On our last couple of trips to the Magic Kingdom the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ ride had been closed for renovation and updating. For those of you that are unaware, the ride inspired the mega successful films and now in a curious case of life imitating art and vice versa, the ride was being updated to reflect the characters in the films!
As a great fan of Captain Jack Sparrow I awaited the re-opening, and on our trip earlier this year was able to take my first ride on the recently re-opened attraction.
The ride is still not a Fastpass attraction, but nevertheless, despite its recent re-opening, we did not have to wait long to board our craft. One of the great blessings of this ride is that as you descend to the dock you are at least kept cool even if the sun outside is blazing away.
As your boat leaves the dock, you soon pass a waterfall and the ghostly face of Davy Jones. Beyond a deserted beach, occupied only by skeletons, you take a sudden drop through the mists and emerge to see the Black Pearl firing at the town’s walls. Around the corner you are treated to one of the many amazing Audio-Animatronic tableaux in which some of the captured pirates are being tortured. Their captors, anxious to learn the whereabouts of Cap’n Jack, are dunking the pirates in a well, totally unaware that in true pantomime tradition ‘he’s behind you’ – well hiding behind the skirts of a nearby wench anyway!
It’s then on to the scene where the town is being ransacked and set alight whilst some of the local ‘ladies’ are being auctioned as wives for the pirates. Jack Sparrow is next glimpsed when you see him looking over the shoulder of Barbossa who is intently studying a treasure map, blissfully unaware that his archenemy is within touching distance.
Just as I was on the verge of feeling that we hadn’t seen enough of my favourite scoundrel he reappears in the final tableau sitting in a grand chair and singing as drunkenly as only he can and leaving us with a rendition of ‘Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates Life for me’.
Those of you with young children should also note that this ride interacts with Pal Mickey, Disney’s interactive Mickey Mouse plush toy, who lets you in, on insider park tips, parade and show time reminders and also tells you when your favourite characters are nearby.
As a great fan of Captain Jack Sparrow I awaited the re-opening, and on our trip earlier this year was able to take my first ride on the recently re-opened attraction.
The ride is still not a Fastpass attraction, but nevertheless, despite its recent re-opening, we did not have to wait long to board our craft. One of the great blessings of this ride is that as you descend to the dock you are at least kept cool even if the sun outside is blazing away.
As your boat leaves the dock, you soon pass a waterfall and the ghostly face of Davy Jones. Beyond a deserted beach, occupied only by skeletons, you take a sudden drop through the mists and emerge to see the Black Pearl firing at the town’s walls. Around the corner you are treated to one of the many amazing Audio-Animatronic tableaux in which some of the captured pirates are being tortured. Their captors, anxious to learn the whereabouts of Cap’n Jack, are dunking the pirates in a well, totally unaware that in true pantomime tradition ‘he’s behind you’ – well hiding behind the skirts of a nearby wench anyway!
It’s then on to the scene where the town is being ransacked and set alight whilst some of the local ‘ladies’ are being auctioned as wives for the pirates. Jack Sparrow is next glimpsed when you see him looking over the shoulder of Barbossa who is intently studying a treasure map, blissfully unaware that his archenemy is within touching distance.
Just as I was on the verge of feeling that we hadn’t seen enough of my favourite scoundrel he reappears in the final tableau sitting in a grand chair and singing as drunkenly as only he can and leaving us with a rendition of ‘Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates Life for me’.
Those of you with young children should also note that this ride interacts with Pal Mickey, Disney’s interactive Mickey Mouse plush toy, who lets you in, on insider park tips, parade and show time reminders and also tells you when your favourite characters are nearby.