Pirates of the Caribbean " On Stranger Tides " Featurette

Walt Disney Studios France released this POTC 4 featurette. Called "the inspirtion of the POTC saga" it begins by few images of Walt and the POTC attraction. But you will also see shots of the making-of of "On Stranger Tides"!

And a last good news aboujavascript:void(0)t Penelope Cruz as since yesterday she has her own "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right in front of the El Capitan Theatre!




Picture and video: copyright Disney

New High-Res Pirates of Caribbean 4 Posters

New Pirates of Caribbean 4 posters were released and i suppose that you'll be happy to get them, specially in high-res, so here they are!





Two new posters of the Barbossa and Blackbeard characters, these one are in "medium-res".





Pictures: copyright Disney-Jerry Bruckheimer

You will never believe the real origin of Phantom Canyon's inhabitants !

All of you, Disneyland Paris fans, who ride Phantom Manor again and again might think - thanks to excellent "Phantom Manor" websites - that you know all about this DLP beloved attraction. But, today, you will learn amazing secrets you've never heard before.

In Phantom Manor "Phantom Canyon" is the last scene of the ride, after the doom buggy went through the graveyard and skeletons section. In a way, it's the grand finale of the ride. It's a totally different finale than the one you generally experience in the others Haunted Mansions. In Phantom Manor WDI Imagineers designed a surreal ghost town, and this ghost town have some rather unique Audio-Animatronics inhabitants. It is their story that I will tell you now.

In the early 1990's, while WDI Imagineers were building Phantom Manor's structure the Audio-Animatronics figures were made in WDI workshop, at Walt Disney World. At that time, Jeff Burke, DLP Frontierland's show producer, had to choose the "faces and bodies" of Phantom Canyon's future inhabitants. For the skeletons that guests meet in the previous scene, WDI purchased plastic skeletons from a company that normally supplies these "bony creations" to medical schools and colleges. For the "underworld" of Phantom Manor the skeletons were purchased in bulk and in different dimensions - larger for the men "crypt characters", smaller for the women.



And the largest skeleton acquired, used for the infamous Phantom character, was 6' 3" tall.



But for the "human" characters of Phantom Canyon it was a totally different challenge.
It's not well known but sometime - to avoid the expense of sculpting new heads and bodies for new kind of Audio-Animatronics characters - Imagineers can do a selection from masks and molds designed for AA characters of previous attractions. Then, with the magic of WDI designers and new costumes a whole new cast appear. For instance,some of the ghosts of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion previously showed up in Pirates of the Caribbean. Not only it's easier and less expensive, but the budget savings can be used to enhance lighting, special effects and other production values of the attraction.

Now, let's get back to Jeff Burke, WDW workshop, and the folks of Phantom Canyon. If you did the ride at DLP, you probably remember the bank robber and his donkey. Well, his face and body are from a mask and mold previously used for a character of EPCOT's World of Motion... as well as the donkey!



And the face and body of the scared sheriff hiding behind the lampost, is also featured as a skinny pirate in the auction scene of WDW Pirates of the Caribbean.



Mind you, Jeff's first choice was to used the terrified groundskeeper standing at the cemetary gates in Haunted Mansion's final scene. By the way, from that same scene, a howling dog among the tombstones has been turned into a snarling "hound from hell" lunging toward your doom buggy when you exit the Bride's bedroom.

Edited 10/1: Richard, a faithful D&M reader sent to me the pictures below of the DL Haunted Mansion organist. As i mention in my text that the scared sheriff's head was used previously for a Pirates of Caribbean character, Richard thought that it might be instead the head used for the organist in the Haunted Mansion, and looking at these pictures i must admit that the scared sheriff and the organist faces looks very similar.

The best was to ask my good friend Jeff Burke who was DLP's Frontierland show-producer and Jeff answered to me that "the AA head used for the organist and the scared sheriff in Phantom Manor is indeed from the same sculpture with some distinctive makeup variations. However, he was not sculpted originally with Phantom Manor in mind but rather was fashioned as one of the extra figures for "Pirates of the Caribbean"."

In two words, the same sculpted head was sculpted first for a Disneyland POTC character first, then used for the HM organist at Disneyland and then for the scared sheriff at DLP's Phantom Manor! Amazing, isn't it?





Other Phantom Canyon inhabitants includes the piano player...



...the bartender, the saloon girl...



...and the druggist. All of them began their AA "career" in various scenes of the now extinct World of Motion attraction.



But the biggest surprise probably comes from the Mayor character who welcomes us to Phantom Canyon. He's the one who greets you not only by removing his hat, but his head as well! You're not going to believe who he is really or should i say who "he" was in a previous "life": Believe it or not, but the mayor of Phantom Canyon is DREAMFINDER, the main character from the beloved Journey into Imagination attraction!



Quite frankly, I've ride Phantom Manor dozens of time and never noticed it before but indeed Phantom Canyon's mayor is/was the Dreamfinder character of EPCOT's Journey into Imagination! And the voice of this macabre mayor wishing you a "Welcome, foolish mortals..." is none less than the talented Paul Frees, who is the voice of the "Ghost Host" in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.

So, next time you will ride through Phantom Manor and when your doom buggy will go down to enter Phantom Canyon, don't forget to say a warm "Hello!" to the "Dreamfinder" mayor and all the other characters who are versatile enough to scare you at DLP after they entertained guests in a previous "life" at others Disney theme parks.







If you're looking for a great gift to offer to anyone you love - including yourself - the "Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality" book with its 320 pages and 750 pictures - including 250 renderings from Walt Disney Imagineering - would be a GREAT gift for any Disney fan! I still have some copies of this hard to find book and, as i am one of the two authors of the book, each copy will be sign specially for you or anyone you wish. Of course, don't forget to tell me the name to whom you wish he dedicates the book.

Price for one copy of the english updated edition (with the text in english) is 87 Euros + 15 euros shipping to any country. Payment can be done with Paypal.

You can see some inside pages of the book on this D&M page HERE and to order the book please email me at: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr

Paypal payment can be sent to: lawrence55@wanadoo.fr

Attraction poster: copyright Disney Enterprises Inc

Photos: Alain Littaye

Pirates of Caribbean " On Stranger Tides " - Filming in Hawaii - Part Two

As the filming of Pirates of Caribbean "On Stranger Tides" is going on in Hawaii, new videos were uploaded on Youtube this week. I'll try to give you fresh news of the POTC filming each sunday, as long as new pictures or videos will be available!



So, new videos of the shooting on the Queen Anne's Revenge in Kaneohe Bay, Heeia Harbor - and above a new picture of the ship.



Remember last week the video showing a battle rehearsal on the ship? Well, days later they've shoot the real scene, and here is a video showing this. You'll note the smoke effects in the background.




Anybody knows that it's a hard life to be a super-star but Johnny Depp always had a great respect for his fans, specially considering they generally wait a long time to see their idol. On the first video below Johnny, on his way to the set, salutes his Hawaian fans. And on the second one Johnny takes plenty of time to cheers with everyone, probably back at night from a long shooting day - or may be he was going to a night sequence shoooting...







See you soon for more news of Pirates of Caribbean "On Stranger Tides"!

Pictures: copyright Disney - Jerry Bruckheimer

Videos: Many thanks to all the different people who've filmed and posted the videos on Youtube!

Pirates of Caribbean Behind the Scenes - Part One

Let's have a look back at the origin of one of the best E-Ticket ever made, which, just like the Haunted Mansion, is an attraction we can ride forever...So, here is a special POTC "behind the scenes" article, with artwork, photos, and great videos where Walt Disney will introduce you to this beloved attraction. And on monday i will post the part two of this "POTC behind the scenes", a brand new article including rare pictures of Imagineers creating the ride!

You probably have already heard about it, but some of the early concept of the attraction had it designed as a walk-through instead of a flume-ride, as you can see on the rendering below



As everybody knows Marc Davis designed most of the scenes of "Pirates" and here is a selection some of his great renderings.



























Here is Walt with Marc Davis, Blaine Gibson and one of the first Audio-animatronics...



And here he is with Claude Coats who created the fantastic settings of the attraction.



Some great pictures of the attraction, the Disneyland version.









This two part Youtube video is from a 1960's Disney TV show for Disneyland 10th Anniversary and Walt introduces the future Pirates of Caribbean attraction to a young Disney ambassador.







Let's end with this great painting done by John Horny for the Disneyland Paris Blue Lagoon restaurant.




You can find much more renderings in the great Jason Surell book - the best book ever written on "Pirates of Caribbean" - a "must have" if you don't have it yet!



Artwork, photos and videos: copyright Disney

All my thanks to freedogshampoo and MegaRob64 for the youtube videos

How Disneyland attractions inspired parks around the world - Part Two : Europa Park's Pirates in Batavia

In the part two of this articles series we will have a look to how Pirates of Caribbean inspired the Piraten in Batavia attraction at Germany's most popular theme park: Europa-Park.

Europa-Park is run by the Mack family which have produced vehicles since 1780, circus wagons since 1880 and rollercoasters since 1921. The park was opened in 1975 to act as a showcase for many of their different ride models - for example, the Wild Mouse roller coaster. Although the park "borrowed" many ideas from Disney parks - beginning by Epcot's Spaceship Earth ball design - Disney is sometime interested by MACK ride systems for a Disney attraction. Recently, Al Weiss, Philippe Gas - DLP chairman - Georges Kalogridis - now at the head of DLR - were at Europa Park for a secret meeting as i told you in previous articles.



At Europa-Park, guests who ride the Piraten in Batavia attraction (Batavia was a city in the Dutch indonesia colony and is known now as Djakarta) can "witness the attack of wild pirates on a southeast Asian Dutch colony in 1619, which has been reproduced to perfection. Already in the entrance area, you are taken to the Far East and put in the mood for the adventures yet to come. You pass by sceneries with Dutchmen who are far away from home, and suddenly – a deafening cannon shot. Here, you won’t have a chance to get bored! Then, you start an adventurous boat trip through the exotic world of the seaport Batavia in the former colony Dutch East India. Become a witness of the pirates’ attack on a peaceful colony!"

Does this synopsis of the ride sounds familiar? Well, although Piraten in Batavia took a lot of its inspiration in Disneyland's attraction - as you will see on the video below - the quality of the audio-animatronics is not as good as the one designed by WDI. But thanks to the lighting and decors, may be the guests don't see the difference...which i doubt.





Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Picture: copyright Coasters.com and Rides.nl

Youtube video: copyright Alexhardrock whom i thanks a lot

New Pirates of Caribbean Trilogy without Johnny Depp ?

Remember my article last week entitled "Could Dick Cook's lay off cost Disney 4 BILLION dollars ? ". I was explaining how devastating it could be for the WDC if Johnny Depp was finally saying "NO" to the Pirates of the Caribbean 4th episode (and so to the next trilogy)?

Well, i don't know if you've read my article but it seems that somebody at Burbank did read it as the Cinema Blend web site announces today that Disney "is preparing to replace Captain Jack with a entirely new character if Depp eventually refuses a fifth and sixth film" . Not to mention the fourth if johnny was changing his mind.
Why are they thinking to do such an insanity? Because of Johnny's comments after Dick Cook was fired. Exactly what i told you in the article.

Now, can you think about a POTC movie WITHOUT Jack Sparrow and Johnny's genius? Frankly, half of the success of the movies were due to the Jack Sparrow character and they did billion of dollars thanks to Johnny's talent. So who could be fool enough to try to replace him? Well, actually, they probably DON'T want to replace Johnny and it seems that they're ready to pay him a big amount of dollars for the fourth movie. But Disney execs have probably realised too that Cook's lay off could eventually cost them more than expected only because the actor who plays their most valuable character may be more faithful to his friend than greedy. I live in Paris but it's almost if i can hear the "Ooops, i think we've got a problem" coming out of Burbank when they've learned that Depp was "less enthusiastic" to come back for a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean.

There is no way that Disney will accept to loose the POTC phenomenal franchise and there is at least one point we all ( Disney, you, me, everybody ) agree on: nobody else than Johnny Depp can play the Jack Sparrow character. If Johnny's not part of the movie, they have to create a new character. That's why they're thinking to introduce a new character, just in case...

Of course it's also a way to send a message to Johnny, something like "don't ever think that you are in strong position, we can replace your character". Which is in fact exactly what Disney execs probably think right now - that Johnny IS in fact in strong position - and of course they hate this.

No doubt that Johnny Depp will get the message. And you know what? Knowing Johnny's nature as i do, I think he's not going to like it. Not at all.


Edited 9/29: Cinema Blend just released a new article saying that they "spoke to a Disney representative today who had checked with the higher-ups in the company, who assure that Depp has not wavered one bit in his commitment to Pirates 4, despite some cryptic statements he made when Disney exec Dick Cook left the studio last week.
As for any movies following Stranger Tides, the Disney rep can't speak about those-- probably not because they don't want to do them, but because nothing has yet been greenlit, and it would be silly to publicly speculate otherwise."

Okay, so until now Depp is still part of POTC 4!

We'll see what will happen next, so.........to be continued

Picture: copyright Disney-Bruckheimer

Could Dick Cook's lay off cost Disney 4 BILLION dollars ?

Since last friday Disney denied that Dick Cook was fired. Alas, it seems that nobody really believes that Cook decided by himself to resign from the Walt Disney Studios, "effective immediately". But could the consequences of Dick Cook's lay off finally cost Disney 4 Billion dollars?

Dick Cook was one of the most popular executives at Hollywood, and even more than that, he was loved by a lot of influent directors/actors, and many more. Cook was "a crucial player when it came to persuading Steve Jobs and others to bring Pixar into the Disney fold" and for Steven Spielberg Dick Cook "was a major reason why him and Stacey Snider brought the new DreamWorks to Disney" and Steven seems to be "devastated" by the news of Cook's departure.

Johnny Depp said he was "shocked" because Cook was "a friend inside an insane system" and because the Pirates of Caribbean movies were "all born in Cook's office".
But Johnny had also other words about the next Pirates of Caribbean movie that should ring a bell inside Iger's head: In a phone interview from London Johnny said "There's a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm at the moment..." And in a Los Angeles Times interview Depp is "questioning whether he'll want to continue playing his key role in Pirates of the Carribean sequels without Cook heading the studio".

Now, do you have any idea how much money Disney did with the first Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy? Here are the numbers for the "worldwide grosses":
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl: $654 M
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End: $961 M
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: $1.066 B

Total: $2.681 Billion. And this is ONLY for worldwide theatres grosses, it doesn't count all the DVD and Blu-Ray sales AND all the money from POTC merchandise products. I don't have the numbers for these but with them we're probably close to $4 Billion.

According that the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie "On Stranger Tides" - which seems to be an adaptation from Tim Powers book - should be the first episode of a new trilogy, do you understand how devastating it could be for the WDC if Johnny Depp was finally saying "NO" to Pirates of the Caribbean 4th episode (and so to the next trilogy)? That's right: the WDC could say goodbye to the next 4 Billion dollars! And 4 billion dollars is really a lot of money, even for the WDC. In fact, it's exactly the amount that Disney paid one month ago when they acquired Marvel Entertainment!

I know, Johnny was at Dick Cook's D23 Expo presentation a week ago and did a fantastic appearance all dressed in Jack Sparrow - as you can see on the video below from Attractions Magazine - to announce, precisely, "On Stranger Tides". But, you see, may be the contract between Johnny Depp and the WDS is not signed yet... Probably Johnny said that "he will be pleased to play Jack Sparrow again as long as there is a good script and a good director"...but i doubt that the script is already finalised. And as long as there is no final contract, Johnny can do whatever he want. And one thing is sure: Johnny, right now, is very, very, VERY unhappy about Dick Cook's lay off.



Although Johnny love to play Jack Sparrow, he don't really need money and probably have enough now so he can choose to work only with people he like. But he love the Jack Sparrow character, and he love to play it for his children. And Johnny Depp also have a lot of respect for his fans. So all this will probably save the project...but you never know until the contract is signed...

So, is Dick Cook's lay off Bob Iger's first big mistake? Time will tell, but he should pray that Johnny Depp don't decide to "resign, effective immediately" from the next Pirates of Caribbean trilogy. Because, if Johnny does, then yes, Dick Cook lay off will have cost 4 Billion dollars to the Walt Disney Company.


Before we end this article, here is what is probably one of Dick Cook's last interview. Recorded at D23 Expo by Julia Boorstin for CNBC, Cook was explaining his strategy for years to come, and also talk about 3D.



Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat

Video: copyright Attractions Magazine and CNBC

More infos about the Al Weiss - Mack secret meeting at Europa Park

Remember this very intriguing August 28th meeting between Al Weiss (Walt Disney Parks and Resorts), Philippe Gas (CEO Euro Disney), Georges Kalogridis (Chief Operative Officer), Andrew de Csilléry (Vice President Strategic Planning) and MACK ride manufacturer at Europa Park in Germany - supposedly for an "exchange of experience"? If you've not read the part one of the story, you can read it HERE.

Well, i have more news about it, and it's even more intriguing! It seems that Disney executives were interested by different flume rides technologies developed by Mack. Last time, i told you about the flume-ride-with-no-splash-in-the-winter which could be perfect for a Disneyland Paris Splash Mountain. Well, they may have been at Europa Park for that, which mean that Mack no-splash technology could have been looked at for a Splash ride in Paris. But there was something else in Mack flume rides that Disney executives were interested by.

You see, one of Mack flume rides include a "turning table" with a backward drop. In two words, at some point the boat stops on the turning table, is turning, and just like at Epcot Norway Maelstrom's attraction, the boat goes down backward. Then there is another turning table where the boat is turn again and there is a new drop, forward this time. By the way, back at the time they built the Norway ride, WDI imagineers liked very much that effect. And every guest like it too, generally. At Europa Park, unfortunately this flume ride is pretty boring, but the technology works well and used with more genius and a better theming it could deliver an impressing effect.

Now, where it's becoming really interesting is when you will know in which attraction WDI Imagineers may envision to use this turning table and backward drop effect.



If you have a look at the rendering above, you will recognize the now famous Pirates of Caribbean land once envisioned for Hong Kong Disneyland before being refused by HK officials (I don't know how somebody can be enough fool to refuse such an incredible concept, but that's another story). The POTC ride/land won't be build in HKDL but big chances are that it will be part of the highly awaited Shanghaî Disneyland.

And yes, as you may have guess by now, this turning table-backward drop might be used in this new Pirates of Caribbean ride - which by the way is supposed to be more inspired by the Jack Sparrow movies than any other POTC versions previously built. We know already that this new version should have a final big drop (simulating the "At World's end" scene when they search Jack Sparrow to the end of the world and drop from the huge waterfall). Personally i don't think that this backward drop - if there is one - could be used for this big drop. This kind of "Splash Mountain" huge drop needs a maximum security, and it's enough frightening-but-fun when you do it "forward".

So, i may be wrong, but i don't think that Imagineers will use this backward effect on the big drop. BUT i will not be surprised if they use it in another part of the ride - after all Pirates of Caribbean usually have two "little" drops, don't they (except at WDW)? So, i can envision a scene where the POTC boat would stop on a turning table before being sent backward for a "medium" drop. And, but that is pure speculation from me, i think that this could happen after a face-to-face with the Flying Dutchman - although this may look like a too obvious replica of the "Troll" scene in the Maelstrom ride. Or they could also use the backward drop effect after a pirate ship fired all its cannons in direction of our boat. There are a lot of scenes that could be imagined in the story line to legitimize a backdrop effect...

Although a backward drop in a POTC attraction sounds like a pretty exciting idea, don't take all this as 100% sure infos. They are not coming "from the horse's mouth" but as usual with me the source is very reliable, which mean that it could be the truth. To end with a resumé, the Mack no-splash technology could interest Disney executives for a splash ride at DLP and the turning table-backward drop tech could interest them for the Shanghaî Disneyland POTC version. The Future will tell us where is the truth in all this.

Artwork: copyright Disney

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WDW Magic Kingdom Pirates League Sets Sail June 29 !

The new Pirates League at WDW Magic Kingdom will open June 29! It's the newest buccaneer adventure in the Magic Kingdom, featuring makeovers that turn theme park guests into savvy swashbucklers.



Some weeks ago i show you the rendering below, and now, here come the pictures.



On the picture below, a young boy receives the "Cursed Pirate" makeover. Depending on the pirate package, a trained Pirate Master can transform boys, girls (ages 3 and up) and grownups into pirates, buccaneers and maidens using facial effects, fake scars, removable teeth, hats, bandanas and other costume accessories. Included in each of the three packages offered: a sword and sheath, earring and eye patch, temporary tattoo, exclusive pirate coin necklace, map case folder, a personalized pirate oath and a pirate portrait.





Here is the full Disney press release:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Calling all scoundrels, rogues and ne’er-do-wells – Captain Jack and the crew of the Black Pearl want you.

Starting in late June, the Pearl drops anchor in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom for The Pirates League, recruiting and training Walt Disney World guests ages 3 and up in the scurrilous ways of buccaneers.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate’s lair gets an official pirate name. Then it’s off to Muster Station for applications of beards and eye patches, scarves and scars, earrings and gold teeth – all done with the savvy skill of a veteran pirate who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures.




After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack’s motley crew, leaving their old identities behind. Past a hidden portal and into the treasure room, the shipmates have their “pirate portrait” taken before being turned loose on an unsuspecting Adventureland – and no doubt feeling right at home at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.



Guests can choose from three daily pirate packages:

First Mate Package: Includes bandana; choice of facial effects; scars; tattoos; fake teeth; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5x7-inch photo; and personalized pirate oath -- $49.95 plus tax.

Empress Package: Includes bandana; shimmering makeup; face gem; tattoos; nail polish; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; one 5x7-inch photo; and personalized pirate oath -- $49.95 plus tax.

Captains Package: Includes choice of costume/outfit from selection; choice of facial effects; scars; tattoos; fake teeth; earring and eye patch; sword and sheath; pirate coin necklace; three 5x7-inch photos; and personalized pirate oath -- $124.95 plus tax.



Newly donned swashbucklers can test their pirate prowess on the streets of Adventureland where they search for clues and discover treasures. And for mateys who need a little more training, learn the secrets for survival by the captain himself during “Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial.”



Boys, girls and grownups ready for the pirate life can start the process by calling 407/WDW-CREW



Above, a picture of the Magic Kingdom Pirate's League team.

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All pictures and artwork: copyright Disney - Kent Phillips, photographer.