Disneyland Pirates Rehab News

[Sarangel]

Here's what MiceAge says is likely to happen during the Pirates of the Carribean rehab in Disneyland (rumored to be happening spring of 2006):

What's also been officially thrown into that marketing mix is the revamped Pirates of the Caribbean. While a few websites have mentioned rumors of a "Pirates of the Scare-ibbean" version of the ride, that's not what Imagineering (WDI) currently has planned for Disneyland's version. Instead, Disneyland's Pirates will be getting a movie makeover with a scope more like the 1997 rehab that added several new figures and became infamous as the embarrassing attempt to make the pirates more politically correct.

A new Johnny Depp animatronic will show up in several of the ride's most iconic scenes, even adding dialogue to the dunking of the mayor. A Barbarosa figure will also be added, and his morphing skeleton effect is said to be quite impressive. Many props from the movie will be added to the ride's sets, there will be newly digitized audio tracks and some modern upgrades to the circa-1967 special effects. Hopefully the positive vibes about this project leaking out of WDI mean next Spring's update to the 40-year-old attraction will not only keep the original's spirit intact, but make it fresher and more relevant to 21st century audiences.

 

[Peter Pirate]

Great! I may have to reschedule a DL trip when/if this is done!

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Just got back from WDW and they too are also going to be refurbing Pirates adding Johnny Depp and those you mentioned. They also are going to be adding a Black Pearl replica as well. They want both rides to open when the sequel comes out next summer. Should be pretty cool!!



"When are we going back again.........."

 

[raidermatt]

I'm really trying to get behind this. I'm all for the general updating of the effects. Should have happened long ago, and I can't help but ask why it took a hit movie to make it happen? There was even a plan to do some updates (along with 4 of the other "classic attractions") for the 50th that was axed.

Still, DL's pirates is still darn popular, and doesn't appear to "need" anything to make it relevant to 21st century audiences.

If the movie updates are done well, it could be a plus, though. I just can't help but look at the "mixed" results with other movie inspired updates, like The Tiki Room Under New Management and Stitch's Escape, and wonder how this will turn out.

On a related note, Disney has had issues before with paying actors to use their movie likeness in the rides, the best example of which is Harrison Ford's absence from the DL Indy ride.

Anyone know if such issues with Pirates have been worked out?

 

[mrp4352]

On a related note, Disney has had issues before with paying actors to use their movie likeness in the rides, the best example of which is Harrison Ford's absence from the DL Indy ride.

[/h QUOTE]

I thought I remembered Indy telling me, "You had to look, didn't you" at the beginning and "Not too bad, for a beginner" at the end of the ride.

Also, if I remember right, he's in the snake room of the Great Movie Ride at MGM...

But, back to topic at hand. I think they could very easily update Pirates to include references to the movie and still keep the heart of it. I think Walt would prefer things to keep growing and changing, rather than have a stagnate 1950's era park.

 

[Moobooks]

I'm sure they had to pay Harrison Ford plenty to use his likeness in the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland--not only is he there, but a voice double is there.
What was really odd, however, was that at the Indiana Jones Adventure 10th anniversary merchandise event last March, there was NOTHING, not a single piece of merchandise, with Indiana Jones's image on it. ZERO. Everything was Mara and the Fab 4.
Indy without the Indy--it was kind of sad.

 

[Sarangel]

Actually, if you look closely, you'll notice that it's *NOT* Harrison Ford's face. They used a similar voice and made the face similar, but Harrison Ford is not part of the Disneyland Ride.

Sarangel

 

[Moobooks]

Really? I just thought it was a not-very-accurate sculpt of his face. It looks quite a bit like him, certainly as close as many of the sculpts in The Great Movie Ride look like the stars they are supposed to portray.

 

[YoHo]

For the Record, Ford offered to do the voice and the Likeness for Scale and Disney turne dhim down.

Given the back end that Depp has on the PotC movies, putting him in the ride would mean sending some hefty pay checks his way. I'd be utterly shocked if it happened..


Further, POTC at DL got some FX updates prior to Summer. Hopefully it will get more.

 

[dzneelvr]

I spoke with a friend who lives in Celebration and stays plugged into WDW about POTC. He says they are going to do some rehab with the characters but will be open for summer of 2006 to coincide with the movie's premier. I was sooooo happy to hear that couldn't imagine going to WDW and not being able to do POTC.
I agree with the posters about not changing this attraction too much. I absolutely hate what they did with the Tiki Birds--the preview where you wait is fun, but Iago's "starring role" in the main show is very abrasive and takes away from the traditional music. Sure wish they's cycle it back some year.