Originally Posted By xrayvision I've ridden POTC at MK several times since the last attraction renovation. It wasn't until my most recent ride on POTC that I realized the talking skull was missing. I vaguely remember seeing a post or thread about the skull possibly being removed. I'm just surprised that it's actually gone as it's a classic part of the ride that is still used in POTC's gift shop merchandise, like T-shirts. I know that I can still see the talking skull on DL's POTC; but, I'm still sad that it's no longer in the MK version (at least for now). Does anyone know if it's coming back?
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 They removed the Jolly Roger when they added Davy Jones. Sadly I don't belive they are going to bring him back. When I was was in kid that is what I remember dthe most you would see the Jolly Roger then drop.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I'm just surprised that it's actually gone as it's a classic part of the ride<<< Not that I'm the most alert of people but I'm afraid that this particular "classic" has been missed by me since the beginning of time. Where was it? What did it say? Did it look you in the eye when talking? Oh, wait! I guess we wouldn't know that would we?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Here's what it said (and still says at DL, TDL, and DLP): >>Psst! Avast there! It be too late to alter course, mateys. And there be plundering pirates lurkin' in ev'ry cove, waitin' to board. Sit closer together and keep your ruddy hands in board. That be the best way to repel boarders. And mark well me words, mateys: Dead men tell no tales! Ye come seekin' adventure with salty old pirates, eh? Sure you've come to the proper place. But keep a weather eye open mates, and hold on tight. With both hands, if you please. Thar be squalls ahead, and Davy Jones waiting for them that don't obey.<< And I'm having trouble finding a photo of what it looked like in WDW. Here's a shot of it in the caves at DLP, which is similar, but I remember the WDW version having more of a blacklight look to it. <a href="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/19/94905913_81ff8189a7_z.jpg?zz=1" target="_blank">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/...jpg?zz=1</a>
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well, shiver me timbers. After all these years I have absolutely no recollection of the skull. Whoda thunk it?
Originally Posted By disney pete Your not alone Goofy i cant remember seeing it either,wish the was a pic or video of it.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom With 1/2 a PoTC at WDW, I'm saddened more by the absence of half a ride more so than the talking skull. Needless to say the first time I rode PoTC at DL my jaw dropped! They certainly went skimpy on the WDW version.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I CERTAINLY always noticed the talking skull and thought it was a great intro to the ride. Didn't think the DL version was that much better though... just longer.
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne I have t been to WDW but the skulls kind of the start of everything at DL.. It seems like an odd thing to take out..
Originally Posted By tashajilek "Didn't think the DL version was that much better though... just longer." Huh??? you cant be serious?? The nice ride past the Blue bayou, the treasure scene which is one of my favorites. How could it not be better? In fact when i visited WDW i refused to go on POTC twice. I understand some people like WDW or DL better, but doesnt mean everything at one park is better. I really wish DL had the MK's version of the HM, i would be really happy!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Huh??? you cant be serious?? The nice ride past the Blue bayou, the treasure scene which is one of my favorites. How could it not be better? In fact when i visited WDW i refused to go on POTC twice. I understand some people like WDW or DL better, but doesnt mean everything at one park is better. I really wish DL had the MK's version of the HM, i would be really happy!>> Overall I prefer DL to the MK.. especially because of the greater number of attractions in Fantasyland. I just didn't find Pirates to be that much of a better experience. The opening Blue Bayou scene is pretty, but kind of led to a WTF feeling. How do you suddenly go from a Louisiana swamp to the Caribbean? DL has an extra drop or two, but the drops in PotC aren't that big a deal anyway. As for the rest of the ride, more is not always better. Sometimes it is just more. Although I will certainly give the nod to DL for longer duration, I don't know that my enjoyment of their Pirates is any different from that of the one in the MK.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I grew up riding 'Pirates' at Disneyland, and when I finally got to WDW in college, I must say I was quite taken aback by the 'abridged' version of the ride. The transitions at Disneyland -- the slow moving ride through the Louisiana bayou past The Blue Bayou and then at the end, the exit up the waterfall, and back to the load/unload -- definitely makes for a richer experience overall. I also prefer Disneyland's final sequence with the pirates shooting at the barrels of dynamite overhead. The end scene at WDW, is to the left of the boat. Then -- zoom, zoom, zoom on the speed belt -- and you're done. good bye.
Originally Posted By tashajilek ^^ I guess not everyone appreciates a longer ride? i just like to be able to take a nice break and be able to relax for a bit.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: There's no question that Disneyland's version of Pirates of the Caribbean is much better than Disney World's. This fact might be lost on some because they aren't particularly fond of the attraction to begin with. But 99 percent of the people we have talked to about this also prefer California's version to Florida's.
Originally Posted By Bellella Can't see why they'd take that out. They were able to keep it when they added the over-exploited characters to the DL POTC ride. That talking skull always filled me with a sense of anticipation and a bit of nervousness right before we went down that dark tunnel and down that waterfall. Anyway, sorry you guys had to lose yours.
Originally Posted By The Duck The skull was removed when Jack Sparrow & Co. were added in 2006 and he differed from the DLR version in many ways. Instead of a hat, he wore a bandana around his head. He also had crossed bones underneath instead of crossed swords. While the WDW skull was mounted on bare rock walls, the DLR skull is mounted on a banner. The biggest difference was that the WDW skull had one (sometimes two) eyeballs staring out of his eye sockets which scared little kids. He also spoke in a more stereotypical pirate voice than the original version with X. Atencio. Also, the WDW skull was on the left side of the boat while the DLR skull is directly overhead on the brick arch. Another difference since the Jack Sparrow refurb is that the drop has been in total darkness where it used to be dimly lit. My last visit was this past February and I noticed that the area where the skull used to be now seems to have a little more light than before.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Bellela, they took it out to add the Davy Jones waterfall/mist screen effect. In the longer DL version of the attraction, there had always been the long dark hallway without anything going on. In WDW, that space just didn't exist, so they had to put the new effect where there was space. Which meant getting rid of the talking skull. Personally, I always thought that the WDW version looked like something out of a cartoon and didn't really fit the overall feel of the attraction; I don't know if Davy Jones is any better, but it's not any worse.
Originally Posted By Brian55nh I'm going to have to correct you on that, Ferretafros. I just checked one of a couple of videos I took of POTC on my last trip to WDW in 2008 - The WDW Davy Jones business actually makes its appearance when we're in the caverns nearly at the start before we even get to the skeletons and drop.
Originally Posted By Bellella Eyeballs in a skeleton head? Uber-creepy!! Thanks for the info. Interesting, since I've never been on WDW's POTC. BTW, I actually preferred X Atencio's voice in the skull, and the long tunnel with the mention of the "cursed treasure." Now it's all just "dead men tell no tales" over and over before you see an image on the mist screen.
