The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland in California, built in the last year of Walt Disney’s life with the last of his visionary drive, is that rare example of a tourist attraction that feels ageless. One that has not only withstood the test of time but evolved along with its audience.
Sixty years on, the boats still float gently down the river and the crowds are still serenaded by the drunken pirate ballads. But there are also new elements. An animatronic Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow from the hugely successful movie franchise was installed in 2006, under the watchful eye of the man who has done more to build Disney’s legacy than any boss since Walt himself.
The ride is Bob Iger’s favourite. It feels to him like the encapsulation of modern-day Disney. “It has those roots with Walt. It has a purity about it. But it still works in today’s world,” he tells me, as we stroll through the theme park on a perfect southern Californian afternoon in April.