Poor effort by WDI on Pirates of the Caribbean

[west_coast_news]

Please note that everything I am about to mention is out of love of the attraction and not at all meant to be mean in any way. After reviewing all the enhancements to Pirates both in Ca. and in Fla., I feel in general it was a very very lazy job. Yes three Jack Sparrows have gone in. Barbossa is now the captain of the Wench. We now have Davy in the cavern section(a technology not even developed by WDI) and the sound and music have been improved. The simple fact is that this was the first extreme make over to the attraction in almost 40 years. Was this all Imagineering had to offer. I am not saying they should have changed it more, but it seems they really could have improved many things that they decided to leave alone. Many may disagree with me, but I guess I have a very high expectation of what WDI can do. With this attraction being closed for the fist time like it was, they REALLY missed out on a chance to do something fantastic.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I think what they have done is fantastic. The misting effect is brilliant and the Jack Sparrows are so lifelike.
I do agree they could have done a lot more to the attraction, but I think that the reason for not changing more things was because this is an old favourite. They would've been bound to get a lot of complaints from upset guests for changing things too much. I think they've added what they can to make people happy, but at the same time, not upset guests who love the original features.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I feel in general it was a very very lazy job.

It's a matter of money. WDI does not have an unlimited checkbook. The senior management of Disney's Parks and Resorts sector, with the blessing of Disney's senior executives, approved a budget for a movie character overlay at the Pirates of the caribbean rides in California and Florida. If the budget had been ten times as much, the Imagineers at WDI (and their subcontractors) could have done ten times as much.

Accusing WDI of "a very very lazy job" shows a lack of understanding of what WDI's role is.

We now have Davy in the cavern section(a technology not even developed by WDI) and the sound and music have been improved.

Does it really matter what company developed the technology? If WDI could only use WDI-developed technology, WDI could not use computers, sound systems, or even light bulbs developed by other companies.

What matters is how the technology is used and what the guests experience. By that measure, the Davy Jones mist projection is a very cool effect, and it's placed in the perfect spot in the ride.

It's great that so much else was done to improve the audio and the lighting. The whole attraction is now in much better shape than before.

 

[west_coast_news]

Horace

I agree with you and withdraw my comment when I made reference to WDI using Fogscreen for the mist effect. You are right. But in regards to budget, there were things they could have done that would not have been that expensive at all. You are right in regards to sound and lighting. They improved it greatly. The part that was lazy to me was the creativity they used. Like I said, there are things they could have done that they did not do. Ecspecially in Florida.

 

[mitros]

Well, I like the Davy "fog effect", but somehow I also thought there would be a little something more then the 3 or 4 new animitronics. By the way, what type of technology is that fog screen, and who did develope it? Don't get me wrong, I still love the ride like I do most everything Disney.........

Hey, you did not have to withdraw any of your comments. After all, you are allowed to make them.

 

[DVCconvert]

It's a matter of money. WDI does not have an unlimited checkbook. The senior management of Disney's Parks and Resorts sector, with the blessing of Disney's senior executives, approved a budget for a movie character overlay at the Pirates of the caribbean rides in California and Florida. If the budget had been ten times as much, the Imagineers at WDI (and their subcontractors) could have done ten times as much.

Accusing WDI of "a very very lazy job" shows a lack of understanding of what WDI's role is.

--->Horace is correct....thank you for recognizing that West coast

 

[SplshMtnLvr28]

I agree, WDI doesn't have a magical Disney-themed money tree.

But I've been wondering... How long are they keeping the Jack Sparrow and Barbossa audio-animatronics going to be kept in the attraction?

 

[ChrisFL]

Heh,

I bet they could have done a big change to the attraction overall, but if you've seen any of the NUMEROUS threads about it on these boards, they probably did the right thing. They updated the ride without it losing the classic character of it, which means that a lot of Disney fans didnt have much to worry about.

Disney's recent "enhancements" or changes to rides and shows have not gone over well (See: Alien Encounter going to Stitch and Journey into Imagination's various changes) so they're already treading in dangerous territory by even mentioning the fact that they were going to update the ride in places

So basically yes they could have completely changed everything but I seriously dont believe they would ever do that to such a popular attraction.

 

[Disneybag]

I think the quality of what they have done is very good. However, that's not necessarily a positive for the ride as a whole. The rest of the animatronics look like dinosaurs compared to the Sparrows. The Sparrows are SO lifelike and SO fluid in their movement that they really stick out. I could do without Davy Jones in the waterfall, but the waterfall effect itself is pretty impressive. They can't please everyone on this and I realize that. I just wish they would have only made changes to one of the parks. Now, we can't go anywhere and have the original Pirates ride. They got rid of Mr. Toad here in FL. That's ok, they still have it in CA...same with Tiki Room, etc. I think they made a mistake in changing both parks. If something happens à la Capt. Nemo, they now have more cleaning up to do... But what do I know?

 

[fabshelly]

It didn't wow me, but my daughter loved him...I mean IT!

 

[Ariel Mae]

Okay, the question is this: Why turn something that was wonderful and lasting into something that will fade with the coming years? The storyline of the original "Pirates" stuck with people, passed through the generations, but the movie can only last so long.

 

[ChrisFL]

Okay, the question is this: Why turn something that was wonderful and lasting into something that will fade with the coming years? The storyline of the original "Pirates" stuck with people, passed through the generations, but the movie can only last so long.

well they didnt actually change much of the story...I mean if you never saw the movies, you'd still get a pretty good idea of whats happening in the ride.

Anyway, I think with the sales so far on both movies that Disney feels like it has a new classic, just like any of the movies they did decades ago. What would make this one any different?

 

[dzneelvr]

We were lucky enough to see it in July during the "soft opening". and were not "wowed" by it either; however, it was so nice to see everything cleaned up, colors enhanced and generally looking fresher. The only issue I posted then was that the audio remained garbled in sections of the ride. That was a huge disappointment and one I hope they address.

 

[rocketriter]

I remember that before the ride reopened, the boards were throbbing with people who didn't want WDI to change a thing. Now they're in trouble for not changing enough?

 

[mitros]

I remember that before the ride reopened, the boards were throbbing with people who didn't want WDI to change a thing. Now they're in trouble for not changing enough?

Hey, you know how it is, ya' can't please everybody.....

 

[buckylarue]

Hey, I know...they could put Stitch in there!

 

[disneycutie84]

Hey, I know...they could put Stitch in there!

 

[raidermatt]

I remember that before the ride reopened, the boards were throbbing with people who didn't want WDI to change a thing. Now they're in trouble for not changing enough?

Most of those probably aren't the same people.

Personally, I was all for updated effects and such. As it stands, the mist effect is neat, but the other changes not only don't add anything to the story, but they actually confuse it.

But the Captain Jack animatronics themselves are pretty well done, except for the voiceover at that end.

Hey, I know...they could put Stitch in there!

Or the Princesses... You know, put a little makeover boutique over the auction scene. Or put the princesses INTO the auction scene.

Straight money.