Was just there the 20th through the 26th of October. We were in the second row back...after the hill, the lady in front of us was soaked and my entire right side got a shower too. I also missed the mermaids this time, they didn't seem to be working although the siren song could be heard.

I wish they'd have ditched the Sparrow and Barbosa additions and put it back to the ride we loved....the one which inspired the movies, rather than the update with all the movie updates.

Updating the costumes, great. Modernizing the animatronics, great. Even smoothing out the drop (who complains about that?! I mean...should I complain that Expedition Everest is too dark?), fine...whateves.

Adding Sparrow and Barbosa initially was not necessary. (And actually, the Davy Jones smokescreen annoyed me more than anything else about that ride.....I hope to heck it is gone!)

We rode last week and we noticed that the dogs all looked new and fluffy. They no longer look moth eaten.

We were there 2 weeks ago. Pirates looked great! The lighting and costumes were updated. We all noticed a small difference in the drop. Not a huge difference, but there was nothing wrong with it before. That was something that was better before. We did not feel this was a good update.

Rode it earlier this month and Jack Sparrow didn't look the same. I remember when I first rode the newer version with capt Jack that it looked just like Johnny Depp. Now, it know longer looks as much like him. Anyone else notice this? My girlfriend and cousins say the same thing. We are all big Disney nuts.

I'm kind of happy about the drop. Sorry, I'm no wimp, but I get motion sickness, and even that small drop is tough for me. I don't get to do most of the rides at any park; sorry all of you that get to ride them are irritated that POTC may not give you as much of a thrill, but instead of griping, perhaps be happy that you have no issues that prevent you from riding ALL the other rides!

I liked the drop just the way it was!

I loved looking for the mermaids on our last trip. The left side of the boat is the best place to see the shadow under the water while you hear them singing that eerie song. My favorite part is the mist of Blackbeard's face. I'm a big Ian Mc Shane fan.

The drop felt the same to me, and in the front row I got pretty soaked, where I had never been before. We didn't have a boat of "larger" guests, and the water seemed higher around the boat. I have still never seen a mermaid on the ride (besides the mermaid skeletons).

During the last refurbishment - or the one before - the made much of the cavern scene as dark as a closet to where you might as well have been because it was pitch dark. I was wondering who in the world was getting paid the high imagineer salary to do that, because it did not take a Hollywood set designer to know that it was too dark. I hope they fixed that.

But just to comment, the concept art for Pirates was done by Disney Legend Mark Davis (who also animated Cinderella) and the story line and song were written by another Disney Legend, Xavier Atencio. Mark Davis once said, "whenever they change it, it's not as good." And after another change, X Antencio called it "Boy Scouts of the Caribbean. These men worked with Walt Disney himself and were two of his greatest and most trusted imagineers. So if the current Disney management won't even listen to Disney Legends, they probably wouldn't even listen to Walt Disney himself, were he still here and perhaps only retired. In any case, when I remember that I don't feel as bad when they don't listen to me. It seems arrogant of them that they didn't listen to Disney Legends, but I don't feel as bad.

Softer drop???

Oh, come on, wimps!

Disappointed to read about a smoother drop. The drop was one of my favorite parts.

George isn't real.

Okay. About this drop issue, I remember the first time I rode this ride, back in the early eighties, the drop was fast and steep. I almost lost my camera! Then in the nineties on a return visit the drop was short and not steep. I remember I warned an older lady on the ride to be prepared for the drop. After the ride she warned me not to go on Splash Mountain if that drop disturbed me! So, my question is, has the drop ever changed over the years? I have been told by employees that is has not, and I have heard from others that it has. Does anyone know the true story?

I rode Pirates yesterday. Everything was bright and clean. It was almost like riding it for the first time all over again. I didn't notice a huge difference in the drop.

I just came back from Disney and unfortunately didnt get to ride this. It opened back up the next day. I had a very much less than stellar experience there this time around. Sorry, but you aught to put some effort into training.

Love this ride, shame about the drop

I'm going to miss "the drop" it was one of my favorite parts of the ride, sort of set the tone for the "adventure".

I retract my comment as I did not notice this is for WDW and not DLR. My apologies.

We wants the redhead.

I wonder why the fantastic picture of Davy Jones in the water was removed from the beginning of the ride. It was the best thing about the ride. And to me the drop was not near big enough and now they have made it "smoother" not good

the drop used to be bigger then they keep making it smaller! Really what a waste!

too bad about the drop.

Love this ride,,, We want's the Redhead

The drop was absolutely fine.....no clue why they had to change it. It was nothing........this is my favorite ride. Next time I go I'll see if I feel a difference.

We wants the Redhead. And WE wants mermaids!! Come on Disney!

If they didn't change the boats, does that mean they still won't use the last row?

How is the ride open when it is still listed as closed for refurbishment and I have been there the past 2 days and it's still been closed.