Disney Doubles Down on Culturally Sensitive Pirates of the Caribbean Makeover
Eight years after one of the most debated attraction updates in Disney Parks history, The Walt Disney Company is making clear exactly where it stands on the modernized Pirates of the Caribbean auction scene.
From “We Wants the Redhead” to Captain Redd
The backstory begins in 2017 at Disneyland Paris and 2018 at Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park, when Walt Disney Imagineers overhauled the auction scene in Pirates of the Caribbean. The original featured men bidding to purchase women as brides — a sequence that had become increasingly difficult to reconcile with Disney’s evolving commitment to cultural sensitivity. The iconic chant of “We wants the redhead!” became the shorthand for everything the update would change.
The reimagined scene keeps the auction format but flips its meaning entirely. The female pirates are now selling stolen goods — including chickens — making it a punny “chick auction” that pays tribute to its predecessor while removing the objectification of women at its core. The iconic redheaded figure at the center of the scene was transformed into Captain Redd, a self-possessed female pirate who commands the auction rather than endures it.
The change landed exactly as controversially as changes to beloved theme park attractions tend to land. Fans who welcomed the update pointed to the problematic nature of depicting women as property for sale in a family-friendly environment. Those who opposed it argued that sanitizing the historical realities of piracy diluted the authenticity of an attraction that had been a Disney Parks icon for decades.
The Doll That Makes Disney’s Position Clear
Whatever the ongoing debate, Disney’s response to it is now on shelves — or will be shortly. As part of the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Disney has announced a limited-edition Captain Redd doll, becoming the second in a series of dolls inspired by Disney Parks attraction characters. The first was the Werecat Lady from the Haunted Mansion.
Designer J. Fuchs described the creative direction in a Disney Parks Blog interview:
“Our doll is based on the updated version, so we have her posed out as she is in the ride, commanding the auction.”
The doll is modeled after both the updated audio-animatronic and the roaming face character that appears at Disneyland Park. Only 3,000 were produced. They will be available first at D23 Expo from August 14 through 16, then online at the Disney Store beginning August 17 at 8:00 a.m. PST.
What do you think about this Captain Redd doll, inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
