The "flaming town" is one of the most startling
effects in the entire POTC attraction. As discussed in
the history section of the site, when the effects were
first being tested in the mid-'60s, some wary visitors
even thought that real flame was being used for the scene.
Red-hot lighting effects, dancing shadows, and flickering
flames (created safely with illuminated strips of celephane
blowing through the air) give the viewer pause. Pictured
at the top of the page is a rare view of the burning town
from off stage, and pictured above left a "maquette,"
or production model, of the scene.
This drunk pirate
tries his best to sing along with his comrades,
though he can barely hold himself upright without
the help of a lamppost.
As
the town burns brighter, the pirates grow dimmer as the
alcohol takes its toll. Pirates stand around with their
lit torches burning in their hands, unaware of their surroundings.
Others wallow in the mud with pigs and stray cats. The
guests' boat drifts directly under a stone archway under
the glazed gaze of a stupified pirate.
The
Audio-Animatronic pirates were created with exagerated
features and facial expressions, but they are still amazingly
lifelike. The cartoon-ish features seem to be believable
and appropriate amidst the extreme drunken behavior of
the pirates. The following excerpt from "Walt
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean" souvenir guide
explains:
In [the WED sculptors'] clay modeling, they were
first confronted with the problem of composing heads
which were typical of real persons, and not merely cartoon
characters. Features were exagerated to provide characteristics
recognizable instantly, and to facilitate three-dimensional
animation.... Just as actors are chosen for roles in
motion pictures, so also were the heads "cast"
to the figures. Dialogue, body size, and part in the
show dictated which heads were to be used.
The famous theme
song, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirate's Life for Me,"
by X Atencio and George Bruns, plays continuously
through the torching of the town sequence.
Guests find themselves floating past an array of
minstrels, sailors, and thieves as they continue
floating onward. Meanwhile, it is difficult to avoid
humming along with "X" Atencio's famous
theme song:
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me!
We pillage, plunder, we rifle and loot,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We kindle and char and enflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains
and knaves,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do well
cads,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'arties, yo ho!
The audio soundtrack
from the jail scene portrays the nervous pirates
stuck in a burning prison trying to con the guard
dog into giving up his key.
The
boats continue their trip through the melee, drifting
into the foundations of the town and passing prison cells
that are threatened by the looming flames... as are the
captive pirates trapped inside, some of whom are frantically
trying to bribe a guard dog into bringing them the keys
to the cell, which he holds tauntingly in his jaws.
Finally drifing into a burning building, guests are suddenly
thrust into the midst of burning embers and flaming pillars.
From above, ominous creaking sounds echo through the subterranean
chamber as the foundations of the buildings above sway and
burning beams crack and groan under the pressure. The boats
then enter the town's underground arsenal and armory.
The creaking beams
inside some of the burning buildings of the Caribbean
town sway menacingly above the heads of the guests...
Guests
drift between stockpiles of weapons, cannonballs, and stacked
barrels of gunpowder. The drunken pirates are oblivious
to the imminent threat, as they take potshots at guests
in the boats, the casks of gunpowder, and each other while
their shots ricochet off of the walls and armor stored in
the room.
With
this final scene, guests' tour of the world of the pirates
comes to an end. Before the inebriated salts can blow the
arsenal into pieces, our boats make their escape by heading
"up" a waterfall. However, with the 2005 attraction
overhaul, one final scene of Jack Sparrow awaits guests
as they escape the town's armory. It seems Jack has found
his treasure stash, while the ghost of Davy Jones taunts
guests as they make their escape. Reversing fortune, the
boats take their visitors back to the safety of the placid
Blue Bayou, from where they will return to the magical sights
and sounds of the Disney theme park, ready to set sail for
another adventure!
The finale
of the attraction is heard as guests head out of the
burning town, "up" a waterfall, and land safely
back at the dock. Yo ho!
Burning
the Village, and Your Escape... 
As
the town burns brighter, the pirates grow dimmer as the
alcohol takes its toll. Pirates stand around with their
lit torches burning in their hands, unaware of their surroundings.
Others wallow in the mud with pigs and stray cats. The
guests' boat drifts directly under a stone archway under
the glazed gaze of a stupified pirate.
The
Audio-Animatronic pirates were created with exagerated
features and facial expressions, but they are still amazingly
lifelike. The cartoon-ish features seem to be believable
and appropriate amidst the extreme drunken behavior of
the pirates. The following excerpt from "Walt
Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean" souvenir guide
explains:
The
boats continue their trip through the melee, drifting
into the foundations of the town and passing prison cells
that are threatened by the looming flames... as are the
captive pirates trapped inside, some of whom are frantically
trying to bribe a guard dog into bringing them the keys
to the cell, which he holds tauntingly in his jaws.
Guests
drift between stockpiles of weapons, cannonballs, and stacked
barrels of gunpowder. The drunken pirates are oblivious
to the imminent threat, as they take potshots at guests
in the boats, the casks of gunpowder, and each other while
their shots ricochet off of the walls and armor stored in
the room.
With
this final scene, guests' tour of the world of the pirates
comes to an end. Before the inebriated salts can blow the
arsenal into pieces, our boats make their escape by heading
"up" a waterfall. However, with the 2005 attraction
overhaul, one final scene of Jack Sparrow awaits guests
as they escape the town's armory. It seems Jack has found
his treasure stash, while the ghost of Davy Jones taunts
guests as they make their escape. Reversing fortune, the
boats take their visitors back to the safety of the placid
Blue Bayou, from where they will return to the magical sights
and sounds of the Disney theme park, ready to set sail for
another adventure! 