First Time Fridays: "Pirates of the Caribbean" 3D Sneak Peek

The special leaflet you get when you arrive at The Resort (in any of the parking areas)

One of the great things we've recently discovered (and we play it to the hilt as much as we can) about being Annual Passholders is that there is very little that goes on at The Park these days that we can't be one of the first to do, if we so have a mind.  That's not to say that we necessarily have to be there and do it on the very first day (although there will be a few exceptions to that rule in the coming months), either.  But many of the things that The Park does these days, we're usually able to find some time on the first weekend to go and check it out.

This past weekend was no different as the Festival Arena re-opened in Frontierland, where it will be playing host to a very special "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" 3D Sneak Peek for the next couple of months.

We were huge fans of the 3D Sneak Peek of "TRON: Legacy" that Disney California Adventure did as part of their ElecTRONica offering, so when we found out they would be doing something similar in Disneyland Park, as huge "Pirates" fans, we knew it was something that we just had to see.  

We did not, however, feel the need to see it on the first night, or the second night, or when it first opened on Sunday night when we actually were in The Park.  We're patient people (about most things), and having heard that the lines were approaching one or two hours at some points on the previous two evenings, we decided to wait as long as we possibly could on Sunday evening to see it for ourselves.  So come 11:00PM on Sunday evening (after Fantasmic! and a quick stop for cocoa) we finally began meandering our way back to the Arena for the show.

We suppose we should begin by saying that we didn't really snag a lot of photos; we had been told (or read) earlier that cameras weren't being allowed into the Arena, so we didn't even bother to bring one in.  That said, the area was decorated much like you would have expected it to be: very pirate-y!  The Arena itself looks about as close to the deck of a Pirate ship as they could get it I'm sure (considering the ground was made of concrete) and there is netting, look-out points and any manner of other Pirate-ship paraphernalia and decor all around the place.  They really did a top-notch job with the atmosphere.  Our favorite, though, would have to be the mounds of skulls all over the place with torches and flames at the top.  Skulls and fire; two of our favorite things.  It basically is just one big pre-show to the sneak peek of the movie.  Cast Members run amock all over the Arena, dressed like Pirates (yar!), pumping up the crowd (and drawing them into the show in some instances), and yelling a lot.  It really was a lot of fun to watch.  The preview itself did exactly what we're sure they meant for it to do; it got us pumped up for the movie which releases soon.  It was basically (like the one for "TRON: Legacy") about a ten minute look at some never before seen footage from the "Pirates" movie.  There was a ton of action, a ton of Johnny Depp (and Penelope Cruz!), and even a look at old Blackbeard himself, who we have to admit, looks just as deadly and dangerous as Davey Jones ever was.  Just our opinion, though.  The sneak peek is indeed in 3D, which was kind of fun, but we're not entirely sure it sold us on seeing it in theaters in that form.  We'll have to give that some more thought, but it definitely got us itching to see more, whether it be in 3D or 2D.  

The only drawback to seeing the show is perhaps the seating.  It's on the ground, and it's not soft ground, either.  We're talking concrete of the finest caliber here.  If you're like us, and you don't do well with being stuffed like sardines into a can while your butt slowly but surely goes numb and there's little wiggle-room, then that's probably something to take into consideration.  That said, there is seating in the back and a bit on the sides, but it's primarily for the disabled.  However, we went so late in the night that were was no line and fewer people there, and we had a Cast Member tell us we were more than welcome to sit there if we wanted to.  We didn't ask to, we were just pointed in that direction.  We can't guarantee this is policy, or would be the same with any Cast Member, but it might be something worth remembering all the same.

Our friend the "Chatty Parrot"

The show doesn't necessarily end there, either.  As you're leaving the Arena (and exiting through the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ area) Jack Sparrow stands off to the side talking to the crowd as they walk by.  The outter area in front of Big Thunder Ranch is no less busy, either.  Cast Members, excuse us, Pirates, can also be seen running around the outside of the Arena as well.  We saw one we particularly enjoyed exclaiming over one laughing youngster that he needed to see a doctor immediately because his head was shooting lightning (referring to his TRON ears which were happily lighting up).  Upon removal of the ears, the pirate yelled out, "It's a miracle!", and hugged the youngster who, if he had been smiling any bigger, his face might have cracked in two.  We also very much enjoyed the "Chatty Parrot" (no idea if that's what he's called or not, but we heard someone call him that) who, along with his CM Pirate friend, interacted with all of the people who had gathered around.  He fielded questions, called out to us, and generally ensured a good time was had by everyone who stood around.  It was one of our personal highlights of the whole experience.  When our friend parrot saw us taking his picture (he spotted our flash going off) he tweeted, "Oh, my goodness.  Someone is taking my picture.  I must show them all of my good sides.  Left (head turn).  Right (head turn).  Middle (looking straight ahead)".  People all around, us included, really got a kick out of that.  

Not enough?  There are also merchandise carts set up where you can buy various pirate accessories for your own little Capt. Hooks such as hooks (go figure), rifles (colored green and orange), eye patches and more.  Thirsty or hungry?  Buy yourself some Pirate Booty (we got a big laugh at that) and wash it down with some Pirate "grog" (non-alcoholic).  No idea what it tasted like, though; we were full of cocoa.

One of the merch carts floating around the area - Arrrrr!

We were really impressed with the Sneak Peek.  We've heard a few people were pretty non-plussed about the entire thing, but leave it to The Parks to take something that could be fairly "blah", if the preview was all they had shown, and ramp it up to an 11 on the amp.  We were honestly only in the area for about a half hour total, but there's little doubt in our minds that we'll be back at some point or other.  We've been saying all along that we hoped The Parks continued to come up with new and clever ways to use the Arena area, and if the crowds and people we came in contact with Sunday night were any indication, they've done just that.

If you get the chance to see this special sneak peek, we certainly urge you to do so.  All our thumbs are way, way up on this one.  We had a lot of fun!

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