydia-rose5756]

Iger is the worst thing to happen to Disney; he is so devoid of creativity in a company that needs a creative visionary as figure head.

[@Bob_Saccamano]

I love this ride. I want to be a ghost on this ride. It immerses me into the story and setting so much. There is one balcony where you go through the town I really want to get up on and just watch people go by. I always imagine being able to get up there.

[@WarholaSoup]

I love this channel

[@VultureCulture]

Really loved this video!

[@lilyderooij]

I loved the way you explained drunk Bill and the cats.

[@themeparksculptor]

We love the "show, don't tell" rule when it comes to attractions

[@lonesoul663]

Plus they rarely create rides like Pirates of the Caribbean. Something from scratch and unique.

[@riviecore]

NEW OFFHAND VIDEOOOO

[@listerheb]

Back in the day when nobody had internet and all they had was a set of encyclopedia to read facts a lot of things travelled by legend, like pirates. So it wasn't uncommon to just think of them as stories that were made up. Today we believe in them because we can all access information about them easily.

[@MichaelSutton77]

Dallin you probably won’t see this or if u do you won’t care but Walt tells the lady you do believe in pirates right? because early he asked her the same thing about ghost and she didn’t believe him.

[@Mammothsaber-4457]

Ah my favorite ride of all time ( even with all the changes lol), I’m a history buff and I owe that to this ride

[@toshibavoodoo]

GREAT VIDEO! Love insight into one of my favorite rides.

[@davidyates9417]

Truly the greatest KZbinr of all time

[@JK020489]

The amount of times I’ve been soaked by those cannon balls I absolutely take it personally that Barbosa is shooting at me.

[@MannyEmm]

You are always so entertaining and interesting and extremely insightful, as well as being very knowledgeable. As one of you biggest fans forever, I could make fun of you…..”Sprry”? The part where Walt was explaining the attraction to the host. Dallin, you are the best!

[@spiderlinz]

this the kinda video I’m looking for yuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppp

[@briansieve]

"Story" for attractions is a Michael Eisner conceit. Theming was about creating immersive environments from which the guest could experience several different experiences. Pre-Eisner there was no singular story line.

[@briansieve]

Jargon Joshy just strings together buzz words and fan service phrases. Nothing he says is ever connected to what actually is in planning and ultimately gets built.

[@tufab3494]

I was wondering why Dallin hadn't talked about Tiana's already, now I get it. I'm really looking foward to see what your thoughts will be.

[@bcb_2024]

Nice Video Offhand Disney

[@waynemartin6065]

Great observations!

[@broformers6433]

It's funny cause on Transformers the ride your ride vehicle is an actual character in the ride, and when he thanks you, you can kinda tell he's thanking himself😂.

[@disneyvillain0256]

THE MAGIC CANDLE COMPANY IS BACK

[@peterjhartvideo]

Re Magic Candle Company: "Pirate's Life" is good, but "Splash" is the one that ACTUALLY smells like Pirates of the Caribbean. By far my favorite 🏴‍☠

[@RyderTweet-b5s]

Once (if it happens) the peoplemover returns Dallin is probably go all Nikacado on us and reveal he actually got a haircut 2 years ago.

[@OpticBlast-yk5hf]

I’m going to Disney World in just under 3 weeks. I’m really excited to go again.

[@phrancklynbillsonmc2581]

Happy final Summerween ! 🧡

[@TheCosmosprincess]

Thank you Thank you Thank you! It has driven me near to crazy when people call A-T A-T’s At At’s. It makes no sense.

[@igamelotsbro5468]

Yes I’m a huge star wars fan and I die a little bit inside when someone say at at

[@CineG]

My favorite ride. Just put the PotC in the title and I'm there in the boat.

[@SA12String]

I miss walking to my locker after park closing, with only a few cast members in sight, and hearing "Dead Men Tell No Tales" echoing around the entire east side of the park. Where did you get that E Ticket poster?

[@theaquarian7988]

I always thought the old dude in the bayou was supposed to be a retired pirate.

[@davidleslie1963]

Julie Riehm, the very first Disneyland Ambassador, said she didn't believe in ghosts in the Haunted House so Walt was teasing her about her belief in Pirates.

[@ryancommenter-r7o]

I was literally thinking about how pirates actually had a story… I rode pirates 2 weeks ago, and I payed attention to the scenes and listened to the music… it’s weird how it makes a story

[@juanitajones6900]

Jean Laffite was a famous pirate during the early 19th century, who operated from New Orleans.

[@MathiasKirk]

Feels illegal to be this early. Wish you covered Disneyland Paris more :D

[@alexrexaros9837]

I so, so want the original to be back. Haunted Mansion is upgraded every time, but POTC gets the low end of the stick. And please, I'm beyond tired of Jack Sparrow. The movies' tone don't fit that of the ride.

[@brianquinn3961]

Disney asked if she believed in Pirates as a joke because she did not believe in ghosts. Come on, man!

[@newhere2419]

the story is pirates loot a town in order to sell the chickens back to the residents. because that's what pirates did. right.

[@ezrashort11]

just saying this right now.... THANK YOU for the AT AT comment... who ever thinks you pronounce it like the word "at" needs to go away.

[@CapeSIX]

I’ll be in Disney world next week to 😊

[@Noah_Helfrich]

Just a heads up the pirate water candle doesn’t smell like the pirates water. Other candles smell like different things around the park but I was kinda let down by the pirates life candle. I think most would agree as well. But it doesn’t smell bad by any means, it just doesn’t exactly smell like the ride.

[@TheSEAempire]

I can't wait to go ride Pirates of the Caribbean again 🏴‍☠

[@rinoz47]

Back when Disney knew what "show don't tell" was.

[@brandonnotsowise2640]

Yep, there's little to no subtlety in their storytelling now.

[@JohnnieWalk3r]

Star tours was awesome for inclusion... I think the cast knew I was alone and made me the spy, got a lot of hi fives and such after the ride

[@thefatpotato115]

19:43 we have some stuff on the _HORIZONS_ ??

[@eman7048]

Now this is what I come for

[@EdwardandJessicaMiller]

The chess board is a joke about the danger of hubris. If you’re familiar with the game and take a good look at the board, you’ll see that neither player has any possible moves, i.e. instead of calling it a stalemate and walking away, they’ve been sitting there thinking of how to beat their opponent for hundreds of years.

[@ghostshirt1984]

Haunted mansion for my bed room and pirates of the Caribbean for my bath room👻💀

[@TheDigitalPumpkinCat]

NOT THE RUM!!!

[@amandarusconi8680]

Webslingers you are involved in the story and you get an arm workout!

[@igamelotsbro5468]

So true 💀

[@delterraadornments5960]

Rise of the Resistance was so confusing to me, I actually turned to a young couple and said “is this almost over? I’m too old for this ride”. Just entertain me and take me for a ride.

[@yeldarBkereD]

That skull is Murray, the demonic talking skull! 9:51

[@sorceress1986]

Say it...SAY IT!!!!

[@WheezyLiam]

Yeah they need to shift focus more on these tableau-style attractions again. Timeless. Having every other attraction start with a preshow of some Disney character telling us that they "need our help to do the thing" gets tiring. Honestly, Universal is kinda worse with that. Transformers, Spider Man, both Harry Potter rides... they all force feed the plot to you and end with all the characters giving you a big pat on the back. It became a sort of inside joke after my girlfriend at the time and I visited: "Wow we did SO good helping save the world so many times."

[@ragilles]

Marc Davis said…”My point of view on all of these attractions is that they are a series of experiences. You aren’t telling a story in the Haunted Mansion any more than you are trying to tell a story in Pirates of the Caribbean. You’re showing some pirates in a lot of interesting situations, but you don’t really have a beginning or an ending. They’re a series of situations, not a story. I think that is why Walt never bought the Haunted Mansion in his time.”

[@socheeesey8870]

"At laffite's Land- hey i know that guy." Me: heh Lul

[@ThemeSnark]

"The 4-hour Peoplemover video is coming"? My cadaverous pallor betrays an aura of foreboding...

[@JasonLucio-g2h]

The Royal Fortune’s crew.

[@TheWhiteWhale593]

So am I the only one who realized PotC is Walt’s vision of Dante’s Inferno?

[@JSXSProductions]

5:11 - Add your card lmao