Concept art of the new of Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

[darthjohnny]

Any word on POTC invading MK's Tom Sawyer island or is this going to be a DL thing only?

I think and hope it's going to be a DL only thing because TSI at DL is right in front of PotC, it's not that way in MK.

Though I haven't heard anything, some people think a Pirate's Lair makeover of the Tom Sawyer Island isn't likely due to the fact that WDW's Pirates of the Caribbean is located all the way in Adventureland and WDW's Tom Sawyer Island is located more near Frontierland.

Though, I wouldn't mind a Pirate's Lair at Magic Kingdom.

 

[Testtrack321]

that looks awesome, but on the second post, how would your hand turn into a skeleton hand on the "cursed treasure" picture. my brother says maybe your hand goes into a glove, but knowing Disney, that seems a little too simple.

You guys don't trust Disney magic much do you? :animwink:

 

[Nicole220]

Judging by the pics from opening day, this thing looks pretty neat!
I have finals coming up, but I'm going to try and get over there as soon as I can to get some pictures and give y'all a review.

Pics from today: http://micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65549

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks for the pics Nicole!

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

Just looking at the photos, I couldn't find any pictures of your hand turning into a skeloton hand (unless it was when you touched Davy's heart box) but in the photo all it looked like was that your hand turned blue.:shrug:

 

[Nicole220]

Just looking at the photos, I couldn't find any pictures of your hand turning into a skeloton hand (unless it was when you touched Davy's heart box) but in the photo all it looked like was that your hand turned blue.:shrug:

I saw a pic or video somewhere of that, the hand didn't just turn blue. You can tell that it's a skeleton. Can't judge from the pics though, they never do justice compared to the real thing.

 

[Iakona]

Hmmmm...Perhaps I'm missing something here, but everyone is saying it looks "amazing" and I'm afraid I just don't see much of anything all that impressive about the changes. The only things that look kind of cool are the skeleton hand special effect (though it's difficult to judge just how "cool" it will be based solely on an artist's sketch), and the map. The map is cool because it appears to be an homage to the old Tom Sawyer's Island maps they used to give out, and which are now collector's items often found on eBay.

Well, from a couple of concept drawings it looks unimpressive, but since I'll be seeing it in July I'll reserve judgement.
There was an article on another site that went much more in depth.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al050807a.htm
http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID511480.asp

The changes to the cave in particular seemed very cool.

TSI is old, dated, and needs an infusion of creativty. I love the Mark Twain stories, but in this case a change could reinvigorate the Island.

 

[TP2000]

This 8 minute YouTube video of opening day of Pirate's Lair is great! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUmUqynteL8

Particularly the last five minutes or so really captures all the new stuff on the island and show why it's all so much better than it used to be.

I was worried at first about this change to Tom Sawyer Island, but I saw it all for myself today and I was VERY IMPRESSED! The new cave effects are really impressive, the stunt show is fabulous, the new decor and interactive toys are beautifully done, and the whole thing comes together as a really great refresh of an old, tired island. And the new uniforms the raft kids wear are some of the best looking since Tower of Terror!

They should be doing this Pirate's Lair thing at all of the Disney parks around the world. Bravo Disneyland! Don't miss Pirate's Lair on your next trip to Disneyland! :sohappy:

 

[mickster]

TSI is old, dated, and needs an infusion of creativty. I love the Mark Twain stories, but in this case a change could reinvigorate the Island.

I couldn't agree more! Unfortunately, these changes just don't seem like much to write home about. I'm baffled as to why everyone is ranting how "amazing" it looks.

 

[maryszhi]

I hope its at DW world to. To bad Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom were not there full time... Ah They are sooooooo hot!!!!!
~ A dream is what your heart makes~
~When you wish upon a star~
~Only make a fourth pirates if it will be
A. happy
B. Including Johnny Depp , Orlando Bloom( for me)
Keira knightly( for my BF)

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

nevermind

 

[IROC it]

Stoked to see this on our anniversary... TSI at MK this past May was...umm... slightly out-dated and boring. For me anyway... the kids still liked it, but they were like, "Dad... who is Tom & Huck?"


I just told them they were kids in a book written by Mark Twain and that they'd be reading them in school later on... and they were like, "Oh."


My son's favorite part of the MK TSI was the Pirate flag hanging on the "mast" near one of the tree house hide out areas...

You can see the mast here, but the flag is out of the frame above it... http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5093/disney2007253ub9.jpg

You can just see the bottom of the black flag in the full sized view...

Anyhow, I'm stoked to see the changes, and I'm sure we'll have a trip to DLR for the whole family in the not too distant future after I share it with my son.

It's those types of things my son will remember for a lifetime... I know I remember places and times shared more than just the rides themselves.

 

[Iakona]

OK, back from my trip and I have to say WDI hit a home run with TSI in my book.

• The caves are great and revitalized.
• The additions are fun, entertaining and the kids love them (my son wanted to spend all day on TSI).
• The Bone cage is awesome.
• The "Bilge pump" is cool and the there were lots of kids trying to get at it.

However, the biggest and best part of TSI/Pirate's lair is the Pirate's themselves.
On all 6 of my boat rides (3 visits to Pirate's lair) we were accompanied by a pirate. They interacted with the other passengers and were amazing. They tried to get the kids to hand over their parent's treasure. If your were a woman with a purse they slyly tried to gain access (they also inquired about "acquiring wedding rings"). However the best character was, you guessed it, Jack Sparrow.
Completely in character. Jack spends a LOT of time with each guest for pictures (about 5 minutes, so get in line early because they cut it off at a certain point) an asks a lot of questions (he is especially interested if you have found any treasure or keys). The best character interaction I have ever had or seen.:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

Stunt show
Very cool. We saw it from Pirate's Lair right up front and from across the river. Lot's of action, fun and comedy.

 

[Nicole220]

OK, back from my trip and I have to say WDI hit a home run with TSI in my book.

• The caves are great and revitalized.
• The additions are fun, entertaining and the kids love them (my son wanted to spend all day on TSI).
• The Bone cage is awesome.
• The "Bilge pump" is cool and the there were lots of kids trying to get at it.

However, the biggest and best part of TSI/Pirate's lair is the Pirate's themselves.
On all 6 of my boat rides (3 visits to Pirate's lair) we were accompanied by a pirate. They interacted with the other passengers and were amazing. They tried to get the kids to hand over their parent's treasure. If your were a woman with a purse they slyly tried to gain access (they also inquired about "acquiring wedding rings"). However the best character was, you guessed it, Jack Sparrow.
Completely in character. Jack spends a LOT of time with each guest for pictures (about 5 minutes, so get in line early because they cut it off at a certain point) an asks a lot of questions (he is especially interested if you have found any treasure or keys). The best character interaction I have ever had or seen.:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy:

Stunt show
Very cool. We saw it from Pirate's Lair right up front and from across the river. Lot's of action, fun and comedy.

Glad you liked it and had fun!

Jack Sparrow sounds like a lot of fun! I gotta catch him one time. Every time I go over there, he's never there. The only Jack I've seen was during the stunt show, and that Jack was horrible. I had to leave, it was unbearable. I'm assuming this was not the one you saw.

 

[Iakona]

Glad you liked it and had fun!

Jack Sparrow sounds like a lot of fun! I gotta catch him one time. Every time I go over there, he's never there. The only Jack I've seen was during the stunt show, and that Jack was horrible. I had to leave, it was unbearable. I'm assuming this was not the one you saw.

They have multiple "Jacks"; kind of like the scene in POTC;AWE :lol: .
I have to say the Jacks we saw were very good. They worked hard at the mannerisms and dialog. For example, for pictures Jack was late. When he finally showed he was "staggering" and walked right by us to somewhere else on the Island and then made his way back following a young lady trying to get into her purse.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I love this idea. I'd proboly never have any interest in visiting Tom Sawyer island, but a Pirates Lair really grabs my attention!

 

[sponono88]

Thread bump, because nearly 3 years after opening I finally made my way over to TSI to check out Pirates Lair! Whether or not you agree with the Pirates "takeover" of the island, the additions are pretty amazing. Don't know why it took me so long to get over there :lol:

The caverns in particular are very cool, great lighting and sound and very fun interactive gags.. some very neat effects in there. Love it!

 

[TP2000]

Thread bump, because nearly 3 years after opening I finally made my way over to TSI to check out Pirates Lair! Whether or not you agree with the Pirates "takeover" of the island, the additions are pretty amazing. Don't know why it took me so long to get over there :lol:

The caverns in particular are very cool, great lighting and sound and very fun interactive gags.. some very neat effects in there. Love it!

Yeah, that Pirate's Lair thing really was a great way to freshen up Tom Sawyer Island. It was very well done, and very effective.

What I enjoy are all the folks who have never been over there, or who have never even been to Disneyland, who are so against Pirate's Lair. They stomp and complain and post their little hearts out, and yet anyone who actually experiences it in real life realizes how well it all works and how the theme fits perfectly and how it freshens up an aging attraction from the 20th century. :sohappy:

The same could also be said for Haunted Mansion Holiday, Small World Holiday and Disney Characters installed in Small World, and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. People complain until they actually see it themselves, and then it's "Hey, this is cool! How come we don't get to have this in Disney World?!?"