From MiceAge, a fun and detailed look back at decisions for Disney World and the almost but never approved, “Disney’s Western River Expedition.”

” … real-life swash-buckling pirates were an enticing commodity to the people on the West Coast; they didn’t know too much about them! However, Florida’s history was filled with stories of these salty sea-goers, and stories of them were familiar to local residents. Because of this, Disney executives decided that the Pirates attraction wouldn’t be too popular at Walt Disney World, and it was too costly to risk that sort of failure.”

You can read the rest of the story at MiceAge.