Meet the new Pirate of the Caribbean! Disney reopens ride after three-week closure that saw a female character who was previously shown ‘FOR SALE’ at auction transformed into a pirate
Disney has had its fair share of female empowerment movies from Brave and Mulan to Frozen and Moana. And now the franchise is extending that to its rides at its parks in California, Orlando and Paris.
And this week, after a three week closure, the debut of the new, updated Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, was unveiled to fans.
On March 19, the female ‘Redhead’ character got an empowered role as part of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride’s auction scene.
Before the change, the animatronic character was the object, so to speak, being sold at a bride auction for the other male pirates to bid on. But thanks to Disney Imagineer Kathy Mangum, she now has a more politically correct and dynamic role.
She wrote on the Disney Parks blog: ‘When Pirates of the Caribbean reopens at Magic Kingdom Park March 19, guests will be introduced to the new version of the attraction’s auction scene we first announced last summer.’
‘Just as Walt Disney embraced and encouraged Disney Parks to “keep moving forward” since the opening of Disneyland Park in 1955, Walt Disney Imagineering has introduced many new characters at Pirates of the Caribbean attraction over the years.’
‘The pirate auctioneer now oversees a sale of the townspeople’s most prized possessions and goods. In this scene, the familiar redhead figure has switched sides to become a pirate named Redd, who’s just pillaged the town’s rum supply and has something to say about it.’
And the Disney imagineers made sure she was heard by giving Redd lines as well. As the other pirate auctioneer tries to sell off chickens, Redd says: ‘Hey! send them hens to Davy Jones. It’s the rum they want. Drink up me hearties! Yo ho!’