Pirates of the Caribbean reopened today at Disneyland, and the next generation of Audio-Animatronics is on full display. Guests who take the plunge from the bayou into the realm of the pirates will discover that one particular pirate’s story is coming to life more than it previously did. Before the attraction closed for this most recent refurbishment, the pirate was a skeleton sitting on top of a pile of gold. Now, this pirate is caught in a never-ending loop of discovering a cursed medallion, looking at it, turning into a frozen skeleton, and then dropping the medallion before starting the process over again. This pirate is cursed by his greed and the magic of this coin.

Walt Disney Imagineering gave a closer look at this pirate than what will be seen when guests cruise past aboard the attraction. Joel, an Executive R&D Imagineer, hosts Great Moments in Imagineering. He is joined by other Imagineers who were a part of this project to bring this pirate to life. The magic and storytelling that come from this innovative new technology are incredible. It creates an effect that brings this character to life for the first time in the attraction’s 59-year history. Yes, it is the same character that has sat atop the pile of gold since the attraction opened. The Imagineers peel back the curtain a little bit to show how in the following video.

The magic that is coming to life in this new audio-animatronics figure is just one of the innovative initiatives that Walt Disney Imagineering is working on. As technology continues to advance, new effects and magic enable Imagineers to develop immersive ways to tell stories. In this case, this is through this incredible projection technology that utilizes real-time front projection with a mechanical head to create an incredibly realistic and expressive figure.

This new audio-animatronics figure adds another tool to the arsenal of Walt Disney Imagineering. It adds another way for Imagineers to tell incredible stories that connect with today’s guests and new guests. Imagineering continues to add more technological initiatives that create new, incredible experiences for guests of all ages. This includes the recent reveal of the robotic Olaf figure at Disney Adventure World.

This new pirate story is just the first of many that could be seen in the Disney Parks in the coming years. Walt Disney Imagineer’s toolbox continues to grow, and with it, more storytelling opportunities are being discovered. This could lead to updates for beloved Disney attractions around the world with new storytelling effects that will connect with new generations and new fans. Not only will this make for incredible experiences for those who come, but it will also continue Walt Disney’s vision of always moving forward and pushing for better.

This isn’t just good for storytelling, but also good for business. Attracting new fans will help ensure that Disney and its parks are around for generations to come. It will continue to allow families to go experience Disney magic together and make memories that will last a lifetime. Walt Disney once said, “We’re just getting started.” This technology shows how Walt Disney Imagineering is just getting started in a new era of Disney storytelling!

What do you think of this new Audio-Animatronic figure in Pirates of the Caribbean? Are you excited to see it in person? Where else would you like to see this technology utilized? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!