Shanghaî Disneyland Treasure Cove and Pirates of Caribbean Update

We're back at Shanghaî Disneyland today for a special look at SDL Treasure Cove and Pirates of Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure, thanks to pictures posted on Chinese social website Weibo by various people.


The first pictures above and below shows the entrance of the highly awaited POTC ride.

Next picture shows a warning at the entrance of the land: "Abandon all hope ye who enter here!"

And to make sure you understand the warning a look at this throne and its death skull should make things clear...

A view of the lagoon and the wrecked ship on a cloudy day...

Next is a quite good picture showing the pirate galleon in Treasure Cove lagoon...


A picture of Treasure Cove lagoon with Skull Island on the right...



The sign of Doublon Market, one of the shops of the land...

Next photo was shot from the top of POTC fortress... of course all what you see on the roof will be hidden to the sight of SDL guests.

We'll end with a great picture showing part of the "underwater" scenes with the sunken ship and its treasure - remember the ride title "Battle for the Sunken Treasure"? Obviously the underwater "dry for wet" lighting is not working yet on this picture.

See you soon for a new Shanghaî Disneyland update!

Shanghaî Disneyland Treasure Cove and POTC Ride Update

Short news about Shanghaî Disneyland Treasure Cove from Shanghai Daily. In what we didn't knew already, except a short synopsis about the POTC "Battle for the Sunken Treasure" ride, you'll note that POTC boats will be able "to spin, travel sideways, and even move backwards" and i won't be surprised if the fall "under the sea" would be done backwards. It will be more surprising for the riders who will not expect it and probably also will solve some technical issues, like "how can we hide the hole for the fall before the boat gets into it". Advanced Audio-Animatronics can also be expected:

"Shanghai Disney Resort will have its first pirate-themed park with two giant ships and will also include an acrobatic performance.

The Treasure Cove will narrate piracy stories dating back to the 17th century in the Caribbean. Visitors will get to explore the Shipwreck Shore, Fort Snobbish, Landlubber Landing and the Village of pirates.

The theme park also features two giant ships, pirate-themed restaurants and a water play area. Visitors can watch epic scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, as well as the other action and acrobatics show at El Teatro Fandango.

Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a spectacular indoor boat ride that will take visitors on a rollicking adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow to steal the priceless treasure of Davy Jones.

In the new, highly controlled ride, the boats can spin, travel sideways, and even move backwards to create a highly personalized experience.

Disney's patented Audio-Animatronics and recent advancements in robotic technology will bring these pirates to a new level of realistic performance, the resort said.

Visitors can also paddle real canoes through the waters of Treasure Cove. Captains will lead each canoe and point out scenic highlights along the way.

Furthermore, the “Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular” will have its global premiere at Shanghai Disneyland. The stage production features sword fighting, stunning visual effects and a whirlwind finale. »

Stay tuned on Disney and more as we'll talk again soon about Treasure Cove with new artworks!

Pictures: copyright Disney

Text: Shanghaî Daily

Shanghaî Disneyland Pirates of Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure Update

Here is a short Shanghaî Disneyland update as new pictures linked to the Pirates of Caribbean " Battle for the Sunken Treasure" ride appeared on the web, and these three pictures are showing both the two pirate ships decor as well as the Imagineers crew who are building the ride!

The first picture above shows clearly the two pirate ships ready for battle and guests in the ride boat will move right between the two galions so SDL guests will have the feeling to be caught "under fire" from these two ships. Also note that water is now present. Talking about the ride boat, the next picture below is the very first one showing it - here with the WDI crew standing on it. Now, as you can see the boat doesn't look at all like the usual POTC boats and this might confirm that they'll use a new technology allowing the boat to turn left or right to be right in front of some scenes if needed. The picture is not sharp because the original pic that i've found was in really small size and i didn't succeeded to find the source and get it in bigger size. So, i've upscaled the picture a bit so you can see the boat a bit more clearly, if i can say.

This last picture showing all the SDL POTC Imagineers crew standing between the two ships is also interesting as if you look behind them you'll see that the track is turning left, which seems to confirm that the boat will move inside the pirate ship on the left.

I'll have more about SDL Treasure Cove for you very soon, so make sure to check D&M each day!

Pictures : copyright Disney - Shendi

A Closer Look at Shanghaî Disneyland Treasure Cove Pirates of Caribbean "Battle for the Sunken Treasure"

There we go for more Shanghaî Disneyland greatness and today we'll have a closer look at the highly awaited Pirates of Caribbean "Battle for the Sunken Treasure" ride. Let's start with new artwork of Treasure Cove, the land where guests will find Pirates of Caribbean impressive fortress, and described as "the first pirate-themed land in a Disney park, a place to join the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones. As guests explore this pirate world, they will enter Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure, an attraction that transforms a boat ride into a journey with cutting-edge innovations in robotics, animation, set design and multimedia. Guests will board a pirate ship, paddle through the scenic cove on Explorer Canoes and dine at Barbossa's Bounty"!

Yes, this is how will look POTC entrance!

New colors renderings of Treasure Cove!

As usual WDI did some CGI pre-visualization model of the land...

Now, here is a picture of the "real" model...

Construction shots of the Pirates of Caribbean fortress!

Now, you'll be pleased to know that there will be a Skull Rock in Treasure Cove! As a matter of fact, by what i can judge from the pictures below there might even be more than one...

Let's get inside the ride now. Those of you who were wondering if there would be a kind of "Blue Lagoon" restaurant at the start of the ride will be happy to hear that the answer is"yes!".

Now, about the ride itself. The official description released last month was saying: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure is a spectacular indoor boat ride that will take guests on a rollicking adventure with Captain Jack Sparrow to steal the priceless treasure of Davy Jones. Seamlessly blending Disney storytelling and state-of-the-art technologies, the attraction features three large media domes, projected effects, lifelike animated figures, theatrical sets and sophisticated lighting to dramatically take guests on, over and even under the sea on a nautical adventure.  With a new, highly controlled ride system, the boats can spin, travel sideways, and even move backwards to create a highly personalized experience. Guests will encounter fearless pirates, mermaids and even a kraken. Disney's patented Audio-Animatronics and recent advancements in robotic technology will bring these pirates to a new level of realistic performance." 

Most of the answers that Disney fans had about this brand new POTC version of the ride are in this description: yes, the rumor which was saying they will use projection effects was right - i still think that the Jack Sparrow indoor show at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios was a rehearsal for the techniques that will be used here at SDL. Ye,s there will be Audio-Animatronics though probably less than in the original ride, and yes, the ride will use a new boat system and the boats will be able to spin as shown in a WDI patent found some years ago, and even will be able to go backwards! Mermaids will be part of the ride and even the giant kraken, most probably thanks to a huge projection on one of the giant domes.

But the important words in this description are in fact these ones: "theatrical sets and sophisticated lighting to dramatically take guests on, over and even under the sea on a nautical adventure". Which words, you ask? UNDER the sea. Yes, part of the ride will happen "under water level" - not real water don't worry as SDL Imagineers will use dry-for-wet lighting effects, like they did for instance in the Little Mermaid ride, but here with a more haunted feeling. Yes, you'll have to go under the sea to discover the "sunken treasure".

But SDL POTC will indeed have giant sets like this one with two full size pirate ships for a memorable naval battle in which guests will be caught in crossfire when their boat will move right in the middle...

SDL Imagineers did a CGI pre-visualization too for that scene...

...as well as models...

But the real thing is quite impressive...

If you've missed the D23 presentation of the animatique of this sequence, here is the video of it, and i think we have here a scene staged with greatness, using real sets, chinese shadows projections on the sails to show pirates fighting up on the ships and a great lighting which should stun SDL guests.





As you've read the ride will have Audio-Animatronics - good news indeed as it is difficult to imagine a POTC ride without Audio-Animatronics even if the ride will be based on the POTC Jack Sparrow movies rather than the original storyline. And at D23 a video was showing one of the AAs, the frightening "Hammerhead" character. If you don't remember him that's how he looked in the movie..

Here is a WDI rendering for the ride scene...

...and CGI pre-visualization model.

Sculpting the character...

Programming the Audio-Animatronic...

Final sculpting and staging...

...before more dressing and further programming.

I'm sure you're dying to see how this AA works in real so here is the video of it.




There is more Treasure Cove awesomeness to come in D&M next article so make sure to don't miss it. But before you go make sure to watch the video below from where are coming these enhanced screen captures. It was shown at D23 and filmed by Mouse Steps whom we can't thanks enough to have filmed it.




Pictures: copyright Disney - Shendi