POTC Johnny Refurb

[Mousey Girl]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaniel

Another comment I have not read or heard: With the three Audio-Animatronics of Jack Sparrow, all I see is "Johnny Depp." All of the other AAs in the ride are simply classic, timeless pirates. But the updating and modernizing of the ride with a prominent, contemporary AA fails to suspend my disbelief. I see a modern-day actor immortalized in the ride, and that ruins part of the ride experience. "Look, there's Johnny Depp in the ride."

From what I read on Mice Chat, Disney is having the same type of problem with the walk around character.

[Brigitte]

What other live action stars have they had walk around characters of?

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Brigitte

What other live action stars have they had walk around characters of?

Mary Poppins and Bert. I'm sure there are others.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaniel

Upon passing the wall of lit-up smoke, you instantly see the ship with POTC movie score blaring too obviously in the background. The surprise effect of a life-size pirate ship in open-skies--magically appearing at the end of a dark, mysterious cavern with spooky pirate voices--is gone.

The way I see it, you get a more "startling" first view of the ship after passing through a waterfall. Different to be sure, but still good in its own right.

I think the waterfall effect is a great addition, albeit with a price to pay (a small price to me, an unacceptable price for others).

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Mousey Girl

The shadow projection on the wall is now a bar fight scene that is not nearly as well done as the sword fight.

I could be mistaken, but I think that projection has been there for a while (a couple of years).

[Mousey Girl]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I could be mistaken, but I think that projection has been there for a while (a couple of years).

Quite possible. I hadn't been on it in a while. I usually skip riding it if I am tired. I tend to fall alseep during the ride.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I could be mistaken, but I think that projection has been there for a while (a couple of years).

The projection has been there for years, but they've changed it from a sword fight to (I guess) a bar brawl. I admit, I had no idea what they were trying to convey in shadows with the new projection. The old projection has the tinging sound of swords hiting.

[innerSpaceman]

No one has ever for one minute thought 'Glenn Close' when seeing Disneyland's Cruella deVil. She's the cartoon Cruella, through and through.

I'd also wager that not many think 'Julie Andrews' when seeing Mary Poppins. It's hard to relate that to Johnny Depp because I wasn't visiting Disneyland on any regular basis in 1964. Perhaps people did associate her strongly with Andrews at the time. If so, I think it's as much of a bad show distraction as the 'Johnny' character is today.

Good point that Disney Daniel raised. With all the other ride atrocities that have captured and tortured my attention, I never questioned the value of me thinking 'Johnny Depp' at every single AA appearance, and even the painting on the wall.

In the movie(s), with a performance being played, I can - at times - think 'Captain Jack Sparrow' ... but the robots have never, for an instant, made me think of anything but 'Johnny Depp.' I've never even heard of anyone calling them the 'Jack Sparrow' AAs. Even from the people who love the changes, I have heard universal reference to the new 'Johnny Depp' characters in the ride.


Interestingly, the robot who only barely resembles Geoffrey Rush is being referred to as "Barbossa" by everyone I've heard. We'll have to wait till next year to find out how the new robots are regarded, but so far they are certainly being called the Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom AA figures.


Bad, bad, bad, bad show. In fact, no show at all.

[Alex]

Thus I said technically. Which is correct for the question asked. They've also at times had Tom Sawyer and Becky characters which have only been presented in live-action form in Disney movie. But again only technically correct since they weren't intended to invoke any specific movie role.

Out of curiosity, since you hate it so much, will you no longer go on it?

[innerSpaceman]

Well, they've also had Davey Crockett and Zorro, and I'm sure those were meant to reflect Disney characters. But when the characters also have a "real" counterpart - either literary or biological - I think guests' perceptions are not channeled towards specific actors.


As for ever going on Pirates again ... I'm very sad to report that - - once the spate of riding with newbies is over, it will no longer be a ride I suggest riding. I will never be a stick-in-the-mud and refuse to board if that's a group's choice. But I will never be the one to encourage it.

Likewise with Haunted Mansion.

Hmmm, the two Disneyland masterpieces off my ride-desired list. That's a crying shame. If Space Mountain really becomes unavailable at night next year, I'm going to seriously be questioning my desire to go to Disneyland at all. As most of you know, I'm not really there for the rides ... but changing my three absolute favorites into experiences I'd rather not have puts a damper on the whole Disneyland experience for me.

Bah, sad, sad, bah!