Major 2015 Pirates of the Caribbean Refurbishment Watch/Rumor.

[Bocabear]

Very true. When I went on Disneyland's version, I was floored but just how much better it was. Better animatronics, better special effects (love the smoke that shoots out of the pirates' guns!), better beginning, better end, and better integration of elements from the movies. The only thing in WDW's version that is better is the queue line.

If you like the Disneyland version you would be floored by the Paris version (when it is all working) my last trip there it seemed like most of the effects and show elements were not running, but when it is all up and running it is amazing...and the cast members were in full costumes...not uniforms... Damask and velvet frock coats, knee britches and boots, feathered hats....they were beautifully detailed, and the Queue was even more elaborate than the WDW version...

 

[TheGhostWithTheMost]

They would have to do a crazy amount of work to make the idea of extra show scenes work. It actually would be kinda possible if it wasn't for Fastpass+. There is a "Starboard" load and a "Port" load. Starboard is the boat in front where you go to the right when the queue splits and Port is the boat in the back. You could make Port the loading side and with some reconfiguring making the Starboard side unload. Now, there is a door that is always locked right at the top of the ramp that you go down to load at Starboard. The door leads to backstage and is not far from the gift shop. They could build a path through that area to get to the gift shop after unload. The backstage area that they would have to transform into showscenes looks like the movie Alien. It has heavy foot traffic of cast members as it stands now. (This foot traffic would be eliminated with load/unload being in the same area). The up ramp would have to be entirely rebuilt to hold the weight of the boats with people on them, show scenes would have to be built, and part of what is now the starboard queue (where the cannons are) would have to be destroyed for the boats to get back to the proposed load/unload area (the clearance is way to low for people's heads to get past as it stands now.). It would also screw with the terrible installation of Fastpass into the attraction (don't get get me started on that subject). But it could be done. It would take a lot of work (read: a lot of $$$$$$$$) but it's doable. But it will never be done. At least with the current upper management/current TDO.

 

[GoofGoof]

Oh Lord, you people are dense.

OK. So because Space Mountain didn't get the "Disneyland level" refurb back in 2009 that means this is just the ride closing for 6 months to save on labor costs? The Space Mountain refurb was 6 years ago so my recollection might not be perfect (plus I am dense) but they didn't close the ride to save on labor costs or do minor maintenance did they?. They did work on the entrance and queue (including the demo of the skyway station), an upgrade to the ride control system and some structural work on the track. The budget got cut and they didn't get some of the additional stuff that was rumored to be coming with that refurb which upset a lot of people at the time, but there was still extensive work done.

I don't think anyone is expecting any enhancements with this refurb of Pirates. They just need to fix what is broken. To me it seems very similar to the state Splash Mountain was in a few years ago before it had a major refurb.

 

[marni1971]

So now 2 years later that is when you change it? Also why close it in the summer?

Because that's the soonest it can be scheduled given other work?
Because the work plans aren't finalised yet?
Because they can't risk waiting until next year?

 

[marni1971]

They would have to do a crazy amount of work to make the idea of extra show scenes work.

Not really.

The plan was for a true finale scene in today's unload area, a new lift (as you said) back up the waterfall with a new unload at the top of the ramp with slightly reconfigured flume curves. Boats would still sail empty under starboards queue back to load.

 

[dstrawn9889]

Not really.

The plan was for a true finale scene in today's unload area, a new lift (as you said) back up the waterfall with a new unload at the top of the ramp with slightly reconfigured flume curves. Boats would still sail empty under starboards queue back to load.

and since you are back to park level... no need for the speedramps

 

[GoofGoof]

Not really.

The plan was for a true finale scene in today's unload area, a new lift (as you said) back up the waterfall with a new unload at the top of the ramp with slightly reconfigured flume curves. Boats would still sail empty under starboards queue back to load.

What are the chances they would actually do this now? Is it even on the table? The most I'm hoping for is to fix the broken stuff. Adding any enhancements would be a pleasant surprise, but I'm not expecting it.

 

[bebert]

Hopefully POTC is not down for my June trip. I would like to at least have the chance to ride it on this trip and then they can do the refurb. If they can match what DL looks like, sign me up for a longer refurb. DL POTC makes MK look very foolish, love the DL version.
Could the boat problem be the size of people riding the ride? I seem to always get a little more wet on this as I check in about 250 and always try to be in front.
They already took Maelstrom from me before I could ride it one last time!

 

[marni1971]

What are the chances they would actually do this now? Is it even on the table? The most I'm hoping for is to fix the broken stuff. Adding any enhancements would be a pleasant surprise, but I'm not expecting it.

It fell off the table.

 

[TheGhostWithTheMost]

Could the boat problem be the size of people riding the ride? I seem to always get a little more wet on this as I check in about 250 and always try to be in front.

It has nothing to do with the sizes of people. The ride operated for almost 40 years without taking on water, getting people soaked, or having the extreme issues the boats have now.

That all changed it he moment Pirates got the terrible (cheaper) plastic boats in July 2013. It's the boats. We went from awesome fiberglass boats to cheap Fisher Price toys.

 

[PhotoDave219]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions...n-extensive-refurbishment-later-this-year.htm

It really needs it too. I can think of several things:
1. Mist projection
2. Boats getting stuck or taking on water
3. Addressing the fact they now close the back row because an idiot tourist stuck out his hand and was injured.

Maybe because of #2 and #3, they'll put in new boats to address their getting stuck or taking on water and which don't require the back row to blocked off but extends the length behind the back row to prevent that kind of accident in the future.

I sat in the back row last week.

Not sure where you're getting the info that the row is closed.....

 

[TheGhostWithTheMost]

Not sure where you're getting the info that the row is closed.....

They closed the last row after that guys fingers got chopped off in July 2014. They finally opened the back row again sometime in November.

 

[tirian]

Goodness, YES. Yes please. That would certainly help.

Is it still possible for them to revisit this?

Anything is possible. Probable becomes a different matter.

 

[Prince Thomas]

They closed the last row after that guys fingers got chopped off in July 2014. They finally opened the back row again sometime in November.

I was THERE when he lost his fingers.... #tragic

 

[yoyoflamingo]

Took a pic with my phone today since I conveniently read this last night. Ill try to upload it tomorrow. It is very noticeable. Even my wife noticed them before we talked about them.

I apologize for the picture quality, but they are VERY obvious, about 2-3 per scene. We noticed them first in the auction scene. They stand out very clearly.

 

[JohnD]

I sat in the back row last week.

Not sure where you're getting the info that the row is closed.....

Um, my info is personal experience in the first week in December. Did you consider they might have considered changing policy a mere one month later? I can only go and spend money at WDW so often. I don't appreciate being questioned like I don't know what the hell I'm taking about.

 

[note2001]

I apologize for the picture quality, but they are VERY obvious, about 2-3 per scene. We noticed them first in the auction scene. They stand out very clearly.

I believe that if Walt were alive and still in charge today he'd have fired the person responsible for this. In fact I think he'd have a long list of folks to fire, and would start pulling from the people who really want and care about producing quality work to work for him.

 

[JohnD]

They closed the last row after that guys fingers got chopped off in July 2014. They finally opened the back row again sometime in November.

I believe you. But that wasn't the case for me in early December.

 

[JohnD]

I have always felt like the WDW version is like the cliff notes POTC... or POTC Greatest Hits...lol If you have ridden the Disneyland or the Paris versions (when everything was working) it is glaring how reduced our version is... Sure wish there was some way to fix this... Maybe adding some digital mapping for better effects, bring back the projected clouds on the ceiling.. etc... WDW deserves some love.

I have no frame of reference since I haven't been to DL or PDL.

 

[JohnD]

The refurb dates are but yet confirmed, so there won't be any official notice until then.

No problem. I can always count on an accurate refurb list from WDWMagic.