Time for a trip to 20 years ago at Disney World

[Raulandpinboy]

I don’t know how many of you remember, but 20 some odd years ago when you got off the pirates ride at Walt Disney World you had the chance to take a picture with a pirate.

Well first the story behind the picture it was in January 1984 I was 20 years old, and we headed out to Wally World to spend a day.

It was 75 degrees when we got there, but being young and stupid we did not check the weather report, and when the sun started to go down it dropped to the mid 50's.

Well I was dressed in a t-shirt and pair of short (I had legs back then) we were ready to leave as Disney used to close at 6:00 in those days, when a friend of ours told us to hide in one of the rides because Barnett Bank (long gone) had rented the park for the night for its employees to have their giant family get together, and the park was staying open until midnight.

Well we did and they did too, but by 8:00 it was in the high to mid 40’s we were freezing but it was a freebie night… free food, free rides, free gifts all you had to say was we are with the Barnett Bank party so we decided to suffer the cold.

We spent the rest of the night looking for ways to stay warm, then some idiot whom I will not say which, but her initials are D.O. Suggested thunder mountain because it was all inside and warm. Well it was warm until we hit waterfall and we got soaking wet, so from there we ran to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, because I knew it was inside and we had a small chance of staying warm. Once we got out it was back to the freezer zone, and me still in shorts and a t-shirt. Then we hit gold we found the take a picture with the pirate guy place and we got to dress up like pirates… The more clothing the better and we took this picture, the best part is we got to stay dressed like that for awhile and got some weird stares.

So ladies and gentlemen I give you Ed, Donna, and Lauree back in 1984 The Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

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[NHMickey]

I don't remember the pirate. Thanks for sharing a little Disney History...

Now when did Thunder Mnt have a water fall?

 

[bsbkmacgowan]

Oh, that's just too fun!

I showed this to Kellie, and she says "Silly Ed"!

What I really want to know is this... where did you unearth the picture from? (Brian's going through boxes and boxes up in Toronto getting ready for the move... I hate to think what he's going to be finding!)

Arrrrrrrrgggh, laddy... ye make a good pirate, y'do... (and Donna & Lauree, too!)

Sandy (and Bonnie & Kellie in COLD and FREEZING Indiana... and Brian up in even COLDER Toronto!)

 

[Raulandpinboy]

#1 where did we hide

Good question, in order to hide we took the Skyway to tomorrowland, rode Carousel of Progress and just did not get off for about an extra 30 minutes. Besides it was warm in there.

After that we just started walking around like we owned the place, a cast member asked what we were doing, I said we are with the Barnett Bank group, and that was it.

Anywhere we went that night it was free, they had food everywhere, they had free pictures, and all the character were out it was a blast, plus they had several bands playing.

And yes you can still rent the park for a night, the going rate is $45'000 for just an event say behind the Castle thats no rides just an area after hours. Add to that catering at $100.00 per person with a $25,000 min. so your looking at $70'000 for a few hours worth of park... Again no rides.

To rent the entire park fully staffed and working, all rides everything, your looking at $500'000 plus.

And #2 on Thunder Mountain when the train is going up the hill in the cave at the top you go through the waterfall thats coming down on both sides, well its now toned down a notch or two, but it used to be much more intense.

 

[Mickey527]

Did anyone else notice that the only one who looks older is ED?
I have a few of those photos too Ed, but I had to pay for them. I will see if I can post them, they both came out really cute.
I have one from when my youngest was 18 months old with my 3 boys, myself and my ex. they took off Christopher's shoes because Pirates didn't wear Big Bird footwear. he screamed through the entire photo session, "Put my shoes back on" He didn't care that he was dressed in weird clothing, he just wanted his shoes on.
The 2nd was when my boys were older. It is just the boys and me, dad was out of the picture in more ways than one back then.
That photo of you three brings back some good memories. Peggie

 

[bsbkmacgowan]

I just took a closer look... and I just noticed where that scurvy scallywag's hook is...

Ya gotta wonder if Donna was even the teensiest bit worried at that moment...

aarrrrrrrrrrrhhhh...
Sandy (and Brian, Bonnie & Kellie)

 

[Angelrose]

I remember those picture places! My husband, son and I had one taken there. A bit different though. We also got one with us dressed as wizards and one that was a Roger Rabbit picture. That was just so much fun. The one time we had the pirate picture taken, we were laughing so much, it's a wonder we ever got a good picture. I really miss those dress-up picture places.

 

[buggin']

Makes me wanna go ride Pirates of the Caribbean...!!! argh matey...!!!

Thats a cool photo ya'll...!!! I never knew they did things like that back then...of course I was only 4, so that means theres lots of things I didnt know back then...lol...!!!

Buggin'
Amber