For those of you just back . . . any new word on a Pirates rehab?

[crzy4mk]

Just wondering if there was any new gossip in the parks about Pirates of the Caribbean closing down for rehab soon? Don't want it to be closed for our October trip! Anybody heard anything new recently?

 

[crzy4mk]

bumping for info

 

[minmate]

I thought I heard it was closing this summer! That's based only on my memory of what I've read here.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I thought (hoped) it was just a rumor. Surely they wouldn't close it over the summer...they're busiest months!

 

[danny1649]

About this

 

[DonnaDuck]

bumping this up...

We are going in January. I am also hoping that it will not be closed then. Anyone heard for definate?

 

[DebbieB]

From screamscape.com:

2006 - Pirates Rehab - (2/16/05) Lately there has been all kinds of speculation about what kind of rehabs Disney may be thinking of doing to Pirates, both in California and in Florida to add tie ins to the Pirates movies. So much so that I think it’s gotten to the point where just about every blue sky idea has grown legs and went running in different directions. The latest rumors for the Florida version talk about adding several new animatronic figures in addition to Captain Jack Sparrow, but also a dramatic change to the the ride itself. The rumor claims that the loading station and queue will be reconfigured to allow for it to load two boats at once from the same side and allow for riders to exit at the same time from the right side platform where they will likely make a new exit out into the shopping area. So what this really means is that the ride would be extended to add a new scene where the boats used to exit and then allow the riders to go with the boats back up the lift hill to the top. Again... this is all the way that it’s done on the Disneyland version of the ride and certainly in general I think it may be possible. I’ve never ridden up the lift as is right now, so I don’t know if there are any access or height issues on the lift. That said, I think the main issue to contend with may be the lift itself... because adding the increased weight from several loaded boats to a lift that most likely was not designed with this purpose in mind may just be too much for it and require a major overhaul. Of course, this could all just be blue sky dreaming and nothing more...
(1/19/05) According to an update on Jim Hill Media, there are plans to add a Captain Jack Sparrow animatronic figure to Pirates when it goes down for a lengthy rehab and reopens in Spring 2006.

 

[TuppenceABag]

Does this mean we can expect an Eddie Murphy to be added to the Haunted Mansion? Who comes up with these lame ideas?

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm hoping this isn't true... why would they do it during their big celebration?

 

[SnackyStacky]

Does this mean we can expect an Eddie Murphy to be added to the Haunted Mansion? Who comes up with these lame ideas?

The difference between the two is that Pirates was successful.

I don't know how true it is, but Jim Hill ran a story that said because Pirates was so successful, LOTS of non-veteran Disney World visitors got a little peeved when they got off the ride, and hadn't seen Jack Sparrow.

While I don't want to miss pirates, and don't want it to go down for rehab - I don't really care if they add a Sparrow animatronic. I don't think it'll hurt the ride.