By D23 Team
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for D23! As we look forward to the upcoming release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members from coast to coast gathered to celebrate Disney’s rich history of rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves on Saturday, May 13, at both The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and at AMC Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort!
D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in Florida kicked off as the sun rose over Disney Springs, where 250 D23 Members gathered for an exclusive multimedia presentation with Disney Legend and Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar (pictured above right), who gave an unforgettable tour through the creative process that brought the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction to swashbuckling reality. With rare clips, archival photographs, and colorful concept sketches—including early work by Imagineer Marc Davis on an idea for a walk-through Pirates wax museum—D23 Members discovered the evolution of the quintessential attraction that has inspired versions in Disney parks around the world. After enjoying a screening of the beloved 2003 feature Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, members had the opportunity to meet with Marty and have their books signed by the Disney Legend!
Then, that afternoon in Burbank, 400 D23 Members set sail for adventure inside the historic Studio Theatre for D23’s Magical Screening Series: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on the Lot, which began with two presentations offering insider looks into the latest chapters in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean stories. First, Luc Mayrand, creative executive for Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (pictured below), Walt Disney Imagineering, showcased the making of Treasure Cove and Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland, using behind-the-scenes footage and rare photos from the development of award-winning attraction.
Following Luc’s session, author and production unit publicist Michael Singer (pictured below right) took the stage to share details on the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (which hits movie theaters May 26) in a hearty question-and-answer session. Singer, who has been involved in the production of four of the five Pirates live-action features, shared personal photos from the set and dished details on his all-new book, Disney Pirates: The Definitive Collector’s Anthology (Disney Editions Deluxe, 2017). Then, members embarked on a special screening of The Curse of the Black Pearl, with props and costume pieces from the Walt Disney Archives displayed in the Theatre lobby. After the screening, members also had time to shop at the Disney Studio Store, where Singer signed copies of his book!
As a one-of-a-kind gift at each event, guests received an exclusive commemorative pin inspired by the Aztec gold medallion (from The Curse of the Black Pearl), and also featuring the iconic skull and crossbones from the original Disneyland classic in honor of the attraction’s 50th anniversary!
These not-to-miss events represent just some of the unique adventures D23 Members have been enjoying throughout the year. To find out about upcoming D23 Member experiences, click here to check out our 2017 calendar of events.
