Pirates of the Caribbean

Report by Regan B. Pederson and Graham Allan

Pirates of the Caribbean is superb, it really works here. The theming at the load area is one of a Caribbean island (rather than Florida's fort or the southern bayou of California/Tokyo). I especially liked the queuing area (although it's very long). The last scene you walk past (on your left) before entering the 'village' is also the last scene you sail past (also on the left) before reaching the unload station.

Every scene makes sense and contributes to the story. You sail through a Caribbean jungle lagoon and go up a "waterfall" ramp into the fort where the pirates have started to make their raid. The sophistication of the animatronic figures is truly outstanding here, as well as the creativity and placement of the figures (and the silhouette is first class). Almost everything in this scene is original to DL-P, except for the jail scene; it's near the beginning here, instead of the end, since at this point in the story the pirates haven't yet raided the town.

You then sail through a cave and receive your proper warning and then you slide down a flume and right into the battle between the pirate ship and the fort (which has been going on at Disneyland and WDW for so many years). The next few scenes are nearly identical to the ones in the US. Everything is more detailed and realistic, though. There is a silhouette in the town fire scene that is way, way, way first class.

Right after you get out of the fire scene, the ride changes from its predecessors. You now slide down a second flume into the powder room, and the burned out town goes down in a huge explosion. You escape into secret caves (Davey Jones' Locker). You see the skeleton at the wheel in the storm and the pirate's secret treasure. As you leave the caves you can see the dock looming ahead of you. I highly applaud the changes and adjustments Disney has made; it all worked very, very well.

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