Disneyland has plans to make changes to their classic “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride by removing the bride auction scene.
The ride, which first opened in 1967, features a redheaded woman standing on what appears to be an auction block with a banner in the background that reads: “AUCTION: Take a Wench for a Bride” while pirates shout, “We wants the redhead!”
Kathy Mangum, SVP, Atlantic Region Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering said the bride auction scene will come to an end by next year in a statement on Disney’s blog.
“A familiar character is playing a new role joining the pirates ranks and helping the local townspeople ‘unload’ their valuables at the Mercado auction,” the statement said. “In the U.S., this famous redhead will appear in a similar scene at the Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland park in 2018 following a previously scheduled refurbishment.”
Pirates of the Caribbean Auction Scene
“We believe the time is right to turn the page to a new story in this scene, consistent with the humorous, adventurous spirit of the attraction, says Disneyland spokeswoman in a statement to The Orange County Register.
Not everyone is pleased with Disney’s decision to remove the scene.
This is getting so ridiculous! Changing the Pirates of the Caribbean to be PC?!? Some people are pathetic.
— Eric Childers (@angsterEric) June 30, 2017
Fans of the wife auction scene have gone as far as creating a Change.org petition in an effort to try and reverse Disney’s decision.
This isn’t the first time scenes from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride have changed to make it less offensive. In 1997, a scene featuring pirates chasing women was tweaked to feature hungry pirates chasing women carrying trays of food.
