WDW and DL Pirates to change Redhead scene

[HopperFan]

What a depressing day for a Walt Disney World fan. First we hear that Siemens is dropping their sponsorship of Spaceship Earth and now this! Pirates is my favorite attraction at WDW. Why in the world don't they leave it alone? I recently read that the same changes were coming to Pirates at Disneyland Paris and wondered if Disney would make the same changes at WDW and DL. While they are at it, they may as well removed the scene where the mayor is being dunked in the well. That's the 17th century version of waterboarding! I need a Mickey bar and maybe a Prozac!

I don't believe Siemens leaving will have any impact on SSE. If change happens, it would have happened anyway. Disney's sponsorship list is now a shell of itself. I just don't think companies can get value these days by investing in Disney parks. TestTrack is rare because they essentially have a mini-dealership there.

 

[dlavender]

I guess the Simpsons already had the best takes on other changes coming shortly to the ride:

 

[ucfknight]

I know you can't shelter your child from the world totally, but having conversations about bloody songs or why those women were lined up to be sold doesn't need to happen while on vacation!

Be glad "The Making of Me" has been shuttered.

 

[dlavender]

One last though, if instead of women it was people of color from the Caribbean being sold (which Pirates also did) would that be ok? and if not, why is one form of slavery ok and another isn't?

That's a very fair and valid point.

And now I don't know how I feel about the whole thing anymore.

I don't like the slippery slope argument sometimes, but sometimes its necessary to put things in a better context.

I think I might be more upset that the ride sprung a successful movie franchise. And now the movie franchise is shaping the ride. We now have JDepp, mermaids, and will soon have Davy Jones/Barbosa (I'm not even sure which one, haven't made it through an entire POTC movie since the first one).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

That's a very fair and valid point.

And now I don't know how I feel about the whole thing anymore.

I don't like the slippery slope argument sometimes, but sometimes its necessary to put things in a better context.

I think I might be more upset that the ride sprung a successful movie franchise. And now the movie franchise is shaping the ride. We now have JDepp, mermaids, and will soon have Davy Jones/Barbosa (I'm not even sure which one, haven't made it through an entire POTC movie since the first one).

and I do think that influence of the movies has an impact too - like, I think it was clearer when the ride first opened that these were all bad people - but now with the movies it isn't so cut and dry that all pirates are bad - and with Jack Sparrow being so comedic it just makes even more light of things that perhaps shouldn't be

 

[speedyfishy]

Sorry, I didn't say that you specifically said it, but I just used your post to springboard into my comments.

To go back to one of my original questions, would this be ok to leave in if 12 and under couldn't ride it? Because if you have watched a "comedy" any time recently, they'll make fun of this or any other despicable thing as often as they can get a cheap laugh. And most times, the rauchier the better.

No need to apologize. I'm not sure there is a need for an age restriction because I don't know how many kids younger than 12 would understand the scene. But I'm not sure. I believe if your child is old enough to understand and ask questions there is no need to stop them from seeing certain things. I don't have children but when I do I wouldn't have a problem taking them on the ride and explaining this to them if they had questions. If Disney kept the attraction as is I wouldn't be upset. I can just see why they made the decision to remove the scene.

 

[Fantasia79]

I wouldn't say I'm excited about the change, but, going to see what Disney comes up with to replace it. The sketch might be just that, one idea. I suspect the scene will no doubt be entertaining.

For what it's worth, the Jack Sparrow overlay is a tragedy in my opinion. If the change takes that out as well, I'd be pretty OK with it.

 

[ucfknight]

For what it's worth, the Jack Sparrow overlay is a tragedy in my opinion. If the change takes that out as well, I'd be pretty OK with it.

That's not going to happen.

 

[Fantasia79]

That's not going to happen.

It was my wish during the last Wishes. So, there's a chance.

 

[maltdizzy]

I guess the Simpsons already had the best takes on other changes coming shortly to the ride:

View attachment 247853

View attachment 247854

Was it the Simpsons or Futurama that had the line, "He's only chasing me for my food!" on a Pirates ride?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

It was my wish during the last Wishes. So, there's a chance.

Well, according to Happily Ever After, it is up to you to make your wishes come true ... so clearly you need to break in there during the night and remove Jack yourself .... and you can explain that you were just following the instructions from their own night time show

 

[4Hawks]

Eh comparing booze and guns to human slavery is a little bit of a jump.

Not to mention the fact that drinking booze and holding a gun are a personal choice...slavery, not so much...

 

[rteetz]

There are unused sketches of scenes from Marc Davis, I would've loved to see them use one of those scenes. I don't think I would be as opposed if they did that.

 

[ucfknight]

There are unused sketches of scenes from Marc Davis, I would've loved to see them use one of those scenes. I don't think I would be as opposed if they did that.

I would like to see that too. Unfortunately those new scenes would likely necessitate structural changes to that area plus new audio-animatronics. That costs significant money (plus would take more time) which is why it won't happen. It is much cheaper for them to re-pose and reprogram the existing animatronics from the ride and add in a few new props to the scene. When given the option, they often take the cheap route.

 

[Gillbob316]

Man am I glad I made it a point to buy a "We Wants the Redhead" T-Shirt, Pin and Tsum Tsum this year.

I may have to order spares of the shirt.

I'm... not happy about this change. I get that Human Trafficking is bad. I don't think most sane and rational humans wouldn't get that. But... the world has become entirely too politically correct for its own good. There are better ways to address the issue than "cleaning up" a 50 year old themepark ride.

Touchy subject... obviously. But then, every flipping subject is a touchy subject this day in age, which is largely the point of my annoyance.

Anywho... I can easily see fervent Disney purists continuing to chant "We Wants the Red Head" at the modified scene with great vigor for years to come. And I will likely be among them.

 

[Stitch7911]

IMO people need to stop worrying so much about political correctedness. This is technically something that happened in history. Trying to cover it up isn't good.

i totally agree with you. i think people are more overly sensitive on things now a days. you cant talk aboout Gender, Age, Believes, shoot mostly anything with out someone throwing a fit on it. i can write a whole page on this. but what it comes down to is; its Disney chose to make no matter what we say. just like our goverment.... those who yell the loudest or have more money get their point accross. im going to disney soon to at least get on good ride in it to see that seen... soon you will only be able to see it on youtube.

dont get me wrong i believe in re-imaging the rides to make them better. but something so icon you should leave alone. change the guy with all the hats or the guys chasing the girls in town.

 

[Stitch7911]

Man am I glad I made it a point to buy a "We Wants the Redhead" T-Shirt, Pin and Tsum Tsum this year.

I may have to order spares of the shirt.

I'm... not happy about this change. I get that Human Trafficking is bad. I don't think most sane and rational humans wouldn't get that. But... the world has become entirely too politically correct for its own good. There are better ways to address the issue than "cleaning up" a 50 year old themepark ride.

Touchy subject... obviously. But then, every flipping subject is a touchy subject this day in age, which is largely the point of my annoyance.

Anywho... I can easily see fervent Disney purists continuing to chant "We Wants the Red Head" at the modified scene with great vigor for years to come. And I will likely be among them.

where did you buy them? im heading to DL in two weeks for D23 and i want to get those before they are all gone.

 

[4Hawks]

Wait, was there some sort of campaign against this scene and I missed it?

People keep talking about the PC police and how "a few" complainers are messing up the ride, or asking why other rides are not a problem...but I haven't seen a single piece of evidence that this change is being made due to public outcry.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I do not think you know the definition of censorship. "the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security." Now this is not censorship because it is not suppression or prohibition. No one is telling Disney they HAVE to do this. Disney is choosing to do this. That is quite a major distinction. No one has told people we can't make art about human trafficking or any art about human trafficking needs to be removed, Disney has just decided this piece of an attraction has no place in their family centered theme park. You can disagree, you can be sentimental, you can whine and cry about it being PC, but you can't claim censorship because it is not being forced upon Disney.

So let's all take our hyperbole and hysteria and put it away. Disney is choosing to do this. They believe they have good reason given the context of Disney parks, and Magic Kingdom in particular, as all-age family entertainment. Or perhaps they just think a new scene will improve the ride. It doesn't matter, but it's not censorship.

Reading comprehension is a good thing. Read the last part of my post.

 

[Gillbob316]

where did you buy them? im heading to DL in two weeks for D23 and i want to get those before they are all gone.

I bought them at Disney World in February, but the shirt and the pin were both also available at DL (which I also visited) last month (May).

At DL both the shirt and the pin were available in the nearby ride gift shop. At DW, the shirt was in the ride giftshop, the pin was actually way more difficult to find at DW. I checked about 2 dozen pin kiosks looking for it at DW, it wasn't in the PotC gift shop. Found it in Tomorrowland of all places. But it was the same design at either park.

The Redhead Tsum Tsum I bought at one of the Disney Character Warehouse outlets in Orlando for $1.

Here's the shirt on the shop Disney Parks Store. Get'm before they're a relic:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/shop-parks/resort-add-ons/product/22213/