The Flying Dutchman is a ghost ship from folklore, prominently featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Description[]
The Flying Dutchman is a mysterious supernatural ship with the purpose of ferrying the souls of those who die at sea from the world of the living to the world of the dead. The Flying Dutchman is also able to dive into the water, and travel through the green flash to visit the land of the dead.
The Dutchman is bound to one captain who cannot step foot on dry land but for one day every ten years, and if whom ignores the Dutchman's duties will cause themselves and their crew to be physically corrupted with the crew losing their bodies and souls to the ship overtime as, "Part of the ship. Part of the crew".
Features[]
- The brig: The part of the ship holding its jail-cells.
- Captain's Quarters: The quarters of the Dutchman's captain which has a large pipe-organ built into it.
- Kraken wheel back: A wheelback which when turned, releases vibrations into the water that summon the Kraken.
History[]
Background[]
The intersection between the continuity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and Pirates of the Caribbean attractions are unknown. This article is dedicated to Will's history in the attractions and as referenced in the attractions. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) is not to be considered as cannon or fully cannon due to its lack of continuity with the lore, world-building and characterization of prior Pirates of the Caribbean stories.
Origins[]
The Flying Dutchman is a supernatural ship of unknown origin, which has the purpose to ferry the souls of those who die at sea to the afterlife. The sea goddess Calypso, convinced her lover Davy Jones to become the ship's captain. The cost of this role was that Davy Jones could only step foot on land for one day every ten years, a day which he and Calypso planned to spend together in mortal form. However, when that one day came, Calypso did not show up and left Davy Jones heartbroken.
In his wrath, Davy Jones taught the pirates of the Brethren Court how to bind her in the human form of Vodun priestess Tia Dalma. To save himself from the pain of having been betrayed by and betraying the woman he loves, he carved out his immortal, still beating heart and placed it within an iron chest which he hid away. Left heartless, Davy Jones abandoned his duties as ferryman to the drowned and instead used his powers to make faustian bargains and enslave sailors, corrupting his purpose and so himself and crew to make them all resemble deep sea monstrosities.
Davy Jones also acquired a great treasure known as the, "Sunken Treasure", a horde of gold from across the oceans stored along the ocean's floor off the coast of the Spanish colony, "Treasure Cove". Through unknown means, Davy Jones also became the master of the Kraken which he would set loose on his debtors to drag them to the depths of Davy Jones' Locker. Over the years, sailors and pirates would use Davy Jones' name as short-hand for a watery grave.
Battle for the Sunken Treasure[]
During the golden age of piracy, Davy Jones' sunken-treasure became sought after by Captain Jack Sparrow. Sparrow made a base out of Treasure Cove's Voodoo Alley and Fort Snobbish, before recruiting guests to assist him in travelling to the sea's depths from the Caves of Misfortune. Sparrow used his recruits to distract Davy Jones and Jones' first-mate Maccus while Sparrow stole the treasure. Davy Jones and Sparrow engaged in combat before Jack managed to escape by trapping Jones on a sinking ship while making off with some of the gold. Following this, Davy Jones cursed his gold so that it all turned to kelp before Jack could use it.
Battle for Piracy[]
At some point around the 1720s/1730s, Calypso was freed and released back into her godly form. Davy Jones was presumably killed around this incident, having his heart stabbed and replaced with that of William Turner who would have become the Dutchman's next captain.
Appearances[]
Captain Jack's[]
An illustration of the Dutchman appears on Davy Jones' wanted-poster.[1]
Castaway Cay[]
The Flying Dutchman from the films appeared in the cay's waters up until 2010.
Columbia Harbour House[]
A room in this restaurant with a window view of the Haunted Mansion has a sign for the Haunted Mansion.[2]
Haunted Mansion[]
In the Haunted Mansion's portrait-corridor, there is a portrait of a sailing ship which changes to show it as a ghost-ship in a storm. This was designed by Marc Davis, prior to the Pirates of the Caribbean films, to represent the Flying Dutchman. Originally, the ship would have also changed to show the ghost of conquistador-like sailors flying off of the vessel.
The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow[]
The Dutchman appeared, attacking Jack before being defeated.
Phantom Manor[]
In Ravenswood Manor is a portrait of the Flying Dutchman which sometimes changes to be engulfed in flames.
Treasure Cove[]
A sign upon a gazebo reads, "Sing of Captain Will Turner cursed to the Flying Dutchman eternally bound Stepping foot on Land but for once ev'ry ten years but if Elizabeth is devoted, and her love is true, the curse will be broken with lovers joyous tears".[3]
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure[]
The Flying Dutchman physically appears in this attraction. It is encountered, docked at the bottom of the Graveyard of Lost Ships where guests enter the vessel. After this, it rises from the depths to engage in a cannon-fight with Captain Jack Sparrow's ship.
Trivia[]
- In Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, the Dutchman has a skeleton figurehead which was not present in the films but did appear on the Pirates of the Caribbean depiction of the Queen Anne's Revenge.
- A section of Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is made to resemble the Flying Dutchman from the films, and has voices of the Dutchman's crew audible with the ship inferred to have been wrecked by the Kraken. William Turner and Davy Jones both have presences on the island.
- The connotation of the Dutchman burning in Phantom Manor is unknown.
Gallery[]
