I'm not sure if I should be starting a new thread on this, but I hope to add some new info that hasn't been discussed yet.
EXTERIOR/QUEUE
Pirates "movie" music is now pumped throughout Caribbean Plaza (such as above/behind the restaurant, fountain, and Frontierland entrance) tying the whole area to the ride, and creating what I think is a much more exciting atmosphere.
I see no thematic reason for removing the talking parrot other than budget cuts. But the new entryway, banners, and queue music do create a much more refreshed atmosphere. It really did feel like a NEW attraction, expecially considering the people anxiously running into the building. There's now an excitement about the ride that has been lacking for years.
After seeing the Disney-produced web video showing Disneyland's enhanced moonlight/clouds projection system, I was a bit disappointed to see the "ship off in a distance" scene in the boarding area unchanged. But at least they didn't harm that scene, either.
CAVES
There's no doubt about it, the atmosphere of the caves has changed. Many will miss the "sing-along" version of Yo-Ho. But overall, I think I prefer the new caves.
The Davey Jones waterfall occurs IMMEDIATELY as you turn the corner and enter the caves. Besides being a tremendously cool effect, it also creates a "curtain" for the ride, much like in a theater, that separates the "real world" from the "fantasy world". It reminded me of the way the Disneyland "drop" waterfalls achieve that same sort of story progression (WDW's drop occurs in a different place along the ride than at DL, so the storytelling effect is different) My only suggestion would have been to use ANOTHER Davey Jones waterfall at the END--much like Disneyland's up-ramp--to tie up the story, and to separate the fantasy world from the real world again.
I think Disney gambled by using the Davey Jones character before the movie comes out. Either he will become a well-liked movie character such as Darth Vader, or an obnoxious one like Jar-Jar Binks. Time will tell what audiences think.
Again, I was disappointed to see WDW did not get DL's improved hurricane scene.
And I see no thematic reason why the talking skull was cut (the area is exactly the same. I disagree with those who say its darker. You can clearly see the rockwork where the skull used to be) This just feels like a budget cut.
SHIP BATTLE
Barbossa's movements seemed slower than I anticipated, but overall, the new ship battle is VERY exciting. I did not miss the old captain. The movie music works. The cannon fire is much more shocking. I was expecting more cannon "splash", but it's still great.
DUNKING THE MAYOR
Your first impression entering the city is WOW. The new lighting is incredible. The costumes stand out. And all the animatronics are more fluid than ever (it makes you appreciate just how much Disney had let this attraction go downhill). Like others have posted, it was sometimes difficult to hear some of the dialogue. Yes, in some places the volume is too low. But for the most part, the audio is better. Because of that, all the pirates are competing for your attention once again, so it's hard to focus on just one's dialogue.
Others have described Jack Sparrow #1, but I'll just add that he does fit thematically, and he's incredibly life-like.
AUCTION
Again, the highlights here are the costumes and lighting. Most of the animatronics here also seem more lively, with the odd exception of the auctioneer. He seemed as "robotic" as ever. Maybe it was just the sequence I saw as we passed.
POOPED PIRATE
Once again, this new scene works. The Sparrow animatronic is incredible, and I like how they advanced the treasure hunt story will the Pooped Pirate.
I'll point out here that the new voice work blends seamlessly with the existing pirate dialogue. All of the new voices fit the Paul Frees tone (when DL did their 1997 PC update of this scene, the Pooped Pirate's voice sounded so out-of-place. It sounded "modern". These new recordings don't.)
BURNING CITY
Despite what I read online first, I was impressed with the flaming city. Sure, I was expecting more of the "new flame effect", but the old-but-improved ones still look great. I noticed that they had some new flame shooting out of a tipped-over lantern near the foot of the pig pirate. A neat detail.
The jail scene is unchanged.
ARSENAL/TREASURE ROOM
I gotta say, the finale to this ride had the greatest potential, but unfortunately, it was the greatest disappointment.
First of all, this was originally the only part of WDW's ride that was BETTER than Disneyland, because you entered on an angle and could see so much, from so many different angles.
Now, they've closed up one of the archways in the arsenal/treasure room, so you can no longer see inside as you leave the jail scene. You only have one straight-on view.
The Sparrow animatronic looks great, but he's really far away (apparently, the new one at DL is too CLOSE to the boats, making him look really fake). It's now darker and black-lit. I could hear the parrot, but I never could see the parrot. And that's probably because of the boat positions.
Since this scene is so close to the exit area, there are basically three "hold" positions for boats as you wait to exit. You can only see Sparrow on that middle hold position. The others are either too far back, or too far forward to see inside the single archway.
Until now, this wasn't a problem because there was so much to look at while waiting for the unload area to clear: the two pirates on the right of the boat shooting at each other, the pirate “Thurl” just to the left of the canal, the two inter-twined pirates on the pile of treasure, the two tied-up Spanish soliders.
Now, ALL OF THEM ARE GONE !!! There is nothing too keep your attention anymore here.
I can understand a possible argument that the other pirates don’t thematically fit here anymore (“Why don’t they steal Capt. Jack’s treasure?”) Then the animatronics should have been moved elsewhere in the attraction. That’s what Disneyland did in their 1997 rehab, when they moved some arsenal pirates to the Pooped Pirate scene (clearing the way for a new scene, where Sparrow was later added in a small alcove out-of-sight from the other arsenal pirates)
WDW got 3 new Jack Sparrow animatronics, Barbossa, new lights, costumes, paint, and music. But they lost at least 7 other animatronics, as well as the talking parrot and talking skull.
EXTERIOR/QUEUE
Pirates "movie" music is now pumped throughout Caribbean Plaza (such as above/behind the restaurant, fountain, and Frontierland entrance) tying the whole area to the ride, and creating what I think is a much more exciting atmosphere.
I see no thematic reason for removing the talking parrot other than budget cuts. But the new entryway, banners, and queue music do create a much more refreshed atmosphere. It really did feel like a NEW attraction, expecially considering the people anxiously running into the building. There's now an excitement about the ride that has been lacking for years.
After seeing the Disney-produced web video showing Disneyland's enhanced moonlight/clouds projection system, I was a bit disappointed to see the "ship off in a distance" scene in the boarding area unchanged. But at least they didn't harm that scene, either.
CAVES
There's no doubt about it, the atmosphere of the caves has changed. Many will miss the "sing-along" version of Yo-Ho. But overall, I think I prefer the new caves.
The Davey Jones waterfall occurs IMMEDIATELY as you turn the corner and enter the caves. Besides being a tremendously cool effect, it also creates a "curtain" for the ride, much like in a theater, that separates the "real world" from the "fantasy world". It reminded me of the way the Disneyland "drop" waterfalls achieve that same sort of story progression (WDW's drop occurs in a different place along the ride than at DL, so the storytelling effect is different) My only suggestion would have been to use ANOTHER Davey Jones waterfall at the END--much like Disneyland's up-ramp--to tie up the story, and to separate the fantasy world from the real world again.
I think Disney gambled by using the Davey Jones character before the movie comes out. Either he will become a well-liked movie character such as Darth Vader, or an obnoxious one like Jar-Jar Binks. Time will tell what audiences think.
Again, I was disappointed to see WDW did not get DL's improved hurricane scene.
And I see no thematic reason why the talking skull was cut (the area is exactly the same. I disagree with those who say its darker. You can clearly see the rockwork where the skull used to be) This just feels like a budget cut.
SHIP BATTLE
Barbossa's movements seemed slower than I anticipated, but overall, the new ship battle is VERY exciting. I did not miss the old captain. The movie music works. The cannon fire is much more shocking. I was expecting more cannon "splash", but it's still great.
DUNKING THE MAYOR
Your first impression entering the city is WOW. The new lighting is incredible. The costumes stand out. And all the animatronics are more fluid than ever (it makes you appreciate just how much Disney had let this attraction go downhill). Like others have posted, it was sometimes difficult to hear some of the dialogue. Yes, in some places the volume is too low. But for the most part, the audio is better. Because of that, all the pirates are competing for your attention once again, so it's hard to focus on just one's dialogue.
Others have described Jack Sparrow #1, but I'll just add that he does fit thematically, and he's incredibly life-like.
AUCTION
Again, the highlights here are the costumes and lighting. Most of the animatronics here also seem more lively, with the odd exception of the auctioneer. He seemed as "robotic" as ever. Maybe it was just the sequence I saw as we passed.
POOPED PIRATE
Once again, this new scene works. The Sparrow animatronic is incredible, and I like how they advanced the treasure hunt story will the Pooped Pirate.
I'll point out here that the new voice work blends seamlessly with the existing pirate dialogue. All of the new voices fit the Paul Frees tone (when DL did their 1997 PC update of this scene, the Pooped Pirate's voice sounded so out-of-place. It sounded "modern". These new recordings don't.)
BURNING CITY
Despite what I read online first, I was impressed with the flaming city. Sure, I was expecting more of the "new flame effect", but the old-but-improved ones still look great. I noticed that they had some new flame shooting out of a tipped-over lantern near the foot of the pig pirate. A neat detail.
The jail scene is unchanged.
ARSENAL/TREASURE ROOM
I gotta say, the finale to this ride had the greatest potential, but unfortunately, it was the greatest disappointment.
First of all, this was originally the only part of WDW's ride that was BETTER than Disneyland, because you entered on an angle and could see so much, from so many different angles.
Now, they've closed up one of the archways in the arsenal/treasure room, so you can no longer see inside as you leave the jail scene. You only have one straight-on view.
The Sparrow animatronic looks great, but he's really far away (apparently, the new one at DL is too CLOSE to the boats, making him look really fake). It's now darker and black-lit. I could hear the parrot, but I never could see the parrot. And that's probably because of the boat positions.
Since this scene is so close to the exit area, there are basically three "hold" positions for boats as you wait to exit. You can only see Sparrow on that middle hold position. The others are either too far back, or too far forward to see inside the single archway.
Until now, this wasn't a problem because there was so much to look at while waiting for the unload area to clear: the two pirates on the right of the boat shooting at each other, the pirate “Thurl” just to the left of the canal, the two inter-twined pirates on the pile of treasure, the two tied-up Spanish soliders.
Now, ALL OF THEM ARE GONE !!! There is nothing too keep your attention anymore here.
I can understand a possible argument that the other pirates don’t thematically fit here anymore (“Why don’t they steal Capt. Jack’s treasure?”) Then the animatronics should have been moved elsewhere in the attraction. That’s what Disneyland did in their 1997 rehab, when they moved some arsenal pirates to the Pooped Pirate scene (clearing the way for a new scene, where Sparrow was later added in a small alcove out-of-sight from the other arsenal pirates)
WDW got 3 new Jack Sparrow animatronics, Barbossa, new lights, costumes, paint, and music. But they lost at least 7 other animatronics, as well as the talking parrot and talking skull.
