First the theme park attraction inspired the movie – now the movie is inspiring the attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure brought to the big screen in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, is adding new characters and features from the blockbuster entertainment franchise and debuting when the next adventure begins in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Both the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will close the attraction in March to complete the updates in time for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest on July 7. The attraction will re-open at Disneyland on June 24 and in Florida's Magic Kingdom on July 7.
The attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa. Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, Captain Jack and Barbossa add an exciting new twist to the attraction's original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of plundered treasure.
"Successfully adding the popular characters from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films with the mythology of our classic attraction is an example of Disney synergy and Walt Disney Imagineering at its finest," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "These additions will result in an exciting new chapter for the attraction and an unforgettable experience for our guests, giving them another reason to come and be a part of our continuing 50th anniversary celebration."
Woven into some of the attraction's most memorable scenes, the rival swashbucklers will be seen interacting with some of the more familiar Audio-Animatronics buccaneers found inside the ride-thru adventure. Also making a guest appearance is the ghostly Davy Jones from the second movie in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. But new characters are only the beginning. New special effects will also be added to enhance the "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme park experience.
"The creative legacy of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' has come full circle with the attraction initially inspiring our highly successful film franchise and now the films inspiring exciting additions to the attraction itself," said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. "The attraction enhancements capture the same spirit, swashbuckling humor and action that moviegoers loved in the first `Pirates of the Caribbean' which will continue with the highly anticipated new tales this summer and beyond."
Created under the direct creative supervision of Walt Disney himself, Pirates of the Caribbean is the quintessential Disney theme park adventure, a swashbuckling voyage that transports guests back to the days when pirates and privateers roamed the Spanish Main. Starring a comical cast of rascals, scoundrels, villains and knaves, the world-famous attraction sends guests of all ages on a boat ride through mysterious caverns where "Dead men tell no tales" and then into a colonial era Caribbean seaport under siege by a band of fun-loving pirates. The attraction's jaunty theme song, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)," sets the show's light tone with its tongue-in-cheek depiction of high-seas lawlessness.
The original incarnation of Pirates of the Caribbean premiered on March 18, 1967, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in California. Featuring more than 120 Audio-Animatronics performers, lavishly decorated sets and special effects, it's considered to be one of the most spectacular and enduring attractions ever created for a theme park. With its setting revised slightly to fit a Caribbean Plaza location in Adventureland, the attraction opened to guests at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on December 15, 1973. More than 500 million people have experienced the rollicking fun of Pirates of the Caribbean in California and Florida over the past 39 years. "Enhancing the classic Pirates attractions with new characters and new technology will ensure their relevance and place in Disney theme parks as timeless adventures," said Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. "We're adding a layer of storytelling from the films to the attraction while retaining all the familiar elements that make it vibrant and exciting for every age group."
The Pirates of the Caribbean additions are one part of the "Happiest Celebration on Earth," an 18-month salute (continuing through 2006) to 50 years of Disney park magic around the globe that started with the opening of Walt Disney's original park, Disneyland, in 1955.
http://www.mickeynews.com (http://www.mickeynews.com)
I almost came on here to rant about how they shouldn't change a classic, and that adding in characters from the film was wrong, but...
Keeping the ride up-to-date with new special effects and a big refurbishment is definately a good thing. Walt never wanted things to stand still, he always wanted everything to use the newest, most exciting technology, so overall this is probably a good thing for the American parks. I still think using characters from the films isn't the best idea though - it's best to keep the films and attractions seperate.
I also hope that the Paris POTC is saved from these new animatronics. Since our attraction was built less than 15 years ago, it doesn't really need an update yet, and I think it works much better without any influence from the film. If they want to add POTC characters to DLP, then they should retheme some parts of Adventure Isle - maybe give some life to those dingy caves and perhaps a few AAs too? :)
4 February 2006: Storyline and more details about the Pirates of the Caribbean enhancements
A crew of plundering and pillaging pirates, now lead by Barbossa, attack a Caribbean seaport town and sets it ablaze in a wild night of reverlry. We will also learn the motive behind the attack: They're in search of their old shipmate Captain Jack Sparrow, convinced he knows the location of a fabulous treasure.
In the enhanced attraction, Guest will come face-to-face with Captain Jack Sparrow and experience new special effects, including a ghostly apparition in a curtain of mist.
The attraction is scheduled to close March 1, 2006, with a tentative open date of July 7, 2006, just in time for the opening of the new second film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" that opens in theatres nationwide.
from http://www.wdwmagic.com (http://www.wdwmagic.com)
Some pics of the outside of potc:
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/pirateca12.jpg)
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/pirateca11petit.jpg)
http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=72 (http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=72)
Here is some concept art for WDW's POTC:
This is going to be the new entrance
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/WDW/MK/pirates/concept/POTCrehabpetit.jpg)
And here is Captain Barbossa's ship
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/WDW/MK/pirates/concept/POTCrehab2petit.jpg)
http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=85 (http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=85)
Looks like the Imagineers still like the Paris park then, the new entrance looks like a scaled-down version of ours! :D I'm surprised they're changing the entrance though to be honest, and I really hope Disneyland's entrance stays the same.
That sign will look completely out of place. :? Although the facade could use something so that you wouldn't walk by the ride without noticing it (like I did with most rides over there :lol: )
All Lutz at Miceage.com found out what the new storyline will be and shares them on his site here:
http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al053006a.htm (http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al053006a.htm)
Very interesting article, thanks! :D
It's funny that he seems worried WDW won't be able to find any suitable Jack Sparrows for the live character... hopefully DLRP have got some good look-alikes lined up! :?
I hope that DLRP *do* get the extra movie details and animatronics now, and that they follow Disneyland's lead by going all-out on a big Pirates celebration for the 15th Anniversary and the release of the 3rd film next Summer...
:arrow: There are four new pieces of artwork available here: //http://p104.ezboard.com/ftellnotalesfrm10.showMessage?topicID=87.topic
It looks good to me. Davy Jones appearing in the waterfall reminds me a bit of Mufasa in The Legend of the Lion King... :lol: I guess it's also likely to be similar to the effects in the three upcoming Nemo attractions. Imagineering really are obsessed with projections now, aren't they?
Quote from: "Baloo":
It looks good to me. Davy Jones appearing in the waterfall reminds me a bit of Mufasa in The Legend of the Lion King...
remins me of the same thig lol
Wow, that looks really exciting!
The official site for the POTC refurbs :wink:
http://www.disneyparkpirates.com/ (http://www.disneyparkpirates.com/)
Cool. Thanks for pointing that out!
thx raptor this is real cool cos i need to type up a pirate poem!
Captain Jack has arrived me harties!
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/aafigures/sparrowdlr02petit.jpg)
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/aafigures/sparrowdlr04petit.jpg)
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/aafigures/sparrowdlr05petit.jpg)(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/aafigures/sparrowdlr01petit.jpg)
http://www.dlrp.fr/actularge.php?id=678 (http://www.dlrp.fr/actularge.php?id=678)
wow cool looks exactly like Johnny Depp
i like the new dog as well
Looks far far better than I expected! I'd like to see how he looks when he's moving though - from those photos he looks more like a wax work than an animatronic, I hope the movements are good....
Saw some footages at the webast of POTC DeadMan's Chest Premiere and it's awesome, the movments looks so real, yet not out of place with the classic Marc Davis characters! Great!
Thanks for the tip, just headed over to http://www.msnvideo.com (http://www.msnvideo.com) myself, and it's amazing - their coverage is fantastic (considering it's msn - I'm guessing Disney had a lot of involvement in it), and Jack Sparrow looks AWESOME! I *really* hope we get this for the 15th anniversary now.
The footage of Johnny Depp with Jack Sparrow was cool, and I like how much emphasis they're putting on the attraction. It's obviously all a massive marketing stunt, but I love it! :D
Hopefully they will bring this upgrade next year during the 15th Anniversary to Paris. The audio-animatronics seem really well done. Besides that, I like the small additions like the use of the soundtrack in one part of the attraction and the Davy Jones projection. I can't wait to see this in Paris too. WDI did this upgrade tastefully, and I am glad they kept the spirit of the attraction.
Let's be honest, this whole upgrade is a move of the Walt Disney Company to earn more money out of the popularity of the movies and Jack Sparrow. But in the meantime, a lot of visitors expect to see Sparrow in the attraction. Many seem to be confused that the ride isn't the same as the movie... so to all those Disney-purists; I guess that Walt would have done the same thing (maybe even earlier) to meet the demand of the guests. I am aware that some people won't even notice the lack of Sparrow, but well... I think they wouldn't bother either if there are 4 animatronics more.
Here are some new pics of the california version of the ride and some videos:
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/onride/sparrowaa01petit.jpg)
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/onride/sparrowaa08petit.jpg)
(//http://www.dlrp.fr/news/upload/us/DLR/MK/pirates/onride/sparrowaa29petit.jpg)
http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=122 (http://www.dlrp.fr/actulargeus.php?id=122)
*grumbles at someone using a flash in POTC*
But wow, that Davy Jones effect is very nicely done! I didn't realise it'd be a vapour/steam kinda waterfall that your boat would actually pass through - nice idea! :D
I got to ride Pirates yesterday!!!
Word spreat quickly, that they had opened the ride almost a week early in anticipation of high crowds during the holiday weekend. So, I went to the Magic Kingdom last night after training, ran into a few colleagues and off we were seekin' adventures and salty ole pirates!
Let me be straight: this is still WDW's "Pirates" with all its shortcomings... But the new additions have been see skill- and tastefully incorparted into the ride that they blew pretty much everyone away. (Literally: the updated canon-effects actually managed to blow the mouse ears right off a colleague's head :wink: )
First the "Davy Jones Curtain" that you pass under, while he welcomes you to the world of Pirates. Then there's Barbossa attacking the fort... I thought this scene was overall a bit week, because I didn't get at the point why this was supposed to be Barbossa... and I'm not sure if I like their use of the movie score right here...
Then things go on as usual and you pass the "Dunking the Mayor"-scene... but something is different... and then you see him: Captain Jack Sparrow!!! I really can't praise this work of AA-technology enough. Jack looks so incredibly life-like! The best human-AA I've ever seen. His looks, his movements, even his skin are looking so real. On both rides I took last night, people were wondering aloud that this just had to be a real actor and not just a robot... You pass Jack once again hidden in that barrel - and again his movements are so Johnny Depp. Amazing.
But the real piece de resistance is the final scene in the treasure room... Jack Sparrow in there... Wow... just wow... I have never ever seen any robot as lifelike as this. This *is* Jack Sparrow. No doubt about it.
In short: it's still WDW's Pirates, but the new additions are nothing short of amazing!