POTC Refurb?

[CJK]

I continue to hear about a possible POTC refurb. Has there been any confirmation on when this will happen? I'd love to know if it will still be open or not in August so I can prepare the kids!

 

[dani0622]

I posted something below in regards. I went on a tour last week and the CM said there is a rumor it is going to be going under rehab for 1-2 years to include more movie elements but didn't say when.

 

[WDWdad2]

WDW best not close PotC during the Celebration, lest DD2-1/2 and I be forced to commit acts of piracy during our raid on the Kingdom this July!

All kidding aside, DW and DD11 would also be disappointed. When we told DD2-1/2 we were going back to Disney (we went last July), she was excited that we were going back to see "Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, and the pirates!"

Any new/current information is appreciated, DIS!

Me: "How does a pirate go?"
DD2-1/2: "ARRRRGH!"

 

[hawkrn]

the sequel to POTC ("Dead Man's Chest) is being released 7/06 and the 3rd movie is due late 2006. Rumor has it that they are adding "Jack Sparrow" to the cast of pirates and that the world premiere of the sequel will be at WDW this time. So I would think they would have whatever they are doing to refurb the ride done by next July.

 

[YoHo]

A 2 year rehab scedule is absolutly insane unless the entire ride is leaking and broken which I don't think it is.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

The latest rumor that I've heard regarding this is that PotC will remain the same ride during the day. The ride will shut down for a bit at sundown & then at night, the ride will take it's normal path until the battle between the ship & fort. The boat will float to the left & through a dark channel. The boat will encounter Pirates suffering from the Curse (skeletal) & they'll be aware of the guests & trying to board the ship & other more interactive things. There will be other elements to reflect the sequel(s) as well.

That's a pretty lofty goal & it could be either really cool or really stupid. I guess we'll see how the funding & timelines work out or if this rumor is full of BS.

 

[tjkraz]

The latest rumor that I've heard regarding this is that PotC will remain the same ride during the day. The ride will shut down for a bit at sundown & then at night, the ride will take it's normal path until the battle between the ship & fort. The boat will float to the left & through a dark channel. The boat will encounter Pirates suffering from the Curse (skeletal) & they'll be aware of the guests & trying to board the ship & other more interactive things. There will be other elements to reflect the sequel(s) as well.

I think that rumor has been more associated with the Disneyland version, not WDW. I've never had the fortune to experience the DL version of POTC, but I've heard the ride building is laid-out differently. This proposed change would leverage real estate present in current DL attraction that was NOT included at WDW.

Check out this article:

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1263

With regard to other comments made here, I agree that 2 years is far too long. However, I thing it's feasible that POTC could close in the Fall '05 for a 8-9 month rehab, only to reopen just in time for the Summer '06 movie release. We were lucky enough to be at WDW just a week ago when the new celebration began, and it was great to see nearly every ride open (except WoL, Timekeeper) after all of the recent rehabs. But I wouldn't expect that trend to continue for the entire 18 months.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I think that rumor has been more associated with the Disneyland version, not WDW. I've never had the fortune to experience the DL version of POTC

While WDW's POTC has a better queue, everything else about DL's POTC is superior IMO.