Is There a Human Skull in the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride?

Alrighty, buckle up, folks, ’cause I’ve got a tale to tell about Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride! Now, hold onto your parrots, because there used to be some real human skeletons on that attraction. Yeah, you heard me right! These skeletons weren’t some plastic impostors; they were the real deal, donated by UCLA. You see, back in the day, the fake skeletons just didn’t cut it. They lacked that certain oomph to make you scream “Arr!” and believe you were sailing with swashbuckling pirates.

But, as time went by, Disney’s crafty Imagineers got better at creating fake skeletons that looked like they were fresh out of Davy Jones’ locker. Plus, they had to deal with maintenance and the possibility of those poor bones decaying. So, they decided it was time to bid farewell to the real skeletons. They made sure to give each one a proper burial, ’cause, you know, it’s only fair.

Now, here’s the juicy part: one skull managed to survive the skeleton purge! It’s chilling out in the Captain’s Quarters treasure room, on the bed, to be precise. Picture this: a dead dude lying there, engrossed in a map, examining it with a magnifying glass. And right behind him, attached to the bed headboard, is a slightly larger, darker skull with a fancy set of crossbones underneath. Ooh, spooky!

In 2014, a Disney Cast Member spilled the beans and confirmed that this skull is indeed the real deal from the UCLA collection. But who does it belong to? Ah, the rumors abound! Some say it belonged to a crook, while others claim it was someone who selflessly donated their noggin for science. Heck, there’s even a wild theory that it belonged to an Imagineer who worked their magic on the ride. We may never know the truth, but that skull sure knows how to keep a secret. It’s like a real-life mystery right in the middle of the Pirates of the Caribbean!

Now, I bet you’re wondering if it’s ethical to use real human remains in a theme park ride. Well, let me tell you, my dear mateys, it’s a topic that stirs up quite a debate. It used to be a more common practice, you know. The Haunted Mansion ride also had its fair share of real human bones, like a mummified hand and a genuine human skull. But eventually, they decided to swap ’em out for fake replicas. Turns out, people started getting all bothered about the ethical implications of using real human remains for entertainment. Go figure!

Look, I get it. Using real bones might add a touch of realism, but we’ve gotta consider the line between entertainment and exploitation. We don’t want to disrespect or exploit the dearly departed, do we? It’s a fine line to walk, my friends. Ultimately, it’s up to the bigwigs at the park to decide if using real human remains is appropriate and respectful or if it’s just plain exploitation.

In the case of Pirates of the Caribbean, they decided to retire the real bones and stick with fake ones. But that last remaining skull, oh boy, it’s a treasure in itself! It’s a subtle detail that adds an extra dash of mystery and intrigue to the ride. Trust me, when you spot that sneaky skull amidst all the plunder, it’ll make your trip all the more memorable. So, next time you hop on Pirates of the Caribbean, keep your eyes peeled and see if you can uncover the hidden gem—the real human skull hiding among the treasures.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!