There we go for more Shanghaî Disneyland greatness and today we'll have a closer look at the highly awaited Pirates of Caribbean "Battle for the Sunken Treasure" ride. Let's start with new artwork of Treasure Cove, the land where guests will find Pirates of Caribbean impressive fortress, and described as "the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, a place to join the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones. As guests explore this pirate world, they will enter Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, an attraction that transforms a boat ride into a journey with cutting-edge innovations in robotics, animation, set design and multimedia. Guests will board a pirate ship, paddle through the scenic cove on Explorer Canoes and dine at Barbossa's Bounty"!
Yes, this is how will look POTC entrance!
New colors renderings of Treasure Cove!
As usual WDI did some CGI pre-visualization model of the land...
Now, here is a picture of the "real" model...
Construction shots of the Pirates of Caribbean fortress!
Now, you'll be pleased to know that there will be a Skull Rock in Treasure Cove! As a matter of fact, by what i can judge from the pictures below there might even be more than one...
Let's get inside the ride now. Those of you who were wondering if there would be a kind of "Blue Lagoon" restaurant at the start of the ride will be happy to hear that the answer is"yes!".
Now, about the ride itself. The official description released last month was saying: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a spectacular indoor boat ride that will take guests on a rollicking adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow to steal the priceless treasure of Davy Jones. Seamlessly blending Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies, the attraction features three large media domes, projected effects, lifelike animated figures, theatrical sets and sophisticated lighting to dramatically take guests on, over and even under the sea on a nautical adventure. With a new, highly controlled ride system, the boats can spin, travel sideways, and even move backwards to create a highly personalized experience. Guests will encounter fearless pirates, mermaids and even a kraken. Disney's patented Audio-Animatronics and recent advancements in robotic technology will bring these pirates to a new level of realistic performance."
Most of the answers that Disney fans had about this brand new POTC version of the ride are in this description: yes, the rumor which was saying they will use projection effects was right - i still think that the Jack Sparrow indoor show at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios was a rehearsal for the techniques that will be used here at SDL. Ye,s there will be Audio-Animatronics though probably less than in the original ride, and yes, the ride will use a new boat system and the boats will be able to spin as shown in a WDI patent found some years ago, and even will be able to go backwards! Mermaids will be part of the ride and even the giant kraken, most probably thanks to a huge projection on one of the giant domes.
But the important words in this description are in fact these ones: "theatrical sets and sophisticated lighting to dramatically take guests on, over and even under the sea on a nautical adventure". Which words, you ask? UNDER the sea. Yes, part of the ride will happen "under water level" - not real water don't worry as SDL Imagineers will use dry-for-wet lighting effects, like they did for instance in the Little Mermaid ride, but here with a more haunted feeling. Yes, you'll have to go under the sea to discover the "sunken treasure".
But SDL POTC will indeed have giant sets like this one with two full size pirate ships for a memorable naval battle in which guests will be caught in crossfire when their boat will move right in the middle...
SDL Imagineers did a CGI pre-visualization too for that scene...
...as well as models...
But the real thing is quite impressive...
If you've missed the D23 presentation of the animatique of this sequence, here is the video of it, and i think we have here a scene staged with greatness, using real sets, chinese shadows projections on the sails to show pirates fighting up on the ships and a great lighting which should stun SDL guests.
As you've read the ride will have Audio-Animatronics - good news indeed as it is difficult to imagine a POTC ride without Audio-Animatronics even if the ride will be based on the POTC Jack Sparrow movies rather than the original storyline. And at D23 a video was showing one of the AAs, the frightening "Hammerhead" character. If you don't remember him that's how he looked in the movie..
Here is a WDI rendering for the ride scene...
...and CGI pre-visualization model.
Sculpting the character...
Programming the Audio-Animatronic...
Final sculpting and staging...
...before more dressing and further programming.
I'm sure you're dying to see how this AA works in real so here is the video of it.
There is more Treasure Cove awesomeness to come in D&M next article so make sure to don't miss it. But before you go make sure to watch the video below from where are coming these enhanced screen captures. It was shown at D23 and filmed by Mouse Steps whom we can't thanks enough to have filmed it.
Pictures: copyright Disney - Shendi
