This is one of my favorite shots, not just in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but in any movie. The shot does so much. It shows Elizabeth Swann addressing the pirates and their crews just before the battle begins. It shows the entire crew filling the ships. By the way, there are three or four ships. It shows three or four ships in parallel, right? It shows the subject on the left and the entire object mostly to her right. It shows everybody looking in one direction, so you can draw multiple lines of convergence that lead toward Elizabeth Swann’s head. And the shot is completely filled with people. It’s such a beautiful, well-composed shot, that tells so much story.

And give me your personal ranking of the films NO SPOILERS WHEN GIVING YOUR EXPLANATION

I can’t recall how many times I’ve watched the trilogy and I’m slightly embarrassed to say I’ve only just noticed that Shipwreck Cove is literally built out of shipwrecks 🤦🏻‍♂️ 😆

My most recent digital piece of Davy Jones ☺️ I'm thinking I'll draw Calypso next!

A quick message

Since I am fairly new to the community, I wanted to clarify my goal with these ideas. My intention is not to suggest tearing down or replacing any of the classic, beloved animatronics we all grew up with. Instead, I am looking at empty spaces where we could add physical props like the classic mermaid skeletons to enhance the atmosphere without taking anything away. I completely agree that the new projection treasure skeleton doesn't work, so my focus is purely on brainstorming additions that respect the ride's history while making the experience even better for fans. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this approach

Pirates of the Caribbean

In 1967, the ride Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Disneyland and has gone through so many changes in its history, from new effects to movie tie-ins, and today I would like to share some ideas that I have and that others might have too.

Mermaids and their history in the ride

In 2012, Walt Disney World added some mermaid props to their Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which involved a underwater projection of mermaids swimming, a mermaid skeleton on the beach with the other pirate skeletons, and the siren song “My Jolly Sailor Bold”. Although it was a popular addition to the ride, there were a couple of problems. One, the projection was blurry sometimes, two, there would sometimes be an error sign instead of a projection. A few years later, a glass coffin was added on the beach scene, but it didn’t last long, because all mermaid references were removed from the ride, maybe it had to due with the fact that the projection didn’t work well. The mermaids have been a thing in the ride, probably not to promote the fourth movie but they were meant to be permanent to the ride but however due to a poor effect, they had to remove all mermaid props. That happened in the 2018 refurbishment that involved changing the auction scene involving the redhead to become the pirate named Redd. Now the mermaid props were never added to Disneyland, so it was disappointing for guests that usually visit Disneyland and wanted them added. Now I don’t know why they were not added around that time, the ones at Disney World were only added a year after the movies release, so why not have them come to Disneyland? Of course Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the well known classic Disney rides to have movie tie-ins, like when they added Captain Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa, Davy Jones, and Blackbeard, but the last two were removed later on due to issues with the mist projection in a refurbishment that would also involve changing the auction scene. The first photo shows the mermaid skeleton that use to rest on the beach next to that skeleton pillager. Now my idea is…why not restore the effects at Disney World, and why not bring it to Disneyland as well. You all remember the Hatbox Ghost from the Haunted Mansion and the reason for his removal in 1969, due to a poor effect, then in 2015 he finally returned and was better than he could ever be, and ever since he returned, fans wanted him at Disney World, they got that but not the way fans wanted him to be. Photos 2 to 4 show my blueprints for where these mermaids would be if they were to come to Disneyland, I know people have had debates with Disney’s use of projections, but they probably have gotten better over time (with some stuff), and why it have some mermaid animatronics sitting on some rocks in the dark with some lighting effect, they could be looking at you as you pass by, but I wouldn’t go for projections, I mean they have immortal lifespans unless they get killed, and only pirates are dead in this scene. I would recommend the song “My Jolly Sailor Bold” playing as well, but I would also recommend keeping the grotto music playing, and so that people can also hear both, but the siren song shouldn’t be playing throughout the whole scene where there are skeletons. It would be good to have a movie tie-in, but do not go crazy with the movie tie-ins, and mermaid fans from pirates of the Caribbean would be happy. It may look like it was to promote the movie “On Stranger Tides”, but the mermaids didn’t show up to the ride until over a year after the movie came out, the movie was released in May 2011, the mermaids came to the ride in October 2012. It is possible for them to return and come to Disneyland since they are currently lost props. The Hatbox Ghost disappeared in 1969 and then return in 2015 and then added to Disney World in 2023, surely the mermaids can return to Disney World and be added to Disneyland. If the hatbox ghost is able to return, so can the mermaids. It only took one day for Disney World to install mermaids to their ride, it can take the same amount for Disneyland if they do it which they should, but the animatronics might take a while if possible, but this would be good for the rides 60th anniversary, it would be good to bring back a lost effect at both parks. I love Pirates of the Caribbean, I love all the movies, I know the last two didn’t get much love, but I do love the fourth movie and the other Disney projects that happened around those years, we all miss those days, watching Disney movies, going to Disney parks, it was all like a adventure to us.

Restore the treasure skeleton to its true glory

Yes… I agree with all of you, that new animatronic doesn’t work, for many reasons. It’s another projected face, and it breaks the narrative of seeing dead people before you go see alive people. The Treasure skeleton has always been my favorite skeleton in the pirates of the Caribbean ride, they managed to get his outfit that he has worn since 2006 right, but it is just the Hatbox Ghost in Disney World all over again. I love the Hatbox Ghost, I am glad he is in Disney World, but yes, fans are right that he should show up after Madame Leota’s seance, even the hosts at the D23 Expo pointed that out in the opening act. The projected face might look a little cartoonish, and you will see what I mean, shown in photo 5 and 6. Photo 7 shows the original skeleton that people have grew up with for so many years. He should return, but what should Disney do with the new animatronic? Well they can’t just throw it away, must have cost a lot of money, maybe relocate it, or find it a new home, maybe inside of Pirates lair where there is skeletons. I went to Disneyland a few weeks ago and I could definitely tell it was out of place, and does it look like his head is a little bigger than all the other skeleton heads?

Adding but going easy on movie characters

I agree that people want rides to remain in their classic style, we still have a majority of the original animatronics, which is a relief for all of us. But what if Disney were to add characters like Angelica, Will, and Elizabeth. These three have had connections with Jack in his adventures, in the first movie is when Will met Jack and they teamed up to rescue Elizabeth from Captain Barbossa, then in the second movie they must find the heart of Davy jones but Jack gets taken to the locker, then in the third movie he gets rescued and they fight against Davy Jones and Beckett and killing they both while Will and Elizabeth get married, and the three part ways, then in the fourth movie Angelica forces Jack to help her find the fountain of youth for her and her father Blackbeard, but instead Blackbeard dies and Angelica gets the youth but is stranded on an island and wastes her one shot. Now where would they be added, why not place them in an empty spot near the town chase scene, but do not replace any of the pirates and women chasing each other, have two of them duel, and have the other in a different scene. What if there was a sword duel between one of them or with another random pirate, similar to the scene in Disneyland Paris’s version? That could work, only if it is on an unused spot, and doesn’t tear down anything else. My last photo shows the spot it could work in, but nothing should get torn down. That spot has been used for other animatronics from 1997 to 2006 before Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, and Davy Jones made their way in the ride.

Conclusion

To conclude this, I would like to say that writing this has been something, I am not sure what, but definitely something. I always think its nice to have some good additions that fans would like, and we got to listen to what fans want, and the reason why imagineers do these things is for the guests that visit the Disney parks. Some may agree, some may disagree, stuff could matter, stuff doesn’t matter, any way. But remember the 60th anniversary of the ride is happening next year in 2027, it would be nice to do something for a major milestone. My recent post was talking about why Constance Hatchaway should get her hatchet back, but this post I talk about more things for Pirates of the Caribbean than just focusing on one thing for the ride. To be honest, I just want all of us fans to be happy when visiting the parks and riding these rides. Anyways, thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed seeing what I wrote, I cannot wait to return to Disneyland soon, magic always happens at the Disney Parks all around the world, California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai. And do not forget this, it’s a pirates life for me… Savvy.

No Ai was used in the process of making this draft.

Davy Jones cannot step on land but once every ten years, but the movies never directly state what would happen if he were to try. Would he be instantly teleported back to the Dutchman or something?

Dead Men Tell No Tales is considered to be the worst movie in the series by many. So I would want to ask if the movie at least had a reason to existence, regardless if the movie is good or bad. Does Pirates of the Caribbean 5: 1) Did the story need to continue, 2) does it expand the series' worldbuilding/lore in a meaningful way, 3) does it maintain and expand the thesis and themes of the previous movies, 4) does it innovate and/or renovate on the franchise, 5) does it make the story of the previous entries better, and 6) leaving a positive impact on the series, especially long term. Explain if Dead Men Tell No Tales does any or all of those things.