Has POC been toned down?

[epceddie]

My wife and I were at the MK Jan. 7 and Jan. 12and we rode Pirates of the Caribbean several times both days. It seemed to us that the scene with the pirate ship wasn't quite as exciting as it has been.
In the past, I remember that scene taking my breath away and giving me a real sense of anticipation.
Is there something missing or is it just us?

[BigThunderFan]

I can't say if that part has even changed at all. But I agree with you, when we rode it in 2008 it seemed to lack some "punch" if you know what I mean. The cannonballs didn't splash as much as I remember and we went through it awful fast.

Of course prior to this, the last time I rode it had to be in 1993or4 since it was under refurb in 2000 when we went. So I may just be using the memory of a younger man in recalling this...

[epceddie]

Lack of punch is a good way to describe it. I just remember it being more dramatic with more action.

[Ian]

Huh. I actually think it's been "punched up" a little bit if anything.

I think the new music adds an element of drama to the scene and I also love the new "cannonball whizzing past you" effect they installed that uses the compressed air cannon.

Bear in mind that sometimes you actually do move through the scene faster than at other times, because when it's busier they crank up the throughput/speed of attractions.

Although, I'm honestly not sure if they can do that with boat rides or not?

[TheRustyScupper]

My wife and I were at the MK Jan. 7 and Jan. 12and we rode Pirates of the Caribbean several times both days. It seemed to us that the scene with the pirate ship wasn't quite as exciting as it has been.

1) Cost reductions.
2) Cannon balls and powder are getting expensive.

[JPL]

It's possible the effects weren't functioning properly or that they turned them off some reason.

[QTPie68]

1) Cost reductions.
2) Cannon balls and powder are getting expensive.

Alas, bad economy has even hit the Carribbean...even the redhead has been reduced

[DigitalDaredevil]

I felt that they sped up the scene where the pirate ships are. It is one of my favorites on the ride.
One thing I am surprised they did not fix or maybe it is something that happened after the rehab is when you pass the ghost ship and take the hill down you always seem to bump the right side of the river guide. It's not that bad but it does get your attention.
Is it just me or do you fellow Intercotee's feel it?

[DisneyorBust]

I have to agree with Ian. We returned to WDW this past September and enjoyed PoTC a number of times (DD#1's favorite) and all felt that the Wicked Wench ship scene was more intense than on prior trips. We liked it! I hope that it stays that way.

[JPL]

Did some poking around and they can control the speed of the water running through the flume so it's also possible it was sped up

[BigThunderFan]

Alas, bad economy has even hit the Carribbean...even the redhead has been reduced

No!! Not the redhead too!

[PetefromRI]

It seems to me that they turned the volume down.I liked when it was louder but I think that maybe it scared little kids so they made it quieter.I can only speak for myself but I also believe that after riding it 20-30 times it does lose a bit of its punch!Still a classic though.

[DigitalDaredevil]

I would also agree with the audio being a little quieter.
I still love the ride. Nothing will beat your first time on the ride, but everytime is enjoyable. I like to look for things that aren't center stage. Little touches that Disney makes to enhance the attraction.

[kbean]

Yeah! Wasn't there an upside down loop on this ride???? Ha....I'm just kidding people

[Iluvpooh]

Yeah! Wasn't there an upside down loop on this ride???? Ha....I'm just kidding people

Funny you should say that. I rode with my sister last year and she hadn't ridden it in YEARS. She kept saying that she remembered the waterfall drop being as long as Splash Mountain and that they must have shortend the drop after the refurb.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I believe the one at Disneyland has a bigger drop but not the one in WDW, it hasn't been changed.

[WDWdriver]

Funny you should say that. I rode with my sister last year and she hadn't ridden it in YEARS. She kept saying that she remembered the waterfall drop being as long as Splash Mountain and that they must have shortend the drop after the refurb.

Nope. The POTC drop has always been short, and nothing at all like Splash Mountain.

[joonyer]

Funny how everything that happened to us growing up gets larger, scarier, more intense, more fun, and more wonderful as we get older.

I took my kids back to a campground in Tenn. where I had camped several times with my family as a boy and it was amazing how much smaller the big waterfall had gotten was when I went back 30 years later.

Aren't memories wonderful?

[darthmacho]

Personally, I think it is all about perception. I've ridden this and several other dark rides and have experienced similar letdown at times. Once we rode POTC late at night, and we were alone in the boat, the boat in front of us was unoccupied, and the one behind us had a single couple in it. The boasts seemed slower and further apart. The whole experience seemed different, darker, quieter, and almost, well, eerie, rather than action packed and exciting.

Weird?

We had the opposite experience with Perer Pan. I waited a long time in the heat to experience the memories of this favorite, and we seemed to zip through the ride at warp speed, and it just didn't live up to my anticipations.

Therefore, I say it's more about the individual than the changes made to the ride sometimes.

[Mickey 101]

We were just at WDW and noticed the 'water screen' with Davy Jones face projected on it wasn't running. That was a cool effect and we were sad to see it missing. Hopefully, it's only down temporarily.