Disneyland upgrades attraction

Visitors to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride will see some new faces when the ride reopens June 26.

To coincide with the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Disneyland has upgraded the 38-year-old ride by incorporating elements of the "Pirates" movies. New animatronic figures of Johnny Depp's character Jack Sparrow and his archenemy Barbossa will be the key players in the ride's new storyline, while highlights from the film's Hans Zimmer score will be a part of the remastered soundtrack.

In addition, new props, video and lighting effects and even a more realistic cannon battle are among the many changes made to the attraction.

However, not all fans of the ride are enthusiastic about the modifications.

"I think it's really lamentable when society feels that they need to go back and adjust their pop culture icons to fit whatever new spawns out," park visitor Candy Richter said. "I don't think people are going in Haunted Mansion and wondering where the Eddie Murphy character is."

But Disney Imagineering's Kathy Rodgers insists the changes improve the ride without taking away from its original appeal.

"We have not disturbed the classic storytelling," Rodgers said. "We have given Pirates of the Caribbean a new fresh look that will add to its longevity."