| Pirates of the Caribbean makeover 2006 |
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10 July 2006: Pirates included on the monorail spiel
The new Pirates of the Caribbean featuring Jack Sparrow is now mentioned on the monorail spiel.
7 July 2006: Pirates officially reopens
Pirates of the Caribbean officially reopened this
morning at 9am with regular park opening. No opening ceremony was
available for guests.
The queues had reached over an hour in length, and tailed all the
way back to the Swiss Family Treehouse by around 9:30am.
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2 July 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean reopening report
For a detailed report on the reopened attraction,
visit
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=78272
30 June 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean soft opening
There is the possibility of a Pirates of the Caribbean soft opening today. Remember though, it isn't confirmed, so don't specifically plan around it.
27 June 2006: New concept art from Pirates of the Caribbean
In this artist's rendering, Jack Sparrow makes his first appearance
before Walt Disney World guests in the Pirates of the Caribbean
attraction, lurking behind a dress maker's form.
©2006 Disney Enterprises
In this artist's rendering of the Walt Disney World treasure scene,
Jack Sparrow discovers the hidden treasure in his final appearance
in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
©2006 Disney Enterprises
In this artist’s rendering of the Pirates of the Caribbean
attraction, the ghostly Davy Jones from the second film in the
series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, materializes
before Walt Disney World guests in a waterfall.
©2006 Disney Enterprises
26 June 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean parade float spotted
A Pirates of the Caribbean parade float has been spotted backstage. There is no confirmation what this will be used for, but based on previous usage, it may well be for a Magic Kingdom pre-parade, featuring Captain Jack Sparrow.
26 June 2006: Soft opening date update
Pirates of the Caribbean is still looking at a possible July 1 soft opening. However, as with all previews and soft openings, this may change, so do not plan a trip around preview dates.
16 June 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean reopening schedule
The latest information regarding the reopening of Pirates is as follows. However, please remember that at this point none of this is officially confirmed, so please do not plan trips around these dates until they are confirmed.
Re-training of cast is currently set to run during June 27 - June 28. There is then a possibility of a cast preview on Thursday 29 June, with a possible guest soft-opening date on Saturday July 1, just in time for the busy July 4 period.
13 June 2006: More details of the makeover
Enhanced Attraction Storyline
"Dead men tell no tales"
As a ghostly voice echoes through the dark, underground grottos and
waterway the specter of Davy Jones appears. "Ah, but they do tell
tales..." he says in reply, inviting all those "brave or fool enough
to face a pirate's curse..." to continue on their voyage.
Just ahead, guests will find a Spanish seaport town under siege by a
heavily armed galleon. It's the Wicked Wench, commanded by Barbossa.
He and his men have put the torch to the town and subjected the
local magistrate to a dunking in the well. They're in search of
their shipmate, Captain Jack Sparrow, and the location of the town's
treasure vault.
Captain Jack, temporarily abandoning the mantle of command has
struck out on his own to find the treasure. He successfully eludes
his fellow pirates and finally succeeds in stealing a glimpse of a
treasure map in the hands of a drunken buccaneer.
And so, after a night of revelry and looting, we find Captain Jack
victorious, enthroned in a vault full of gold and jewels, enjoying a
drink and verse or two of the attraction's famous theme song and
intoning "Drink up, lads, there is treasure enough for all!"
Audio Enhancements
- The new dialog of Captain Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones and Barbossa
was voiced by the actors in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
- The original analog audio tracks from the attraction have all been
digitally re-mastered to ensure a crisp and dynamic soundtrack.
Guests will notice the addition of music cues from the soundtracks
of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Score
composed by Klaus Badelt) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest (Score composed by Hans Zimmer).
- More than 220 audio speakers have been replaced throughout the
attraction.
- Three bass subwoofers have been installed within the "Battle
Scene" between the pirate galleon and the Spanish fortress to
provide a sense of concussion during the firing of the cannons.
Additional Enhancement Information
- Both versions of the attraction (Disneyland Park in California and
the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida) closed in March 2006 in
preparation for the installation of the enhancements that have been
made over the past three months.
- Over 400 Disney Imagineers have been working in California and
Florida on the research, planning and installation of these
enhancements over the past three years.
- The cannon firing and cannon ball effects in the water have all
been upgraded to heighten the sense of intensity and drama in the
"Battle Scene." Underscoring from the films has also been added to
the scene.
- When Disney began preparing the treasure for the enhancement, they
discovered a number of original props with hand-written notes taped
to the back by Imagineers from the 1960s about placement and color
of the props.
8 April 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean reopens after phase 1
To update the 23rd March update below, Pirates of the Caribbean did reopen today as expected. The attraction should now remain open for the busy Easter period, and then close again to complete the updates on Monday May 1 and will reopen by July 7 2006.
7 April 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean concept art
Disney today unveiled some new concept are of the current refurbishment project. Pictured below is some early concept art showing the new look entrance area to the attraction.
COPYRIGHT 2006. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Pictured below is Barbossa aboard the Wicked Wench pirate ship. The new effects and changes to the ride will be in place ready for the reopening on on July 7 2006.
COPYRIGHT 2006. THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
31 March 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean update podcast
The latest official Disney World podcast provides some more information about the Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment. Check it out at http://www.disneyworld.com/podcast
23 March 2006: Pirates Easter reopening potentially delayed
The latest information from within the Magic Kingdom indicates that the Pirates Phase 1 reopening may be pushed back a week. It was set to reopen on April 1 for the busy Easter period. However, there is now a possibility that the reopening may be pushed back to the 8th April. The reality of the situation is that they are dealing with a complex refurbishment, which may experience some delays. It's safe to say that its in everyone's interest to get Pirates running over Easter, and I am sure the work crews are well aware of this. More information will be posted here when available.
8 February 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean refurbishment schedule
To update the 17 January update below, it is now confirmed that Pirates will be refurbished in a 2 stage process. The attraction will be closed Wednesday, March 1, and will then reopen on Saturday April 1. During this first phase, there will be no noticeable changes in the show. Pirates will then close again on Monday May 1 and will reopen by July 7 2006.
4 February 2006: Storyline and more details about the Pirates of the Caribbean enhancements
A crew of plundering and pillaging pirates, now
lead by Barbossa, attack a Caribbean seaport town and sets it ablaze
in a wild night of reverlry. We will also learn the motive behind
the attack: They're in search of their old shipmate Captain Jack
Sparrow, convinced he knows the location of a fabulous treasure.
In the enhanced attraction, Guest will come face-to-face with
Captain Jack Sparrow and experience new special effects, including a
ghostly apparition in a curtain of mist.
The attraction is scheduled to close March 1, 2006, with a tentative
open date of July 7, 2006, just in time for the opening of the new
second film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" that opens
in theatres nationwide.
3 February 2006: More Pirates of the Caribbean update information
ANAHEIM, Calif. / ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2006) --
First the theme park attraction inspired the movie -- now the movie
is inspiring the attraction.
Pirates of the Caribbean, the classic Disney theme park adventure
brought to the big screen in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of
the Black Pearl, is adding new characters and features from the
blockbuster entertainment franchise and debuting when the next
adventure begins in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.
Both the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World
Resort in Florida will close the attraction in March to complete the
updates in time for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead
Man's Chest on July 7. The attraction will re-open at Disneyland on
June 24 and in Florida's Magic Kingdom on July 7.
The attraction will feature the addition of two of Hollywood's most
infamous buccaneers, Captain Jack Sparrow and his nemesis Barbossa.
Joining the wildest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main, Captain
Jack and Barbossa add an exciting new twist to the attraction's
original storyline as they race to be the first to claim a cache of
plundered treasure.
"Successfully adding the popular characters from the 'Pirates of the
Caribbean' films with the mythology of our classic attraction is an
example of Disney synergy and Walt Disney Imagineering at its
finest," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
"These additions will result in an exciting new chapter for the
attraction and an unforgettable experience for our guests, giving
them another reason to come and be a part of our continuing 50th
anniversary celebration."
Woven into some of the attraction's most memorable scenes, the rival
swashbucklers will be seen interacting with some of the more
familiar Audio-Animatronics buccaneers found inside the ride-thru
adventure. Also making a guest appearance is the ghostly Davy Jones
from the second movie in the series, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead
Man's Chest. But new characters are only the beginning. New special
effects will also be added to enhance the "Pirates of the Caribbean"
theme park experience.
"The creative legacy of 'Pirates of the Caribbean' has come full
circle with the attraction initially inspiring our highly successful
film franchise and now the films inspiring exciting additions to the
attraction itself," said Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney
Studios. "The attraction enhancements capture the same spirit,
swashbuckling humor and action that moviegoers loved in the first
`Pirates of the Caribbean' which will continue with the highly
anticipated new tales this summer and beyond."
Created under the direct creative supervision of Walt Disney
himself, Pirates of the Caribbean is the quintessential Disney theme
park adventure, a swashbuckling voyage that transports guests back
to the days when pirates and privateers roamed the Spanish Main.
Starring a comical cast of rascals, scoundrels, villains and knaves,
the world-famous attraction sends guests of all ages on a boat ride
through mysterious caverns where "Dead men tell no tales" and then
into a colonial era Caribbean seaport under siege by a band of
fun-loving pirates. The attraction's jaunty theme song, "Yo Ho (A
Pirate's Life for Me)," sets the show's light tone with its
tongue-in-cheek depiction of high-seas lawlessness.
The original incarnation of Pirates of the Caribbean premiered on
March 18, 1967, in New Orleans Square at Disneyland in California.
Featuring more than 120 Audio-Animatronics performers, lavishly
decorated sets and special effects, it's considered to be one of the
most spectacular and enduring attractions ever created for a theme
park. With its setting revised slightly to fit a Caribbean Plaza
location in Adventureland, the attraction opened to guests at Walt
Disney World's Magic Kingdom on December 15, 1973. More than 500
million people have experienced the rollicking fun of Pirates of the
Caribbean in California and Florida over the past 39 years.
"Enhancing the classic Pirates attractions with new characters and
new technology will ensure their relevance and place in Disney theme
parks as timeless adventures," said Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative
executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. "We're adding a layer of
storytelling from the films to the attraction while retaining all
the familiar elements that make it vibrant and exciting for every
age group."
The Pirates of the Caribbean additions are one part of the "Happiest
Celebration on Earth," an 18-month salute (continuing through 2006)
to 50 years of Disney park magic around the globe that started with
the opening of Walt Disney's original park, Disneyland, in 1955.
1 February 2006: Pirates updates confirmed
It has today been confirmed internally at Disney that Pirates of the Caribbean at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will undergo the much rumored show enhancements. Top of the list are the additions of elements from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, including Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa audio-animatronics. There will also be new special effects, and some new operational enhancements. The timeframe has not been confirmed, but see the 17 January 2006 update below for the latest rumored dates.
17 January 2006: Pirates of the Caribbean rehab
Pirates of the Caribbean is set for some rehab work early this year. Whilst still not confirmed, it currently looks like Pirates will go down in March for some essential maintenance, will reopen for the busy Easter period in April, and will then close for some show rehab work in May and June. There is no information yet on what the show rehab will include, but there is the potential for some movie related items to be installed.