The Sparrow has landed... in the
Pirates attractions!
The ride that inspired
the films has now been enhanced by them!
ANAHIEM, CAPirates of the Caribbean, the popular
Disney theme park attraction brought to the big screen in
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black
Pearl, welcomed new characters and elements today from the
blockbuster entertainment franchise as part of a spectacular,
star-studded world premiere for Pirates of the Caribbean:
Dead Man's Chest at Disneyland in Southern California.
The attraction officially re-opened to guests at Disneyland
on June 26 and in Florida's Magic Kingdom on July 7. The
crafty Captain Jack Sparrow, his ruthless and cunning nemesis
Barbossa, and Davy Jones, the legendary ruler of the ocean
depths, have joined the "Wildest crew to ever sack
the Spanish Main" in the classic Disney Park adventure
at both the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney
World Resort in Florida. The enhanced attraction opens in
time for the highly anticipated major motion picture release
of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, in theaters
nationwide on July 7.
Additionally, in late June of 2006, guests sailing on a
Disney Cruise Line vacation found a 175-foot ghost ship,
The Flying Dutchman, anchored at Disney's private island
Castaway Cay. The actual movie set piece from the new film
provides the perfect setting and an incredible backdrop
for would-be pirates.
"Bringing these popular characters from the 'Pirates
of the Caribbean' film franchise to Disneyland and Walt
Disney World is a great example of how we are bringing new
magic to a classic attraction," said Jay Rasulo, chairman
of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "Our parks are where
the Disney magic comes alive, and we're excited to give
Captain Jack Sparrow and his cohorts a home in our Pirates
of the Caribbean attractions and on Castaway Cay
much to the delight of our guests."
The concept art on this page, provided to TellNoTales.com
by Disneyland as an exclusive world-premiere, shows an artist's
rendering of Davy Jones appearing to guests in the mist.
In a unique twist of events, the concept of Pirates of
the Caribbean has come full circle with the attraction initially
inspiring the successful film franchise and now the films
inspiring additions to the attraction. Both versions of
the attraction closed in March 2006 in preparation for the
installation of the enhancements that have been made over
the past three months.
"While the attraction has endured as a favorite for
generations, many fans, particularly young kids, may have
experienced the movie series before the attraction,"
said Kathy Rogers, Walt Disney Imagineering senior show
producer. "So bringing some of the movies' characters
and themes into the attraction helps us maintain that continuity
between these wonderfully interconnected worlds."
Captain Jack Sparrow appears in the attraction on three
different occasions. His first appearance occurs during
the familiar "Dunking Scene" where one of the
pirate leaders is interrogating the village's mayor, trying
to find out Captain Jack's whereabouts by consistently dunking
the poor magistrate in the well. Captain Jack Sparrow appears
again in a barrel next to a salty old pirate who is reviewing
a treasure map. And lastly, Captain Jack can be spotted
in the finale of the attraction relishing in his good fortune
to be the first to find the town's cache of treasure.
Additionally, the treacherous Barbossa can now be seen
as the Captain of the Wicked Wench in the attraction's famous
battle scene. An apparition of the ghostly Davy Jones, a
prominent character in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's
Chest, can be seen in the attraction's mysterious grotto
labyrinth, materializing via a fantastic waterfall effect.
In addition to weaving the characters of Captain Jack Sparrow,
Barbossa and Davy Jones into the attraction's storyline,
the Disney Imagineers have enhanced the attraction experience
with an all-new dynamic digital sound design, the addition
of musical cues from the movie soundtracks, enhanced theatrical
lighting designs and an improved battle sequence between
a pirate galleon and Spanish fortress.
"Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa are great new Audio-Animatronics
figures, and we've featured them in ways that fit into what's
already happening in the attraction but expands the story
just enough to include their personalities," added
Michael Sprout, WDI senior concept writer. "We want
it to feel like they were there all along."
One of the largest scene scenes to be enhanced is the impressive
"Treasure Cache," found in the attraction's mysterious
grottos. Imagineers removed the scene entirely and fabricated
more than 400,000 new shimmering gold coins and set pieces.
The scene at Disneyland will contain original movie props
from the hit 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse
of the Black Pearl.
"This new chapter in the legacy of Pirates of the
Caribbean is testament to our Disney Imagineers, both past
and present, who contributed their skills and talents in
creating one of the great three-dimensional entertainment
experiences of all-time," said Tom Fitzgerald, senior
creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. "Pirates
is considered by many to be the quintessential Disney theme
park adventure, and these enhancements ensure its timeless
appeal and honored place at Disney Parks around the world."
Created under the direct creative supervision of Walt Disney
himself, Pirates of the Caribbean is a classic Disney theme
park adventure, a swashbuckling voyage that transports guests
back to the days when pirates and privateers roamed the
Spanish Main. Starring a comical cast of rascals, scoundrels,
villains and knaves, the world-famous attraction sends guests
of all ages on a voyage through mysterious caverns where
"Dead men tell no tales" and then into a colonial
era Caribbean seaport under siege by a band of fun-loving
pirates. The attraction's jaunty theme song, "Yo Ho
(A Pirate's Life for Me)," sets the show's light tone
with its tongue-in-cheek depiction of high seas lawlessness
now featuring Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and Davy Jones.
Featuring more than 120 Audio-Animatronics performers,
lavishly decorated sets and special effects, Pirates of
the Caribbean is one of the most spectacular attractions
ever created for Disney Parks. More than 500 million people
have experienced the rollicking fun of the immersive adventure
in California and Florida over the past 39 years.
SOURCE: Disneyland News
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