Originally Posted By leemac 02 February 2006 CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW TO JOIN THE AUDIO-ANIMATRONICS CREW OF DISNEY’S PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN ATTRACTION Classic Attraction in California and Florida Adding New Characters Inspired by Hit Film Franchise Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ANAHEIM, Calif. / ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2006) - - 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.
Originally Posted By gaston lives That's cool. I'll have to go and check it out, now. too bad we couldn't get: 1) A keira knightly AA...scantily clad...maybe in the auction scene 2) The ORIGNAL auction scene and the men chasing women, put in all the sexist stuff, it's better that way!
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Prediction: Within hours of opening, there will be a pile of panties that women have thrown at Captain Jack.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Pass the burf bag please.. While I am for Disney improving the show quality with better AA's, lighting, sound, set props and what have you.. I am very much disgusted by Disney turning every freaking ride in the park into one big commercial for every movie they need to pitch. It's just wrong, concidering it was the *original* POTC ride that inspired the Depp movies. Thumbs down from me.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo >>I am very much disgusted by Disney turning every freaking ride in the park into one big commercial for every movie they need to pitch.>> Yeah, like Pinocchio! And Snow White! And Peter Pan! And Alice in Wonderland! When will it end!?
Originally Posted By sherrytodd So are they putting multiple Captain Jacks in or will they just be adding one? I don't want him popping up in every scene, but I don't mind if he's stuck in the ride somewhere.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo >>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 >> Sounds like more than one to me.
Originally Posted By bloona oh it's going to be closed when I go!!!!!! I had at the back of my mind that it would be, but kept checking the rehabs list and was pleased it was not on there! Now did I read before it would be, or have I just made a spoooooky prediction that came true? Cross. Never mind improving the area for my future enjoyement nonsense....I want it opened specially please, I want everything open!!!!...lol Right going to break the news to my sons now,they love it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Yeah, like Pinocchio! And Snow White! And Peter Pan! And Alice in Wonderland! When will it end!?<< Those films you mention were the inspiration for DL, that for sure, but does everything in that park, especially the classic E-Ticket rides, have to be retrofitted to pitch new movies that have not proven their staying power yet? Isn't it bad enough everything they do now has the Pixar stamp all over it? and most importantly... does everything they do must be based on a film from the studio? What film inspired Everest?? Or IASW? That's my point.
Originally Posted By CTXRover I'm hoping this "enhancement" goes over well. I'm most interested in what type of new special effects they may use. Its sounds like the ride itself is staying pretty much the same with a few Jack Sparrow and Barbossa AA's here and there. I'm all for it, as long as it doesn't take away from the original feel and look of either ride (in FL or CA). Its definetely something many guests are looking for in the Pirates ride nowadays. I'd say almost every time I go on the ride, at some point, I overhear someone who either is looking forward to seeing Sparrow or Barbossa in the ride or at the end were wondering where they were. The movies have really generated a new interest in the ride and for an entirely new generation, the movie WAS there first experience with the POTC story and so there is that expectation that the main characters the came to know would be present somewhere in the ride. It just better not come across tacky.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Have a feeling that the ship/fort scene will now be taken over by Barbossa.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo I understand your point. I'm one of about 3 people on the planet who cannot stand HMH. Completely stupid annoying movie messing up the Haunted Mansion. But I would argue that the POTC movie was a huge blockbuster with immense appeal to the younger crowd. They're going to grow up and bring their kids to DL with the same kind of fond nostalgia our parents did. The movie is likely to have a fan base for quite some time. So to answer your first question; NO, not everything in the park should be retrofit. However, in this case it's more of a merging of congruent themes and is appropriate. HMH = blech, POTC meets POTC works for me. I don't know about Everest, but IASW is based on the characters in a short. Someone else will know the details; they were children singing Christmas carols. I would argue the other direction, in fact - that attractions without a Disney tie in are too generic for my taste. If I want a boring park without coherent theming, I can go down the street to Great America.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo My only worry is that the script will change and we'll lose some old favorite dialogue. They can add some new lines, but I'll miss any they remove.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <but IASW is based on the characters in a short. Someone else will know the details; they were children singing Christmas carols.> Don't recall this backstory, 2/3. I always think it's great when an existing attraction is enhanced. I mean, what the heck?
Originally Posted By threeundertwo The small world children were based on the Christmas characters in the 3 Caballeros.
Originally Posted By alisserae That was horrible spelling. I'll draw the line when they add Eddie Murphy to Haunted Mansion.
Originally Posted By koobar Arrrrgh!-ren't you glad this is happening? i can't wait to see captain davy jones in his barnacly glory.
Originally Posted By RobinsonCrusoeEsq The children in IASW were not based on the Posadas children in Caballeros. The kids in Caballeros, as well as those in the boat ride, were inspired by Mary Blair drawings. The kids just look similar, because that was Blair's style. Also note the Contemporary mural, the old Tomorrowland "World on the Move" murals, and just about anything else that she created which depicted what have become known as "Mary Blair kids."
