Can anyone tell me if the drop in the Pirates of the Carribean ride is less steep?

[My Gal Minnie]

I seem to remember the drop in the Pirates of the Carribean ride being slightly more steeper before the refurbishment? Not that it's a huge drop or anything but just an observation of mine.

 

[christa112]

No, it is definately not your imagination I thought the same thing too. I went back in 91 and there was definately a bigger hill. I wish it was still there.

 

[WVParkfan]

Funny, I thought I was the only one who noticed that.

Perhaps the drop isn't different. But it sure felt much bigger the first time we were on POTC in 1998.

 

[OKW Lover]

It would require a major re-work of the entire building to change the drop in terms of height. Basically, all the load area is on one level (has to be since water will seek its on level), and everything after the drop in on another (lower) level. In order to make a bigger drop you'd have to either raise the load area or lower the ride-through area; neither of which could be done without major structural changes.

However, they could have made the drop steeper without changing much. But I seriously doubt they did.

 

[kakiegirl]

It actually seems to me that it is steeper since they rehabed it not scary steep but just a little more drop . It would be interesting to find out the facts. Does anyone know?

 

[Robo]

This wins as my favorite thread of the day.

 

[WVParkfan]

It would require a major re-work of the entire building to change the drop in terms of height.

I think the OP is saying that the drop is less steep now. Not more. I noticed it, too.

Glad we entertained Robo!

 

[BarbieGal457]

Wow I thought the same thing this January! When I first rode it back in the late 90s I was terrified by the drop. It was closed for refurb when I went in June of 06, but when I finally braved it again this January, I was braced for the worst, holding onto my two guy friends' knees, eyes shut tight..and..that was it?! It sure felt different!

 

[Mick&Minn]

Do you think it is just because we are used to the drop and
it doesnt seem as big

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

The drop is the same and the reason it is there is to take you into the main building of the ride which is on the other side of the railroad tracks. The drop is there so you can go under the tracks the same reason you walk down before walking back up in the line for space mountain.

 

[gingerfeathers]

Perhaps everyone went as children, when everything is a little bit scarier? Things never seem as death-defying when we're a little older.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

I thought you walked down before you went up in space mountain because you were in a circular space station.

 

[GalDisney]

<The drop is the same and the reason it is there is to take you into the main building of the ride which is on the other side of the railroad tracks.>>
This is the reason for the drops at Disneyland's POTC, not at the magic kingdom.

 

[OKW Lover]

The drop is the same and the reason it is there is to take you into the main building of the ride which is on the other side of the railroad tracks. The drop is there so you can go under the tracks the same reason you walk down before walking back up in the line for space mountain.

I wondered about this and took a look at the satellite imagery of the park on Google maps. It appears to me that the train tracks actually go around the back of the big POC show building so its not necessary for that reason. I think the reason there is a drop is a carry-over from the DL version where the show building is indeed "outside the berm". It also serves as a nice segue from the "today" part of floating through the grotto to the section where the tale is told.

 

[Robo]

I wondered about this and took a look at the satellite imagery of the park on Google maps. It appears to me that the train tracks actually go around the back of the big POC show building so its not necessary for that reason. I think the reason there is a drop is a carry-over from the DL version where the show building is indeed "outside the berm". It also serves as a nice segue from the "today" part of floating through the grotto to the section where the tale is told.

The show building would have to be several feet taller without the drop.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

I wondered about this and took a look at the satellite imagery of the park on Google maps. It appears to me that the train tracks actually go around the back of the big POC show building so its not necessary for that reason. I think the reason there is a drop is a carry-over from the DL version where the show building is indeed "outside the berm". It also serves as a nice segue from the "today" part of floating through the grotto to the section where the tale is told.

When looking at the sat image isn't there two buildings for the attraction? With the train going between them? Thats what I was always told and shown

 

[OKW Lover]

When looking at the sat image isn't there two buildings for the attraction? With the train going between them? Thats what I was always told and shown

Sounds like a perfect spot for one of Robo's maps.

 

[Robo]

Sounds like a perfect spot for one of Robo's maps.

I don't have it marked yet, but here's the area.

Looks to be two show buildings with a train tunnel between them.

But, I'm not SURE that the big building to the right of the train tunnel
is even a part of Pirates.
(I doubt that it is.)
That building MIGHT be for PARADE storage or some such thing.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Wow I thought the same thing this January! When I first rode it back in the late 90s I was terrified by the drop. It was closed for refurb when I went in June of 06, but when I finally braved it again this January, I was braced for the worst, holding onto my two guy friends' knees, eyes shut tight..and..that was it?! It sure felt different!

That's exactly it. When you don't expect something, it's always more intense. If you brace yourself, it won't seem as bad. Whenever you're not prepared for something, it's always a surprise. Kind of like when you go see a movie with really high expectations and it turns out to kind of suck but when you go see a movie that you don't really care about, you end up loving it. Does that make any sense?

 

[OKW Lover]

I don't have it marked yet, but here's the area.

Looks to be two show buildings with a train tunnel between them.

But, I'm not SURE that the big building to the right of the train tunnel
is even a part of Pirates.
(I doubt that it is.)
That building MIGHT be for PARADE storage or some such thing.

Great map. I guess I agree that there are indeed two show buildings with the train tracks running between them. No doubt that's the location of the drop.

FWIW, the DL version has two drops, but only one at WDW.