It was a simple as having to switch from using an old cake decorating set that belonged to my mother to finally retrieving the new one I’d bought a few years ago and never opened. I actually cried when I broke the one that belonged to my mom last weekend…it held a great deal of sentimental value. But after I got out the new set and “took it around the block for a spin” I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to switch to the new. It was so easy to use, lightweight, and just so darn prettier than the old one!

I had been reading this article and a few of the comments shortly before I began baking, and my mind instantly leaped to an analogy between the article and my initial disappointment over having to give up the treasured item of my mother’s but then discovering how much I enjoyed the new one. I have to say, it really galvanized my thoughts over giving “pirates” a chance to wow me with the new elements and changes. So I’ll keep any negative thoughts about how much I dislike change to a minimum, and count the days until I can give a firsthand account of taking a spin around the block in the new attraction. I mean, heck, how disappointed could I possibly be? As I said before, we ARE talking Johnny Depp here!

My initial guess is that the Disneyland guests will not take well to the change. Let me be a bit more specific. I think the locals will have a difficult time accepting any change to such a classic attraction that, and this is important, had Walt’s fingerprint on it.

Disneyland locals are Disney purists who have had their beloved theme park for a half-century now and most of them are baby-boomers who do NOT like change.

There was the to-do with “A Moment with Mr. Lincoln” and then the lukewarm reception to Disneyland’s California Adventure. One would think that they will not take too kindly to this change as well.

On the other hand those who frequent Walt Disney World are relatively okay with changes that come down the road from time to time. The fact remains however, that this is a Disney theme park classic and tampering with classics can be risky business.

So the imagineers are trying to please two audiences…the purists and the new breed of Disney park guests…looking for the middle ground is an adventure in itself.

It should be interesting.

A new plot line derived from the movies will be woven in: The evil pirates are looking for Sparrow, he’s trying to stay one step ahead of them, and both are looking for treasure. Sparrow will make his first appearance at the ride’s well scene.

“The captain at the well is dunking the mayor, asking him if he knows where Jack Sparrow is,” Eric Jacobson, senior vice president of creative development for Walt Disney Imagineering said. “In the shadows, just outside of the scene, is going to be the figure of Jack Sparrow.”

The Davy Jones character will be “a brand new special effect and a brand new way of presenting a character in the ride,” Jacobson said.