Was Magic Kingdom's POTC damaged by the movie refurb?

[George Lucas on a Bench]

RIP Caribbean Plaza ambiance.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

RIP Caribbean Plaza ambiance.

 

[hth1917]

I imagine the pitch for integrating Johnny Depp went something like this:

One: Jack Sparrow needs to be louder, angrier and have access to a time machine. Two: whenever Jack Sparrow's not in the ride, all the other characters should be asking “Where’s Jack Sparrow?”

I was just thinking of that exact Simpsons reference .

 

[cosmicray]

I was taken aback when I experienced POTC post-movie refurb. I felt that more than anything, the experience was damaged by the movie changes. It really hit home when I went on DL's. It almost seemed like the movie changes were intended for DL's and then shoehorned into the MK version.

For instance, the Davy Jones waterfall actually works as a neat curtain between the caves and bombardment scene in the DL. I actually feel it could be argued that this is genuinely an improvement (although I don't exactly approve of the removal of the original dialogue). It seems to now be the point where you boat travels back through time and space to the Caribbean. At MK, the waterfall scene just kinda comes out of nowhere at the start of the ride and really has nothing to do with anything. I guess MK version never had this time/space travel thing going for it, so what exactly is it all about in the MK version?

Now, the grotto scene has been altered to focus on mermaids, which really has nothing to do with the ride and feels totally out of place. It's completely baffling. So now, you set sail in the MK version and encounter a bunch of random stuff for no apparent reason that in no way sets a proper tone. I don't know, maybe someone else can justify all this and convince me why this is better than hearing the classic "Yo Ho" and being warned of rough waters by that talking skull guy? Not as great as DL's bayou/cave transition, but awesome in its own way.

The DL version received a new barker bird that has now become an iconic part of the experience. We all know that WDW already had one, which was one of the most classic and memorable things in the entire resort. Did they figure that because WDW already had one that no longer fit their re-imagining of the attraction, they should just ditch it? Terrible.

Jack Sparrow was integrated into the ending of the attraction with the treasure room scene at DL, replacing what had become a new scene added in the 90s of pirates created from EPCOT Center World of Motion characters. So basically, it replaced a scene that was never an original part of the ride anyway. At MK, they literally removed the entire original finale of the ride depicting drunken pirates with the treasure, one of the unique elements of the MK version. The attraction now has less Audio-Animatronics than when it originally opened.

At DL, the Davy Jones sayings were integrated into the ending where you go up the waterfall and I have to admit, while I'm generally a purist, it's kinda cool. The music and Bill Nighy dialogue is neat. At MK, they used this for the exit ramp and it just kinda comes off as...dumb, for lack of a better word.

I don't know. Maybe I'm off my hinges. I feel like these refurbs were an opportunity to really improve MK's inferior version, but they've only made it worse.

I'll be honest, I don't care for the idea of putting in elements from the films at all, and I'm someone who genuinely enjoyed the films. My first trip to WDW was in 2000, with following vacations in 2002 and 2004. I grew up with and was enamored by the original (well, pre-film) Pirates of the Caribbean. It was similar to the Haunted Mansion in that it doesn't neccassarily tell a story, but rather puts you into the middle of several environments, totally immersing you in the experience. After the movie additions, the ride felt cheapened and simply a movie tie-in, rather than the masterful work of art it was before. Not to mention the fact we got an even cheaper version of this refurb. Just my two cents.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

When I heard Jack and Barbossa were being added to the ride, my first thought was that they were going to replicate the Paris swordfighting AAs and have the two of them fighting.

 

[lazyboy97o]

When I heard Jack and Barbossa were being added to the ride, my first thought was that they were going to replicate the Paris swordfighting AAs and have the two of them fighting.

I thought it was a great idea at the time. My assumption was that the treasure being stolen in the ride would be the cursed Aztec gold from the first film with Jack Sparrow and Barbosa being dropped into the existing horde.

 

[copcarguyp71]

I heard from a bus driver they were going to add Eddie Murphy and Terence Stamp AA's to the Haunted Mansion

 

[cosmicray]

I heard from a bus driver they were going to add Eddie Murphy and Terence Stamp AA's to the Haunted Mansion

Don't give them ideas!

 

[Victor Kelly]

The two stories only sideswipe each other really. Neither should be included in the other. I fear that more movie tie ins will be added. Now I loved the first movie, after that they went downhill in my opinion. And the addition of Sparrow is more comedic when you see him. In truth when you watch the movie, he is the main comedic character. He is serious but comes off funny.

 

[Victor Kelly]

I heard from a bus driver they were going to add Eddie Murphy and Terence Stamp AA's to the Haunted Mansion

You need to get slapped with a Stitch Doll and chained into the Stitch show for 20 year of chili burps for that comment.

 

[yedliW]

Playing to ignorance is never a wise idea.

True, but it gets done all the time.. A lot of things are played to the lowest common denominator..

 

[FettFan]

It's beautiful! (except the movie flag)

I know, right? Replace that sucker with the Spanish Cross of Burgundy.

 

[Tony Perkis]

Just like the excellent Stitch doesn't make its respective attraction good, the excellent AA of Jack Sparrow doesn't enhance Pirates. His sporadic presence not only confuses the plot, but even worse, it takes away the edge the attraction had during the pillage and plundering scenes.

 

[hth1917]

I heard from a bus driver they were going to add Eddie Murphy and Terence Stamp AA's to the Haunted Mansion

Truth be told, this is why I hope the del Toro film never gets made or is a flop. If it's successful, the addition of movie tie-ins to the ride will be almost inevitable.

 

[draybook]

Something damaged it, because it's been down almost the entire time we've been here. I've been able to get ONE ride in in almost an entire week....

 

[copcarguyp71]

Truth be told, this is why I hope the del Toro film never gets made or is a flop. If it's successful, the addition of movie tie-ins to the ride will be almost inevitable.

What is this Del Toro movie of which you speak??? Probably one of my favorite directors and I am a frothing fanboi mess in anticipation of the next Pacific Rim movie.

...Or was it Benicio you were talking about?

 

[unkadug]

I know, right? Replace that sucker with the Spanish Cross of Burgundy.

Nah...looks too much like the State of Alabama Flag ...which through sheer ignorance is often confused with the confederate flag.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Also, all the Caribbean Plaza fountains that have been turned into planters. Those flowers are a lie!

 

[Monkee Girl]

It's a shame they can't just do a compromise. I like the Sparrow AAs as well but maybe we didn't need 3-4 with the plot involving finding him. I would either stick him in the jail cell trying to get the key from the dog (love how they did that in the movie) or just left him in the treasure room (which has become my favorite scene in the ride). But just one AA would have been fine.

I also like the mermaids in the opening; it makes that part really creepy and I like the mermaid in the water effect. The mermaid bones also makes me sad for some reason. Silly I know, but I think it's a cool addition. HOWEVER, I completely agree that the more movie tie in's they stuff into the ride, the more nonsensicle it becomes so I rather them not put them in at all.

Barbosa can be there as just pirate attacking the city; no harm there. And I like the water fall feature but prefer Black Beard to Davy Jones because I hated the DJ character in those sequels, lol. I guess what I am saying is I don't mind 1 or 2 minor call backs (to the first movie at least) but the continuous additions after every movie bogs the ride down. I rather them spend the money to make the ride longer or something than the constant character tweeks.

 

[hth1917]

What is this Del Toro movie of which you speak??? Probably one of my favorite directors and I am a frothing fanboi mess in anticipation of the next Pacific Rim movie.

...Or was it Benicio you were talking about?

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/14/guillermo-del-toro-gives-update-on-haunted-mansion