No fanfare for the 50th anniversary of Pirates

George Lucas on a Bench

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I know it's down for a mysterious refurb and that it reopens just in time for the 50th. But I'm finding the complete lack of mention that it's turning 50 in a matter of weeks somewhat disturbing. Disney is so blase about it, I'm expecting disappointment when the ride reopens with the movie changes and some corny tie-in to the new movie. Are they completely botching this, or am I just being my usual pedantic self?
 

180º

Well-Known Member
I know it's down for a mysterious refurb and that it reopens just in time for the 50th. But I'm finding the complete lack of mention that it's turning 50 in a matter of weeks somewhat disturbing. Disney is so blase about it, I'm expecting disappointment when the ride reopens with the movie changes and some corny tie-in to the new movie. Are they completely botching this, or am I just being my usual pedantic self?
I don't know if they'll put in references to the new film, but I'm with you, disappointed the attraction isn't getting any publicity for a huge anniversary. 50 is a landmark year and Pirates is a landmark ride. Mansion got an enormous 40th celebration, so what gives?

Well, at least we got a new fleet of boats!
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Yeah it's really weird when you consider some of things they do make a big deal about - like dance parties coming in 6 months. I feel like they made a bigger deal about HM's 45th. 50 is a much bigger milestone so I'm surprised nothing has been mentioned.

Side note: Hopefully there are no unwanted surprises when POTC reopens. Like the auctioneer looking for Jack Sparrow now too. Also, If they ever remove our talking skull like they did in WDW their will be hell to pay.

EDIT: only thing I've seen is a pin set they displayed In one of the Disney parks blogs.
 
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HMF

Well-Known Member
Probably, because they want to keep the illusion in the public consciousness that the ride is based on the movie which sadly more and more people believe everyday.
 

HMF

Well-Known Member
Why didn't it make sense?
Well, in the WDW version, you are supposed to believe that you are in a fort under attack by Pirates and you boarded boats that were supposed to escort you to safety. The boats took a detour through the caves where skeletons of dead pirates were The Talking skull was right before the drop into the Battle Scene. Contrast that with the DL Version which is a time travel story you board your boat travel through the Bayou The Talking Skull marks the entrance to the grotto. You go down two waterfalls go through the grotto, see the skeletons of the Pirates. Go through a time portal represented by the Davy Jones mist screen and travel back in time to the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean the upramp at the end returns you to the present day. You can read more about it here.
http://strangefrighteningsoundsblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-ravaging-rant-about-pirates-of.html
 

180º

Well-Known Member
Wait- is it confirmed that they're replacing all the boats with this refurb?
We've been steadily getting more and more new boats since about two years ago, starting with just one or two cycling and now they probably make up over half the fleet. I welcome them. They're a huge improvement over WDW's recent boats, which thankfully wouldn't have worked in our ride. @Old Mouseketeer had all the scoop.
 

Phroobar

Well-Known Member
I was told they'd have a Kiera Knightley animatronic shifting her cargo and showing us her "larboard side"
"Say, have you set your eyes on the bewitched maiden in your travels? Oh she be a lively lassie she were. Oh I tell you true. It's alright to hoist me colours on the likes of that she little wench! Favor, keep a weathered eye open, mateys. I be willing to share I be!"
 

JD2000

Well-Known Member
I can't help but get depressed they didn't take this opportunity and celebrate the 50th with a nostalgic marketing opportunity; and revert everything back to the way it once was before all the changes (and additions) that occurred from the movie tie-in and political correctness. We should all be in agreement the movie tie-in was nothing more then marketing to promote the franchise and sell it's merchandise, and if they are going to be all 'politically correct' to satisfy a few people that have no sense of humor and take everything far too seriously; they'd really need to change (or even remove) the entire attraction; as pirates were not just thieves but murderers, rapists, and such.
 
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SuddenStorm

Well-Known Member
The still could market it, I think they're still pushing MSEP pretty hard. This might pick up marketing in March, then go till they start promoting the ROA and Fantasmic!. For Haunted they did a CD release, and a ton of merchandise. I was hoping for a talking skull replica that could talk and would play back the audio.
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
The still could market it, I think they're still pushing MSEP pretty hard. This might pick up marketing in March, then go till they start promoting the ROA and Fantasmic!. For Haunted they did a CD release, and a ton of merchandise. I was hoping for a talking skull replica that could talk and would play back the audio.

I'd be willing to spend a pretty penny on a talkin skull replica. The one they released during DLs 50th looks Ok but it could be better.
 

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