HM/POTC Rehabs

[polynesiangirl]

Hey everyone -

OK, now I know that I've seen this mentioned several times in different capacities on these boards (most recently in the IASW rehab thread,) ut I hadn't seen one with any specifics in a while.

Anyone have any details or specific rumors on when either of these would/will take place? I think I read a long time ago that one would likely be near the end of this summer (which is when I'm going, so I'm even more interested.) However, I haven't seen anything in a while.

Don't kill me if this was covered somewhere and I missed it - I really did try to make sure it wasn't in any of the most recent threads! *ducks defensively*

Thanks!

 

[Master Yoda]

I haven heard any confirmed dates as of yet but I can’t imagine them shutting 2 of MK’s most popular rides for an extensive rehab in the middle of the 50th anniversary celebration.

 

[DarkMeasures]

Haunted Mansion is supposed to go down for a partial rehab for the holiday version and then undergo another rehab for switching back to the normal version. I really don't know if this is happening though.

POTC- The imagineers want to add Jack Sparrow and last I heard, they were researching into if the unloading area can be made into a new scene and have the new unloading where you load.

 

[Dayma]

There is NO way both of these rides would be down at once.

 

[HMGhost13]

agreed. though i don't think they'll change too much of HM....but the Jack Sparrow AA rumor has been flying again.

 

[DisneyGal126]

agreed. though i don't think they'll change too much of HM....but the Jack Sparrow AA rumor has been flying again.

That would be so cool! Especially with how popular that movie was.

As for renovations... I was last at disney in 2003 and was on both HM and POTC... I went back again in January of this year and both of the rides seemed different. Like in HM, didn't you go up "steps" when you were in the cars? That wasn't there this time. Big Thunder Railroad was also a lot differnt this time.


Jamie

 

[venooch333]

The idea behind the rehabs is to get them back to there former glory! Just like they have done with IASW So hopefully it will happen soon!

 

[jmuboy]

From what I have gatherd from various good *rumors* is that for at least 2005, don't expect to see the HM Holiday at WDW. It is looking more and more likely that Pirates will get a major rehab first. And I agree with those who have said it - there is no way WDW Mgmt will close both the Mansion and Pirates at the same time.

 

[speck76]

Both attractions NEED as IaSW-type rehab.

HM does not really need any major changes, but the floating Leota that DL got looks pretty sweet, and would be a nice addition. The sound in the attraction right now is terrible. It would be nice if they would add a few new gimmicks (nothing movie-related PLEASE) but, the most imporatant thing would be to upgrade the sound on the ride.

PoTC, IMO, could use a major overhaul. The sound is terrible, and the ride has never been as popular as the DL version....it is almost not popular enough to be justify its "E-ticket" status.

I would not mind seeing movie elements included, as the movie IMO was good (as opposed to the HM movie).

I think the ride could be easity retrofitted with movie elements (the boat could become the black pearl....some pirates could be "dead"....or better yet, from the front, they look normal, from the back, they are skeletons....that would be cool)

 

[ChrisH9339]

I think the speakers in every doom buggy on HM are blown, as the "ghost host's" spiel sounds horrible most of the time. It also doesn't work in some of the cars, and triggers in the wrong spots in others. Besides a sound upgrade, I don't think there's much else the Mansion needs besides a couple added gags to take advantage of newer technology. You can't make everything nice and shiny like they did in Small World, because it's supposed to look run down. Improving the sound during a rehab to transfer to HM Holiday (when they decide to do it in Fla.), then add a couple gags when rehabbing it back would be enough in my opinion to restore the attraction without having to shut it down for a year like they did IASW.

As far as Pirates, I'd like to see a movie connection, but the ride is seeing more traffic I believe since the movie came out anyhow because lines are routinely coming out of the building during busy times, and that just never used to happen. I like the idea listed above about the "dead" pirates with skeletons, and obviously a Jack Sparrow animatronic to push merchandise.

 

[Master Yoda]

Both attractions NEED as IaSW-type rehab.

From what has been floating around on these boards PoTC will be getting a IaSW type refurb and HM will be close to that but not a complete gutting.

 

[aklodge]

From what has been floating around on these boards PoTC will be getting a IaSW type refurb and HM will be close to that but not a complete gutting.

Sounds good to me just as long as they both get a pretty substantial rehab.

 

[jmuboy]

I've said it before but it is worth repeating......I'll gladly give up Pirates and Mansion for 8 months or so to give them time to have a full rehab like IASW just got.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

I would love to see both of them go down for rehab, especially POTC, but didn't HM just have a rehab a short while back? And I havn't been on here in forever, but are they doing Holiday HM this year? But I think we really need to focus our attention at Peter Pan's flight..that needs major work.

 

[PlaneJane]

Wouldn't it be pretty hard to create an AA skeleton?? You would definitely have to have it really dark to hide the mechanics that you have to have for movement. Either that or fully clother them and lose most of the effect.

 

[speck76]

Wouldn't it be pretty hard to create an AA skeleton?? You would definitely have to have it really dark to hide the mechanics that you have to have for movement. Either that or fully clother them and lose most of the effect.

the room is dark, the technical parts could be masked in flat black, which would not really be seen, or...they could be hidden with ripped/old clothing.

 

[tirian]

HM does it in the graveyard scene. When you look at the hitchhiking ghosts, you're looking directly through an AA; but under the blacklights, the mechanical insides look like a skeleton.

 

[polynesiangirl]

Wow, I didn't check this thread for a day or so and there is tons of feedback! Yay!

Yeah, I assumed the potential rehabs wouldn't occur at the same time, since both rides are far too popular to take them both down at once, and I figured that they would be more like "maitenance" rehabs as oppose to anything that would drastically change the feel or story of the attractions. Interesting to hear that the Jack Sparrow AA is still being tossed around as an idea.

Also good to know that it doesn't look like these are going to happen *tooooooo* soon though - even though I would love to see them both get fixed up and I hope they get underway within a reasonable amount of time, my fiancee' and I were REALLY hoping they'd both be open for our honeymoon trip since they are two of our favorite rides. Also, in keeping with what someone mentioned, they probably don't want to close either during the 50th celebration year.

I also agree with what was said about HM's audio - it has really seemed fuzzier the last few times I was on it and the sound system could really benefit from an upgrade of sorts.

 

[Mansionfan]

As for renovations... I was last at disney in 2003 and was on both HM and POTC... I went back again in January of this year and both of the rides seemed different. Like in HM, didn't you go up "steps" when you were in the cars? That wasn't there this time.
Jamie

Those ''steps'' are still there in the HM - you climb up the staircase just after viewing the piano-playing shadow...

 

[vilegirl]

I really hope HMH comes to WDW this year. I saw it in DL in 2002 and it's so good. When I was at WDW a few weeks ago, I noticed they were selling lots of Jack Skellington merchandise on a cart outside HM. I think they've been doing it for awhile, but it does give me hope that HMH will show up at WDW.