Disneyland Pirates Used Real Skeletons

When Disneyland opened Pirates of the Caribbean in 1967, the ride used real human skeletons obtained from the UCLA Medical Center. Disney's Imagineers chose actual bones because 1960s replica technology could not create skeletons realistic enough for the attraction. After replicas improved, imagineers replaced the real bones and reportedly returned them for proper burial. Disneyland says no human remains remain on the ride today, despite persistent rumors.

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