Originally Posted by Karen 12th December 2005


Yo ho yo ho..........a pirate's life for me.........

Jason's written a fabulous book about how POTC was "imagined" as a ride and became a movie. As a little girl growing up in California my family went to Disney every year and we coudn't wait to ride POTC.

So today, tell us if you've ever ridden POTC and which one? Has anyone ridden ALL of them? How do they differ? Got a favorite location?

Got a favorite part?

Deppraved

No, I haven't ridden any! I was in WDW in June 1973, but the POTC ride hadn't opened yet.

I do hope someday I'll get to ride one--it would most likely be the WDW location, but I think with each incarnation in each successive park, they made improvements, so I think the one that would impress me most, as far as how they are described in the book is concerned, is Disneyland Paris. They seem to have made improvments based on experience!

SavvyPeppers


I first went on the ride at WDW when I was in elementary school. I was so scared about it beforehand, but I immediately asked my parents if we could go back on it a second time!

Since then, I've been on the ride at Disneyland quite a few times and WDW a zillion times (the Magic Kingdom is practically in my backyard).

My favorite version of the ride is at Disneyland. I love the bayou scene at the beginning with the fireflies and the banjo music. I love the fact that there are two waterfalls. Also, the Audio-Animatronics are in a lot better shape out at Disneyland; the auctioneer is more realistic, and the redhead is more of a knockout. The ride is a lot longer out in CA, too!

I really want to go to Disneyland Paris someday and eventually Tokyo Disneyland & Hong Kong Disneyland; it's always been my dream to go to all of the Disney theme parks...but I'll have to win the lottery first.

Tina als girl


I've been on both the US ones, and I much prefer Disneyland's over Disneyworld's.

It's been a long time, though, since the last time I rode one of the PotC rides. It was back in August of 1996, so it's been a little over 9 years. Can't wait to go to Disneyland after the renovations are through; that's gonna be so awesome!

Captainjacksparrow


I have ridden the POTC ride in California once and the POTC ride in Florida twice

don't know that I had a favorite part of the ride...I just loved the ride in general...I did not get to go to Disney as a child..went when I was in my mid twenties.... the parks are all so mind boggling....so much to take in ...in such a small amount of time......that it is really hard to remember all.....but the most memorable was the talking skull...."dead men tell no tales"

Karen

Ridden both DW and DL many times, but DL the most. LOL Looking forward to seeing the NEW POTC with Capt. Jack Sparrow....

There are some of us who think this pic from POTC2-DMC reminds us of the beginning bayou scene...

Ellen

I've been on both, but don't remember much of DW because it was long before I was a hard core JD fan. Road the one in DL last year and LOVED it. I mostly remember the jail with the dog and the bayou. I think I was so overwhelmed and in in awe that I don't remember much more. I'm hoping to make DeppCon 2006 to ride it with lots of other JD fans. I do have a picture on my cell phone that I took of the outside of the ride.

Karen

You had better make it this year! We sing really loudly!

I know Jason talks about scenes from the ride that are included in the movie and the dog with the key in his mouth always got the biggest laugh...followed by people mumbling about the ride. Listening to people watch the movie was too much fun.

JohnnyFanatic

I have never been on the POTC ride at DL, but I have been on the one at DW. It was the first ride I went on at DW in 1997 (the first and only time I have been there). I really enjoyed it, and it ended up being one of my favorite rides that I went on there. I liked pirates when I was younger (Peter Pan was my favorite Disney movie), and I thought the dip (or dips-I can't remember how many there were!) was fun. I would probably enjoy it so much more now because I would be able to look for all of the movie references in the ride (i.e. the dog with the keys in his mouth).

Deppraved


Boy, do I feel depprived!! I'm a poor, disadvantaged wench!

Well that's something to maybe plan in the not so near future--which may or may not ever come. Always something comes up and then I never have any $$$.

that's life--thank goodness for books and movies! it was cool reading about the rides, because the light went off above my head for lots of scenes in the movie, which I didn't know anything about before. Except the dog at the jail--one of my clients mentioned that.

Jeppody


I've been to DL twice, and ridden the Pirates ride several times....I loved it.

I was amazed at all the things on the ride that were in the film. Being in the UK, the dog and keys meant nothing to me, neither did Scarlet...nothing. It was fantastic to eventually see where these things came from. Heck, when I saw the film, I didn't even know that the Yo Ho song was from the ride!! Of course, with the help of a few friends (you know who you are), I learnt some of the words and sang along with them, very loudly, it was great for us, but I sympathise with everybody else who was on the ride at the time....we were very off key!!

Karen


WHO was off key?

Jeppody

How quickly they forget!! :lol:

Sally2jack

I'm pretty sure it's been noted that the Bayou set dressings for DMC are based heavily on the attraction. I can't remember where I saw it in print, though. But it certainly is modeled after that show scene. There's a few other "new" pulls from the attraction that we'll see pop up in the forthcoming films, too.

I've ridden both DL and WDW. Have not ridden in Paris. =( I'm partial to DLs as it's the original and tells more of the story. The WDW version felt like POTC: Abridged to me. I love Florida's queue, though.

I've walked through Pirates at DL many times, both through the scenes you can get to from backstage entrances, and also just by walking the flume dry during a rehab, which was great because you have access to more scenes much more easily.

I love the battle scene, auction, the bayou and of course the warning from the skull before you plunge down into the depths. When I rode it as a child I wanted to jump out at the treasure scene, and was positively transfixed with the town on fire. That was my introduction to mylar as a theatrical device. I am still obsessed with treasure and have a collection of pirate coins and such. (*not* anything from the attraction itself, I just realized how that sounded). Some from the Pieces of Eight shop above, though.

Watching POTC with pretty much a theatre full of Disney folks was the best experience. There are so many references from the attraction in the first movie that any standard moviegoer wouldn't catch, but of course Disney people went nuts for them. Not to mention the inside jokes about the company. (Don't even get me *started* on the guideline thing)

I know everyone wants jack et.al. to be added to the attraction at DL, but the thought of that makes me a bit sad. The movie is based on the attraction, not the other way around. It's inevitable, and I'm sure it will be cool, but part of me wishes they would only do it to the other Parks and leave Disneyland's alone. I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

Karen


It IS happening at DL...Captain Jack will be there this summer, and I think it'll be alright. For the new generation, Captain Jack IS POTC and Disney is creating their nostalgia, and keeping ours in place at the same time and ensuring POTC as a ride that will keep on sending people down that waterfall and keep them singing that silly YO HO song.

When I rode the ride last summer, you heard them wondering where Capt Jack was?

Karen

Were there favorites in the Disney crowd? As far as mentions or inside jokes?

Sally2jack

Indeed, I know it is actually happening, and I see your point and others' about how people look for capt. jack, kids especially. I'm not opposed to the change entirely, just like I said, a sucker for nostalgia, and feeling selfish.

Walt himself wanted Disneyland to always be changing and "never be complete".

They have some phenomenal ideas on how to incorporate the movie in, some much more expensive than others, so we'll see how it actually ends up.

The "Guidelines" thing was far and away the biggest hit w/ the Disney crowd. The theatre was roaring.

People just ate up seeing all the little things from the ride, too, like Crab Island, the caverns, the way Barbossa was standing on the treasure in the Attraction Poster pose, the background business in Torguga, Gibbs sleeping with the pigs, stuff you wouldn't notice on first viewing if you didn't know the attraction . And the hidden mickey. All those things got great reactions from the Disney crowd.

Seeing it again (and again, and...) with normal crowds it was much quieter in all those spots.

The dog was a favorite, and probably the most recognizeable reference for all audiences. Everyone remembers the dog scene from the attraction.

DonaDonna


I took my Son to WDW in Orlando when he was 7 (he's now 33), and we must have ridden POTC 10 times. He fell in love with the place & told me he was coming back there to work when he grew up. :-) We lived in Ohio at the time. He got his Culinary Degree in Pittsburgh and was recuited by Disney to do his Externship there. He accepted, they offered him a full time position & he will be there 14 years in January. He's now the Catering/Convention Chef over the Magic Kingdom, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness. Sorry to go on & on, I'm so proud of him.

So I moved down to Orlando 4 1/2 years ago too, from Ohio.

I go over & ride all the time, because I get into the Parks for free, I'll never outgrow it.

I met Jason at his Book Launch Party at the Orlando Barnes & Noble. We had a Great time, he was wonderful. Here we are together.





This pic of my friends & I with Jason was posted here the day after the Book Launch Party.

Karen

WOW Great pics DonaDonna! Thanks so much for sharing the news about your son! You should be proud!

Jason is the nicest guy! Glad you included the pics of him too! I wish I could have been there to meet all of y'all. LOL

Thanks again!

JP

Just got back from Disneyland, and we have it on good word that Capt Jack will be added in probably two areas of the ride...........one sure bet would be the jail scene. Anyone up for trying to figure out where else he might be added?

Also, met and spoke with a delightful young lady who works at the Bat En Rouge. She was there on premiere day for POTC I, and was quite sad that she did not get to meet Johnny. She and all the other "young 'uns" were herded into a room where they had to stay until he was through shopping. All she wanted to ask him was if he would marry her........... She was so sweet and just loves Johnny.

Billiroo

Oh what wonder memories this brings up. My husband, sons and I were in DL in l975 and l980 and rode POTC both times. We just loved the ride but I do remember the dog with the keys and Dead men tell no tales. It has been 25 years so my memory has faded a little. Maybe we will get a chance to go this summer and take our grandkids that would be fantastic. I think adding Captain Jack Sparrow to the ride is a grand idea.

Karen

Thanks JP for the report...JDR reported that there will be 3 areas where Capt Jack will be.

JP? What all did you do while out there?

ForeverinmyheartJD


I've been to Disneyland 6 times and have ridden it five out of those six trips. In 1998 is was closed for reno's. I absolutely love it. Splash Mountain has always been my most favourite ride and Pirates a close second but Pirates has been my husbands since he was young. (I never went to Disneyland when I was little, first time was when I was 25!) This March (2006) we are heading down to California for 10 days, but alas, Pirates will close for it renovations 3 days before we get there (Bummer Ted!) Oh well, at least I'll get to see Johnnys hand and footprints at Graumans! As far as adding Captain Jack - they definately need too after seeing how popular he made the movie. It will only add to the ride - not take anything away. I wonder what Johnny thinks about all of this?

And Sally2jack mentioned about Walt Disney never wanting Disneyland to "be complete". There is an actual quote from him somewhere about this very thing. I'll see if I can find it.

JP

We did just about everything!! Went on some "rides" that we had never been on before. I highly recommend the 3-D show in Disney California at It's A Bugs Life...........Not for the faint of heart, but fabulous!!! Of course we rode Pirates of the Caribbean, and I finally got to ride on Space Mountain....nope, Karen, not a ride for you, but great, great fun! We watched the fireworks from a spot in Fantasyland that was awesome....they projected movies onto the It's a Small World facade, AND, when the fireworks were over we had snow! It is definitely a wonderful place to spend some time at in December. We enjoyed our stay at the Disneyland Hotel, and had all our purchases sent to our room! We could have charged everything to the room had we wished to. The hotel is fabulous, too! Christmas trees and gorgeous decorations everywhere you looked. We rode the monorail from a spot close to the hotel into Tomorrowland and back. Really helped to cut down on the walking. Had dinner at The Vineyard and watched the block party while we ate. The food is as good as ever!! My friend Kathy had a ball, which was our goal....oh, and we had a blast, too!!!

Deppraved

I learn SO much from the industry people. Without you I'd be just another Depp Dork. Thanks.