UKDEB
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From the Theme Park Rangers blog at the Orlando Sentinel (posted by Dewayne Bevil):
Alex Thompson of Chattanooga, Tenn., gets a new look from "master pirate" Aaron Williams Tuesday at the Pirates League, a makeover experience at Magic Kingdom. Photos by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel.
The Pirates League, a sort of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for swashbuckling, opens up shop Monday, June 29, at Magic Kingdom. The attraction, paired with the classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride, gives guests whole new buccaneer identities and looks -- for a price.
Disney has the pirate look down -- for humans and for buildings. The theming of the Pirates League area, snuggly set between the entrance and the gift shop/exit of the ride, is thorough and aborbing. Dan coleman, manager of merchandise operations, guided me through the outlet.
And of course, it has its own storyline. Captain Jack's crew has taken over the local office of the East India Trading Co. and installed their own haphazard decor. "Pirates didn't plan anything," notes Alex Caruthers of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Step one for guests is podium check-in outside the attraction, where they will see that pirates have altered the East India sign above the door. Folks enter the reception area, where they are greeted by a lot of "ahoys" (get used to the pirate-y jargon) and begin the process of getting a new pirate name through a roll of the dice.
The pirates' plundering is evident here as well: they've blasted a hole into the next room, where folks -- boys, girls and adults -- are seated to begin their makeoverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs. (Sorry.)
The main room is stacked with um, "borrowed" loot from the pirates. In every corner and cranny are chests of jewlry, pirate flags, armor, paintings, swords and silver goods -- all sorts of booty. There's big clunky furniture and historical references.
There are 10 chairs (more genteel types might call them salon chairs), but they are all different types and styles, representing various adventures by the pirates. They are flanked by cast members in pirate garb ready to transform customers ready to be inducted into the Pirates League.
The atmosphere is further enhanced by background music from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the second of the three Disney films in the series. Two "dragon cannon" film props from that movie can be seen as well -- one only from inside the dressing room.
There are three packages to purchase, ranging from $49.95 to $124.95. (Remember that the Magic Kingdom is the only Pirates League location, so theme-park admission is also required.) With these come options that include bandanas, "scars," fake stubble, swords, tattoos, darkened eye treatments and the ilk.
Three base pirate looks are offered: the cursed pirate (ghostly), Captain Jack (Johnny Depp-y) and Captain Hook (think very arched eyebrows).
Upon completion of the look, participants take the pirate oath ("Then you are officially in the Pirate League," Coleman says.) Next: Enter the secret chamber.
Let's not spoil that room, which is equally remarkable in its theming. Let's just say that certificates (with that pirate name) are given and the photo sounds awesome. Moody. "It feels a little more museum-like," Caruthers says. "We tried to re-create the candlelight look."
After the chamber, new League members are set onto other adventures in the Magic Kingdom with wishes of "Smooth Sailing."
Alex Thompson of Chattanooga, Tenn., gets a new look from "master pirate" Aaron Williams Tuesday at the Pirates League, a makeover experience at Magic Kingdom. Photos by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel.
The Pirates League, a sort of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for swashbuckling, opens up shop Monday, June 29, at Magic Kingdom. The attraction, paired with the classic Pirates of the Caribbean ride, gives guests whole new buccaneer identities and looks -- for a price.
Disney has the pirate look down -- for humans and for buildings. The theming of the Pirates League area, snuggly set between the entrance and the gift shop/exit of the ride, is thorough and aborbing. Dan coleman, manager of merchandise operations, guided me through the outlet.
And of course, it has its own storyline. Captain Jack's crew has taken over the local office of the East India Trading Co. and installed their own haphazard decor. "Pirates didn't plan anything," notes Alex Caruthers of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Step one for guests is podium check-in outside the attraction, where they will see that pirates have altered the East India sign above the door. Folks enter the reception area, where they are greeted by a lot of "ahoys" (get used to the pirate-y jargon) and begin the process of getting a new pirate name through a roll of the dice.
The pirates' plundering is evident here as well: they've blasted a hole into the next room, where folks -- boys, girls and adults -- are seated to begin their makeoverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs. (Sorry.)
The main room is stacked with um, "borrowed" loot from the pirates. In every corner and cranny are chests of jewlry, pirate flags, armor, paintings, swords and silver goods -- all sorts of booty. There's big clunky furniture and historical references.
There are 10 chairs (more genteel types might call them salon chairs), but they are all different types and styles, representing various adventures by the pirates. They are flanked by cast members in pirate garb ready to transform customers ready to be inducted into the Pirates League.
The atmosphere is further enhanced by background music from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the second of the three Disney films in the series. Two "dragon cannon" film props from that movie can be seen as well -- one only from inside the dressing room.
There are three packages to purchase, ranging from $49.95 to $124.95. (Remember that the Magic Kingdom is the only Pirates League location, so theme-park admission is also required.) With these come options that include bandanas, "scars," fake stubble, swords, tattoos, darkened eye treatments and the ilk.
Three base pirate looks are offered: the cursed pirate (ghostly), Captain Jack (Johnny Depp-y) and Captain Hook (think very arched eyebrows).
Upon completion of the look, participants take the pirate oath ("Then you are officially in the Pirate League," Coleman says.) Next: Enter the secret chamber.
Let's not spoil that room, which is equally remarkable in its theming. Let's just say that certificates (with that pirate name) are given and the photo sounds awesome. Moody. "It feels a little more museum-like," Caruthers says. "We tried to re-create the candlelight look."
After the chamber, new League members are set onto other adventures in the Magic Kingdom with wishes of "Smooth Sailing."
I bet this will be popular 
