Disney’s Unsalvageable Pirate Ship #disney #disneyland #disneyshorts



It all fell apart.
The Chicken of the Sea pirate ship wasn’t supposed to become a memory when they remodeled Fantasyland in 1983.
The first plan was to move it
carefully
to the end of Storybookland Canal Boats
so it could continue to add whimsy
delight
nostalgia
but when they looked closer
they saw a problem.
Termites.
Rot.
Damage.
Unsalvageable.
And so the Fantasyland icon that had an earmarked spot for its second life
instead crumbled to pieces
as heavy machinery tore it apart.
A second, smaller ship was planned
and then later canceled, forgotten along the way
erased by lack of money, or time, or both
as good intentions often are
But a few items from the first
were salvaged from its hull
snuck away into the night
and found a home on a new pirate ship
indoors this time
where people don’t have to grow up
and wonderful thoughts can make you fly.
ropes and rigging found a purpose that wasn’t what was planned
but in that way
what fell apart
helped build something new
holding together a new dream
as the broken pieces of ourselves often do.

-kg

Note: There have been rumors for years that the lanterns and hook in the queue of Disneyland’s Peter Pan are also salvaged pieces from the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship, but I’ve never seen any evidence to confirm that. The ropes and rigging, however, were something that imagineer Tony Baxter did say in an interview were repurposed when they extended the ride and imported the Jolly Roger purate ship scene from the Walt Disney World version.

#peterpan #disneyrides #disneyhistory #peterpansflight #disney #disneyparks #imagineering #disneyland #disneylandpark #disneylandcalifornia #vintagedisneyland #retrodisney #disneyattractions #disneyinspired #pirateship #1950s #disneyhistory #encouragement #disneysecrets #disneytrivia #disneyfacts #disneynerd #disneyshorts #disneyyoutube #fantasyland

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12 thoughts on “Disney’s Unsalvageable Pirate Ship #disney #disneyland #disneyshorts”

  1. It all fell apart.
    The Chicken of the Sea pirate ship wasn’t supposed to become a memory when they remodeled Fantasyland in 1983.
    The first plan was to move it
    carefully
    to the end of Storybookland Canal Boats
    so it could continue to add whimsy
    delight
    nostalgia
    but when they looked closer
    they saw a problem.
    Termites.
    Rot.
    Damage.
    Unsalvageable.
    And so the Fantasyland icon that had an earmarked spot for its second life
    instead crumbled to pieces
    as heavy machinery tore it apart.
    A second, smaller ship was planned
    and then later canceled, forgotten along the way
    erased by lack of money, or time, or both
    as good intentions often are
    But a few items from the first
    were salvaged from its hull
    snuck away into the night
    and found a home on a new pirate ship
    indoors this time
    where people don’t have to grow up
    and wonderful thoughts can make you fly.
    ropes and rigging found a purpose that wasn’t what was planned
    but in that way
    what fell apart
    helped build something new
    holding together a new dream
    as the broken pieces of ourselves often do.

    -kg

    Note: There have been rumors for years that the lanterns and hook in the queue of Disneyland’s Peter Pan are also salvaged pieces from the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship, but I’ve never seen any evidence to confirm that. The ropes and rigging, however, were something that imagineer Tony Baxter did say in an interview were repurposed when they extended the ride and imported the Jolly Roger purate ship scene from the Walt Disney World version.

    Reply
  2. Your eloquence is absolutely incredible and I love your perspective/outlook/how you see the world. This one hit me particularly hard because even though it’s about the Chicken of the Sea ship, I feel like you wrote it about my life… which is currently in shambles. I just recently discovered your channel and have quickly become a huge fan. Thank you for doing what you do!! You bring so much beauty to the world in such an amazingly unique way!

    Reply

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