Join Captain Jack Sparrow and his pirate crew on this pirate's paradise. Adventurers both young and not-so-young can explore spooky caves, find pirate treasure and even take the Pirate Oath. Bands of roving pirates engage visitors in merriment and mayhem and Captain Jack undertakes a swashbuckling quest for a treasure map.

ATTRACTION

Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is located in the middle of the Rivers of America. The island is only accessible via raft - the raft dock is located on the water's edge near the Haunted Mansion. The rafts hold about 30 people - there are a few places to sit, but most passengers must stand during the short trip over to the island. Cast Members should provide a map of the island to everyone boarding the raft.

Once on the island there are a variety of areas to explore:

Dead Man's Grotto - This dark and narrow series of caves harbors a number of pirate scenes and a few startling special effects, such as a "bottomless" pit with a pirate skeleton, a cask holding Davy Jones' beating heart, and a hoard of pirate treasure guarded by a spooky pop-up head and a skeletal arm and eyeball.

Smuggler's Cove - This area has multiple activities where would-be pirates can burn off a little steam. A pontoon bridge crosses the cove over water while a suspension bridge keeps explorers high and dry. A scaled-down version of the "bone cage" from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is available as a photo-op. On the water's edge treasure seekers can man the bilge pumps and reveal pirate treasure aboard a sunken ship, or wind the capstan and raise up a treasure chest which has a little something extra attached!

Castle Rock - steep and winding stairs lead to the top of this lookout point, which has spyglasses pointing in all directions.

Shipwreck - the stern portion of a beached ship.

Captain's Treasure - Piles of gold doubloons and treasure chests plus a large Jolly Roger flag provides a great backdrop for photos. Captain Jack Sparrow often hangs out for Meet and Greet opportunities.

Tom and Huck's Tree House - climb the ladder and some steep steps to the top of the tree house. Inside are pirate "masks" painted on the walls - the eyes are spy hole cutouts.

Will Turner's Blacksmith Shop - Will's tools and works-in-progress are visible inside. The waterwheel outside the building slowly turns and causes some things inside the building to move around.

Lafitte's Tavern - Several times a day the Pirate Point Stage is the setting for Jack Sparrow's Swashbuckling Adventure where Captain Jack Sparrow and a group of fellow pirates battle each other for possession of a treasure map retrieved from the Casque of the Unknown. This high-energy show features sword-fighting, several acrobatic stunts and cannon fire.

Pirate Point is also home to The Bootstrappers, a roving band of pirates who invite the audience to participate as they sing sea chanteys and tell tall stories.

TOURING TIPS

The rafts to Pirate's Lair generally start operating 30 minutes after the park opens, and the island closes at dusk. The rafts load and unload fairly quickly, so there's usually not too much of a wait. For some reason there seems to be a longer line to leave the island than there is to go to the island.

There are water fountains on the island but no food or beverages are sold there. Some benches and picnic tables are available, and a checkerboard is set up at the back of Lafitte's Tavern (upper level). There are a lot of trees on the island which provide some shade.

The main stage level is in full sun and can get very warm. The upper level of Lafitte's Tavern is shaded by a canvas cover, but those under the cover will have almost no view of one of the stunts in the show.

The rafts and most of the paths on the island are wheelchair accessible, but the caves, lookout points, etc. are not, as they are too narrow or have steps or ladders. The Pirate's Point stage area is accessible via an elevator - ask a Cast Member for assistance.