Pirates of the Caribbean Updates

[Goofyernmost]

I was there in 2009 and 2012 and I remember seeing a sign that said Lafitte's Landing. John Lafitte was of French ancestry who did operate in the Gulf of Mexico and essentially smuggles his loot from the New Orleans area. Therefore, it does fit. I wasn't debating your point, just bringing an actual pirate example to the table.

I'm not arguing either. I said that they were there, Lafitte being an example, but they were not as prominent as in the Caribbean and the name of the ride is Pirates of the Caribbean not Pirates of New Orleans. I'm really just guessing at the reason, but, to go from the Bayou to the Pirates is a pretty hefty leap, but, to go from New Orleans to the Bayou is a short trip, then you go down the slope (don't remember which one, the last time a saw it was in 2005) and you are transported hundreds of miles away into the Caribbean.

 

[EOD K9]

but, to go from the Bayou to the Pirates is a pretty hefty leap, but, to go from New Orleans to the Bayou is a short trip, then you go down the slop (don't remember which one, the last time a saw it was in 2005) and you are transported hundreds of miles away into the Caribbean.

Through the Pirate Wormhole with Morgan Freeman.

 

[marni1971]

Except for the beginning it isn't really a whole lot different the WDW..

Oh c'mon Goof! You know that's not true.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Maybe they could plus the ride and make it about a minute or two longer in duration. To do this they could add a pop-up mermaid in the area directly after the fog projection and before the island scene. they could have the music play and a mermaid pop up out of the water directly to the left and right sides of the boat. The boat could be corralled to a full stop and temporarily lifted onto a treadmill type platform a few inches. The mermaids could sound all sweet and lovely with nice digital face overlays. Then they could grab onto the boat, their faces turn violent/mean and start shaking the boat side to side. Then they disappear into the depths and the boat is then lowered and released to continue on its journey.

Not this this would ever happen, but would be a pretty cool scene to say the least. Kids would scream for days.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Oh c'mon Goof! You know that's not true.

Honestly Martin... I don't know better. Granted I have ridden it once only, but, with the exception of a few scenes there was not much unfamiliar about it. The beginning, of course was different and, to me, I might add boring, but, it fit in well with the theme of the area and provided a good ambiance for the Restaurant. Even that reminded me of the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. I will admit that I don't have 100% total recall of a lot of things at DL because of my one time only visit. I do remember thinking that it was better then WDW's because it was longer and had a few scenes that weren't in the WDW attraction, but, nothing that impressed me beyond it had a different start and that helped make it a longer ride. You know what they say... size isn't everything!

 

[doctornick]

We're off to DL next fall and I've always been told that the WDW version doesn't hold a candle... true?

The DL version is clearly superior to MK, but I think it gets exaggerated as to the degree of difference. Most of the additional length in DL is due to the long opening scenes of the Bayou and the caves with skeletons which set the ambiance, but don't add much excitement -- MK's superior queue offers some similar degree of set up IMHO. DL does have the one extra show scene with the pirates fighting near the end (after the jail, before the treasure room) that MK doesn't have which is cool.

I think people get overly fascinated with the longer ride time and the extra drop and get carried away at comparing the two versions.

 

[MrHappy]

I wish they'd leave the classic scenes alone! Those are what I grew up with and it seems like they are slowly removing them and replacing them with scenes from the movies (while good, it just isn't what it was). I'm good with the stuff they've added, but don't take away the classics!

"Respect the classics, man"
- Fillmore, Cars 1

 

[jbeechuk]

Sadly, the entire ride needs to be completely rebuilt. It has been a disaster for many years with the boats backing up for miles it seems. Failed mermaids, soaked guests, non-working AAs, etc. It needs to get scrapped and rebuilt to be the longest and best one ever. I don't care if it takes 3 years. The band-aid fixes of these "refurbs" are laughable and an insult to us all.

 

[NelleBelle]

Sadly, the entire ride needs to be completely rebuilt. It has been a disaster for many years with the boats backing up for miles it seems. Failed mermaids, soaked guests, non-working AAs, etc. It needs to get scrapped and rebuilt to be the longest and best one ever. I don't care if it takes 3 years. The band-aid fixes of these "refurbs" are laughable and an insult to us all.

Just keep the classic integrity of the ride! But agree 100% about the backed-up boats, drenched riders, etc.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Sadly, the entire ride needs to be completely rebuilt. It has been a disaster for many years with the boats backing up for miles it seems. Failed mermaids, soaked guests, non-working AAs, etc. It needs to get scrapped and rebuilt to be the longest and best one ever. I don't care if it takes 3 years. The band-aid fixes of these "refurbs" are laughable and an insult to us all.

The backing up has been there since day one and it happens in DL as well. Today's culture that encourages people with disabilities to ride (a good thing btw) contributes to the backup most of the time. Mermaids was tried, it worked but almost no one saw it anyway, it was just light projected on water, not terribly high tech. Soaked guests is a recent happening within the last few years when they "attempted" to upgrade the ride vehicles, but, instead downgraded them. They recently went through and replaced many of the AA's, I don't recall any that no longer work. Maybe one or two, but, you can't see everything so I might have missed it. What we see is what we will get. To even think that they would shut down that ride and rebuild it for an extra minute or two of boat ride, is well beyond folly.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

The way I have heard it explained on some Disney documentaries that talk about DL vs WDW PoTC. To make up for the short ride in WDW they made the queue more immersive so that they could start telling the story at the start of the queue as opposed to at the start of the ride. Some say, a way to plus the overall experience, in a way. I haven't been to DL version so I can't compare much except with youtube videos which, I know I know... It's not like really being there.

 

[NearTheEars]

Sadly, the entire ride needs to be completely rebuilt. It has been a disaster for many years with the boats backing up for miles it seems. Failed mermaids, soaked guests, non-working AAs, etc. It needs to get scrapped and rebuilt to be the longest and best one ever. I don't care if it takes 3 years. The band-aid fixes of these "refurbs" are laughable and an insult to us all.

The AAs and show scenes just received an awesome refurb.
The new boats are the only glaring problem now IMO.

 

[MadMax11]

The way I have heard it explained on some Disney documentaries that talk about DL vs WDW PoTC. To make up for the short ride in WDW they made the queue more immersive so that they could start telling the story at the start of the queue as opposed to at the start of the ride. Some say, a way to plus the overall experience, in a way. I haven't been to DL version so I can't compare much except with youtube videos which, I know I know... It's not like really being there.

That makes a lot of sense actually. Had never thought about it. DL's queue is pretty unremarkable. It doesn't give you the idea you're walking through a fortress or look anything like what you'd expect from a pirate themed ride. WDW's certainly does.

I prefer the DL version....but like others here, I don't think the difference is that great.

I will tell you, though, that DL's Space Mountain was absolutely notably better than WDW's...and I say that while still saying I love Space Mountain at WDW.

 

[marni1971]

That makes a lot of sense actually. Had never thought about it. DL's queue is pretty unremarkable. It doesn't give you the idea you're walking through a fortress or look anything like what you'd expect from a pirate themed ride. WDW's certainly does.

DLP has both a lavish queue and amazing ride.

Did they learn from previous mistakes?

 

[jbeechuk]

DLP has an amazing POTC. I rode it a few years after it opened. It blows away both US versions.

 

[MadMax11]

DLP has both a lavish queue and amazing ride.

Did they learn from previous mistakes?

That sounds right. Though I like DL's and WDW's POC too much to be objective about possible "mistakes" (except to the extent they're just not taking care of the rides, now). I appreciate their differences..makes it more interesting to ride them both, I think.

 

[NearTheEars]

Wanted to bump this in regard to the water issue.

Today was about our 4th ride on POTC over the last 3 or so months. All on different days, but it seems they have solved the boats taking on water issue.

Originally with the new fleet, we'd get pretty wet and walk off with damp shoes, but not at all recently. And I've also surveyed the empty boats as they pulled in at load and all have been rather dry.

Any idea how they got things back on track?

 

[BasiltheBatLord]

Sorry this is off-topic, but could someone clue me in as to why the DLP Pirates is generally considered one of the best versions? Just from what ride-through videos are showing me the major difference is sequential in that the caverns come at the end as opposed to the beginning. Aside from other minor new things (Pirate swinging on rope, swordfighting animatronics) it seems to be almost exactly the same as DL's version in terms of represented show scenes (except missing the shootout scene at the end of DL's).

 

[marni1971]

Sorry this is off-topic, but could someone clue me in as to why the DLP Pirates is generally considered one of the best versions?.

Personally I'd say a queue as good as if not better than WDW, load as good as if not better than DL, coherent scene order, stunning cove and sea scenes at the start, more effects, more fluid AAs, great arsenal effect that ties in with the story and the lift and drops used for story, not due to design.

There's also the little and not so little things... sailing through the hull of the shipwreck, the sea at night infinity cove, the lift machinery, the view down into bombardment bay from the top floor, the whole new scene on that top floor, the more elaborate jail with floating cats on blocks, the drop right into the crossfire with the cannons turning on you, the duelling AAs, the expanded cave sequence....

 

[E-ticket Princess]

This concept sketch shows a very different version where the women turn the tables on the pirates and end up with all the loot. payback for the bride auction? Although the scene appears in the beginning of the DL version sans the victorious ladies this drawing was supposed to be at the end of the ride and tells quite a different story.