Ahoy matey! Just last Halloween I was boarding a boat in Adventureland to search for Jack Sparrow and the treasure room. Next May I’ll be visiting the place where it all began, Disneyland, to celebrate the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales movie release May 26, 2017.
Pirates of the Caribbean is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular attractions ever created for a theme park. It is also one of the last rides Walt worked on before he died. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the adventures continue in Southern California! The attraction was originally conceived as a wax museum and a walk-through exhibit. But following the success of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers decided that Audio-Animatronics—Walt’s latest animation technology that was a huge hit in It’s a Small World—was the most imaginative way to tell a rousing pirate story. On March 18, 1967, Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Disneyland Park. What better way to honor this amazing ride than to turn it into a blockbuster film series. 
What is sure to be another fantastic installment of the swashbuckling adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales brings back one of my all time favorite Johnny Depp characters, Jack Sparrow. The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.
Yo ho, yo ho, that’s not the best part you see. Why I am equally excited about visiting Disneyland for the first time, I’ll also be attending the red carpet premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. I’ll also be interviewing some of the cast and crew and getting a look the new Walt Disney Signature Collection. 
Also on the trip, I’ll visit the Disney Archives to learn everything there is to know about Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m so honored and excited about this trip because it blends my love for the Disney Parks with a film series I equally love. I’m a huge Johnny Depp fan, and Jack Sparrow is my favorite character that he has portrayed. When he came out on stage at the D23 Expo in full costume to announce the movie, I cheered! They are displaying some great ride props during D23 Expo this year as well. 
Another exciting part of my trip will be interviewing Donnie Dunagan (Young Bambi) and Peter Behn (Young Thumper) and chat about Bambi joining the coveted Walt Disney Signature Collection on May 23rd. The Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of “Bambi;” deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that “Bambi” had on the Studio, other films, and artists; and much, much more. Additionally, the Digital HD release includes an exclusive, heartfelt feature on the incredible artist, Tyrus Wong, who inspired the film’s soft watercolor backgrounds and beautiful palette.
I hope you will follow along the event with me. Make sure you are following JaMonkey across all the social channels to catch the live stream, stories, and more.
#PiratesLifeEvent #BambiBluray
I’m so excited for you and this trip. I can’t wait to follow along!!
I hope you enjoy your trip and have a blast!! I totally need to rewatch bambi! It’s been years!
I was thinking the same thing. I was watching clips the other day remembering how cute it is.
I have only been to Disneyworld and never went on the Pirates ride. I have to see the new movie when it comes out just to see Johnnie and the other great cast members
What!?! You are so lucky to have this incredible experience! I’m hoping to check out the Pirates ride in Disneyland next month, but I have a feeling it’s going to be PACKED!
What a cool, cool trip. I will be eager to hear everything about it. Leave out NO details!
Have the most amazing trip! What adventures you will experience, matey! Be sure to take lots of photos!
How fun!! I love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies! Johnny Depp does such an amazing job as Captain Jack Sparrow. I can’t wait to see this movie.
I can’t wait to see this movie! I have been waiting forever!
Ahhhh, I’m so excited to follow along for this – I’ll be watching, commenting, asking, RAVING with you!
It is so fun that you get to interview him! I am so excited to see your blog posts and the movie, as well!
I am so looking forward to seeing this movie. I loved all of the other ones, and I am sure this one will be great too! They have an awesome cast and I love that Orlando and Kiera are back!
Oh I will be following along. Looks so exciting, I am actually looking forward to it!
What a fun trip! I love WDW, and the Pirates movies! The Pirate ride is one of our favorites. I was excited that they actually had Johnny Depp’s character!
How exciting! I have been to Disney World, but it was ages ago. I would love to go back and take my son. We’re saving up for a mother/son vacation to Florida. It’ll take a while, but we’ll get there! I can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Wow!! This sounds like such an amazing trip. On my last visit to Kauai we toured their huge botanical gardens, and it turns out that much of the 4th Pirates movie was filmed there. So we got to hear all about Penelope Cruz and Johnny Depp being around the gardens as well as the town and the fun pranks/gestures they’d do! Apparently Depp would often buy rounds for everyone at the bar when he came in for drinks.
How exciting!! Disneyland is so much fun and to me the Pirates ride there is better than the one at Disney World. My husband and I are really looking forward to seeing the new movie! Hope you have a blast at all of the festivities!
That makes me so happy to hear! Can’t wait to compare the two.
Oh wow! This is amazing! It would be so nice to be part of this event. I’m sure you’re going to have so much fun. I can’t wait to see the movie! The kids and I really like the franchise.
I think I have only seen the first Pirates of the Caribbean but my boys are getting old enough to see them so I bet I will be seeing all of them very soon.
What an awesome press trip! We love the Pirates and Bambi – I’ll definitely be following along.
I am so excited for this movie to come out!! I love the pirates movie and johnny depp always does a great job!
Can you believe I’ve never seen any of these movies? They all look so good too! I have to catch up.
What!? If you have Netflix you can stream the first one!
I am a BIG Pirates of the Caribbean fan. And I have loved Johnny Depp since I was a preteen! lol I can’t wait to see this when it comes to a theater by me!
I can’t wait to see this. Johnny Depp has been my favorite actor for a long time. I think people really enjoy Jack Sparrow.
Wow that’s so awesome! Congratulations, you are very lucky for this very exciting opportunity. I’m sure Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales will be a wonderful movie.
I can’t wait to watch the newest one, we are huge Johnny Depp fans in this house; and of course we love Bambi as well 😉
Lucky you, that is so exciting. I’ll be waiting for your posts!
oh my. I had no idea there was another installment. can’t wait to take my boys to see it. I know they have loved the previous films.
It’s still crazy to think how this one little ride inspired a successful movie franchise! Can’t wait for next week. See ya in LA 🙂