At the bottom of the list is the significantly scaled back Florida version of the attraction. The story goes that Magic Kingdom intentionally opened without a pirate ride because Imagineers felt that it would not be exotic enough for a park based so close to the actual Caribbean. When guests to the new park repeatedly asked “Where are the pirates?”, Florida quickly built this much smaller version of the Disneyland original. And the rush is apparent in many ways. The ride façade is a large Spanish fort, which works well, as does the queue, which passes by several scenes of cannons and other pirate weapons. But once the ride itself begins, the shortcomings are obvious. First, there is no indoor restaurant of any kind – which is a major void. Riders are instead immediately sent around a turn and down the one and only ride drop. From there, a quick scene or two with skeletons is all that is found before the ride transitions into the familiar pirate ship battle. The remainder of the ride is very similar to California and Tokyo, until the end, when riders depart their boats before the final incline and take an escalator up to the obligatory gift shop. It’s not a bad ride in and of itself, but it’s several minutes shorter than any of its peers. And when you’ve experienced any of the other versions, it feels underwhelming. Removing the bayou and caves means that the ride lacks the ability to build suspense…something that works so well at all of the others. Perhaps it can best be described as “Diet Pirates of the Caribbean” at Magic Kingdom park – the shortest, simplest, and least impressive version of the ride in the world.

While Florida is undoubtedly the worst of the pack, the next three Pirates of the Caribbean attractions are all extremely close. In fact, there’s probably a good case to be made to give these three a 3-way tie for second place. Regardless, the Tokyo version is set in Adventureland – like Florida – but there is where the similarities end. In fact, Tokyo’s version is almost identical to California, save for a few specifics that cause it to lose some points. Here riders find an almost identical New Orleans-inspired façade similar to California, as well as the bayou theme and accompanying restaurant. However, when approaching the drops is where the first major difference takes place. Tokyo’s version has only one drop, and that can’t help but feel like a shortcoming, especially for those familiar with California’s version of the ride. The various skeleton and pirate scenes that follow are very much in harmony with the California version, and the average guest probably isn’t going to spot any differences, though there are a few subtle ones scattered throughout. The end of the attraction is the final major departure from the original – guests de-board their boats and take an escalator up to ground level – similar to Florida. This unfortunately robs guests of the opportunity to climb the incline and add a few more minutes to the adventure, and is a drawback to this version. Overall though, it’s still a spectacular attraction, and nitpicking these details only emphasizes this point. Tokyo’s Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantastic ride – one of the best in the park – but it’s just edged out by its cousins in Paris and California – and it will have to settle for fourth place on our list.

The most unique of the “classic” Pirates of the Caribbean attractions is found at the Paris resort. Like most attractions in this park, this one is beautiful, with a gorgeous queue that takes guests to a tropical shipwrecked shore to board their boats. From there, the “backwards” version of Pirates of the Caribbean begins. The Paris attraction begins with the pirate adventure first, and includes a few unique-to-this-version scenes including the infamous (and rarely functioning) swinging pirate. Because this version does not travel under the Disneyland Paris railroad tracks, the ride has the uphill climb before the drops, another fun twist. While many of the following scenes are familiar, there are some fun and original touches here, that really separate this from the rest of the pack. The ride travels down two drops – which makes a huge difference vs. those with only one – and the second drop leads guests into the skeleton scenes – though these are brief when compared with California and Tokyo. The reverse nature of the scenes vs. the other classic versions of the attraction is a nice touch – and perhaps lends itself to a more logical storyline – showing the pirates in their heyday followed by their demise. Ultimately, the Paris ride is just familiar enough – and also different enough – that it is a worthy addition to the pirate portfolio, and it is the third best version in the world.

The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in California lands at the #2 spot on our list, and for good reason. While extremely similar to the Tokyo version, there are a few key differences that truly set this version apart. First, the placement of the ride in New Orleans Square – one of the greatest Disney themed “lands” in the world – is perfect. Second, the ride contains two drops – and that may not seem like a big deal, but it really does add to the fun. Two drops really adds to the sense of dropping deep beneath the earth into a place of adventure and wonder. Second, the ride has been plussed over the years – adding enhancements as well as all-original new scenes, such as the caged pirate/skeleton that transforms as you travel by. Some have argued that several of these changes are not necessarily for the better, but we have found each one to be at least on par, if not an improvement, compared to what was there previously. Finally, the conclusion of the California pirate adventure lets guests ride “up the waterfall” as Walt Disney himself put it – and back to the original loading area. And while on the surface this again may not seem like much to make a difference, it really rounds out the experience, taking an already lengthy attraction and making it that much longer. Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean is a masterpiece of an attraction – and it proves that often times Disney does things just right the first time. And while it has changed over the years – and will undoubtedly continue to evolve in the future – it is still the best version of the classic attraction, and the second greatest Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in the world.

“Epic” is a word that is overused. But it’s the one word we would use when describing the absolute masterpiece that is Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. It speaks volumes that Disney built an entire land around this attraction, and the rumored cost of the attraction at $450 million also sets the expectations high. From the first steps of the impossibly long and elaborate queue, to the exit into the masterfully immersive Treasure Cove land, this ride was built on a scale that is simply unmatched anywhere else. Walking through the queue sets the mood perfectly, with volumes of treasure, trinkets, and pirate possessions littering the various walls, rooms, and passageways. The boats are huge, to accommodate the thousands of guests that board daily. When the vehicles release from the station, the on-board audio kicks into high gear – crystal clear and booming the fantastic theme song from the movie franchise. From there, the adventure begins, and it’s incredible from start to finish. Here the Imagineers have blended cutting edge animatronics with Imax-sized screens, in a way that creates an amazingly large world – from diving into the depths of Davey Jones’ Locker, to adventuring out at sea in the middle of a full-blown pirate ship battle. The screens are plentiful, but not to the ride’s detriment – they are utilized in a way that creates a truly seamless world extending for miles in all directions. The animatronics are next-level, with more than a few “wow” moments exclusive to this attraction. The ride vehicles are also part of the adventure, upgraded with technology that allows them to pivot, change directions, and adjust speed. This gives the boats a personality of their own, and adds several extra layers of immersion to the adventure. There is so much going on that multiple rides are an absolute must, and each time will result in a jaw-dropping experience. We just can’t praise this one enough – Shanghai’s version is not only the best of the bunch, but it is arguably the single greatest Disney attraction on the planet. It is absolutely worth every ounce of effort to experience: "epic" in every sense of the word. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is the indisputable king – the greatest Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in the world.