Major 2015 Pirates of the Caribbean Refurbishment Watch/Rumor.

[tirian]

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.

Thanks for the picture. Even in this image, you can tell the vents are very white compared to the night sky around them.

 

[joup7]

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

I was there the first week in January and the first time I rode it there were people in the back row. They might be changing it back and forth depending on how they feel that day.

The second time I rode it it had just went back into operation after being down for a bit and I was the first one in, everybody behind me walked slow, and I had a boat all to myself. Didn't get wet. The cannons were turned off that time too, as was the Blackbeard projection, but I did see the (blurry) mermaids.

 

[JenniferS]

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 rode it 7 times between 11/1 and 11/11. The back row was closed each time.

 

[JohnD]

I was there the first week in January and the first time I rode it there were people in the back row. They might be changing it back and forth depending on how they feel that day.

The second time I rode it it had just went back into operation after being down for a bit and I was the first one in, everybody behind me walked slow, and I had a boat all to myself. Didn't get wet. The cannons were turned off that time too, as was the Blackbeard projection, but I did see the (blurry) mermaids.

You're probably right. I can only speak to when I rode it. The back row was closed off. Even if they allow the back row again, it doesn't change my point that during the lengthy refurb, I can envision new boats introduced that, along with no longer getting stuck, have the end extended.

 

[Monty]

I can certainly vouch that the back row was roped off and not being loaded over the course of three separate trips I took in September, October and late November. Whether it was on-again, off-again and just happened to be not loading while I was not there I cannot say. When I'm on a solo trip I'm almost always loaded into the back row [I'm a large enough man that they often put me there on my own], so when it was not being loaded, I always noticed.

 

[Progress.City]

A friend of mine who works for Disney (not a standard cast member I have been on here long enough to know when info is ****) told me that a 6 month pirates refurb is being planned to go with a possible reopening in time for the holiday season of 2015. The only reason I am posting this is because this matches up with what I believe @TheGhostWithTheMost said about the imagineers wanting 12-18 and phil holmes saying 6 at most.

I've noticed that between the two US resorts, whenever an attraction is "strong", they keep updating it to keep it that way. Pirates used to be real inferior to the DL version, but they kept fixing and fixing it here and now it's not bad. Keeping with that pattern, another big update to make it even better makes sense.

 

[Progress.City]

It fell off the table.

They should fix that table... Balance its legs... Use one of those bubble meters... Too many things have been falling off it... Hope they have recycling!

 

[bebert]

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.

Wonder what the reason for the switch was? Cost is the first thing to come to mind but, maybe not? Could the new plastic boats be more environmentally friendly?

 

[Goofyernmost]

I was there the first week in January and the first time I rode it there were people in the back row. They might be changing it back and forth depending on how they feel that day.

Having read a number of reports of people getting severely splashed on the drop and thinking it felt like the nose of the boat was diving in a little deeper then it should have been and caused water to come over the top I have this theory. Perhaps one of those incredibly brainy imagineers figured out that if you put all the weight to the front, the front of the boat will be lower in the water. Putting people in the back row help to keep the front higher in the water. That is a combination of CM's that probably were not trained to understand weight distribution and management that is totally clueless. The new boats are, from what I can gather, lighter then the old ones which would make it even more weight distribution sensitive.

Even if they stopped using it because one stupid guest in 41 years lost a few digits due to his inability to lesson to or follow instruction is yet another indication of cluelessness.

 

[DisneyDadFL]

Rode Pirates last night

- Mist projection was off although audio was playing.
- Mermaids were working better than I have ever seen them work before.
- Vents in the ceiling were very noticeable.
- Pretty good amount of water came in over the front of the boat - much more weight in the back.
- Loading the back row of all boats we saw.
- Audio seemed 'off' throughout the entire ride

pic from about 1 week ago.....

 

[Bugz]

Darn and we usually go the 3rd week of july and its my favorite ride Anybody know when they are shutting it down?

 

[note2001]

Darn and we usually go the 3rd week of july and its my favorite ride Anybody know when they are shutting it down?

Waiting for this info also as we'll be there over the fourth and I have a nephew who hinges his whole trip to the MK on this ride, although thankfully he's older now and will understand. Disney, please put out the official word soon.

 

[mikenatcity1]

I sure hope this is true! After riding it in December, I felt bad for the ride being in such bad shape. I love WDW but this (previously along with Splash Mountain) were reasons to not show up- it was horrible how a ride could be left to deteriorate as it has (Splash is much better now).

 

[WDWVolFan]

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

What did he do? stick his hand in the water? I'm sorry...that's dumb if he did that and anyone complaining about Disney roping it off is off base here. They did that because one person ruined the fun for everyone and they don't want to get sued.
Sad thing is, he will sue and win even though it's on him...

 

[Prince Thomas]

What did he do? stick his hand in the water? I'm sorry...that's dumb if he did that and anyone complaining about Disney roping it off is off base here. They did that because one person ruined the fun for everyone and they don't want to get sued.
Sad thing is, he will sue and win even though it's on him...

i was literally in the boat right behind him...all u could hear was screaming!!! and then it got chaotic...just very confusing. but they opened the ride later on that day...and yes , the idiot stuck his hand in the water

 

[Goofyernmost]

What did he do? stick his hand in the water? I'm sorry...that's dumb if he did that and anyone complaining about Disney roping it off is off base here. They did that because one person ruined the fun for everyone and they don't want to get sued.
Sad thing is, he will sue and win even though it's on him...

The legal irony to that scenario is that if they were worried about a lawsuit, that was the opposite reaction then they should have had. If the guy gets injured and Disney basically admits that it is either their fault or the fault of their equipment, it is the same as saying.. "yes, it was us, it's our fault, but we fixed it now." Lawyers for the plaintiff love that kind of admission. That makes it halfway to a huge settlement.

So if they have opened it up now, one of two things have happened. Either the legal department finally found out what they did and told them to stop indicating fault or that wasn't the reason that they shut down the last row. If I were a betting man I'd go for the idea that if the boats are getting stuck a lot, the figured the weight in the last row was causing it. It could really be that simple. It might not be the correct conclusion that they came too, but it certainly isn't the biggest indication of a company wide lack of common sense shown in recent times.

 

[marni1971]

Sad thing is, he will sue and win even though it's on him...

He didn't sue. He admitted he was in the wrong.

 

[case88]

My family and I rode back in September at a MNSSHP. Pirates had been down for most of the evening and had just reopened when we jumped on. We were the first boat to load. While still sitting in the load, all of work lights came on. The CM manning the controls took a phone call and begin to announce that everyone should evacuate the building immediately. I thought that they would unload the boat, until another CM yelled to the guy at the controls to "Green Light" the boat. We were a little apprehensive since they had just announce for everyone to immediately leave the building, but sent our boat through.
There was no audio or music on the ride, but all of the AA were working/moving and the overhead lights were on. It was quite a neat experience. When we finally made it to unload, the poor CM apologized and said it had gone down multiple times that day. We'll miss it when we are there this June, but I hope Pirates gets the refurb it deserves. It's definitely a favorite of our family.

 

[Sage of Time]

Anything is possible. Probable becomes a different matter.

Ah, the frustrating life of a WDW fan.

Thanks for your answer, though.

 

[Prince Thomas]

My family and I rode back in September at a MNSSHP. Pirates had been down for most of the evening and had just reopened when we jumped on. We were the first boat to load. While still sitting in the load, all of work lights came on. The CM manning the controls took a phone call and begin to announce that everyone should evacuate the building immediately. I thought that they would unload the boat, until another CM yelled to the guy at the controls to "Green Light" the boat. We were a little apprehensive since they had just announce for everyone to immediately leave the building, but sent our boat through.
There was no audio or music on the ride, but all of the AA were working/moving and the overhead lights were on. It was quite a neat experience. When we finally made it to unload, the poor CM apologized and said it had gone down multiple times that day. We'll miss it when we are there this June, but I hope Pirates gets the refurb it deserves. It's definitely a favorite of our family.

Def cool tho!