A Pirate's Life

🎶Yo Ho Yo Ho 🎶

🎶 A Pirate's Life For Me! 🎶

Photo of the Week

I love the ever changing displays outside the theater in One Man's Dream at Hollywood Studios. It's so fun to get a closeup look at the costumes, like this Captain Jack Sparrow costume from Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Photo of the Week

This mischievous kitty has claimed my Pirates of the Caribbean blanket for her own. Apparently I'm not the only one who loves Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner.

Photo of the Week

Have you ever dared to join Captain Jack Sparrow's crew to search for the "Treasures of the Seven Seas"? It’s a fun Pirates of the Caribbean treasure hunt around Disney World's Adventureland. 

Let's Journey Through Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

Disney

It's time for another "Ride & Learn" video from Disney. So let's travel along with Captain Jack Sparrow through Shanghai Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. (This video has since been removed.)

Arrrrrrr Matey! It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day is one of the more ridiculous holidays, but one that can be a lot of fun. If you need a little inspiration, well, look no further. Here are a few words and phrases to get you started.

• Ahoy - hello
• Arrrrr - yes! or hurray!
• Avast ye! - Hey you!
• Black spot - a pirate's death threat
• Blimey - an expression of surprise
• Briney deep - ocean
• Davy Jones' Locker - the place where drowned sailors go
• Heave ho - put your back into it
• Hornswaggle - to cheat
• Landlubber - a person unskilled at life at sea
• Me hearties - friends
• Mutiny - when the crew chooses a new captain while removing the old one
• Savvy? - Do you understand?
• Sea legs - to walk easily aboard a moving ship 
• Scurvy dog - an insult
• Scuttlebutt - gossip
• Shiver me timbers! - an expression of shock

What to Expect When Disney World Reopens

When Disney World reopens the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11 and EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15, things will look a little different. From reservations to get into the parks on a specific day, to no Fast Passes, to guests and Cast Members wearing masks, it will definitely be a new experience.

Before you go, make sure to book a reservation through Disney's Park Pass System. Reservations can be made beginning June 22 for resort guests, June 26 for Annual Passholders, and June 28 for existing ticket holders. All guests must have a Park Pass and ticket to enter the Parks and can only select one park per day, no park hopping. All guests may be subject to a touchless temperature check and must wear a mask to enter the Parks.

Once you enter the Parks, most attractions will be available including:

• Magic Kingdom - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, and Avatar Flight of Passage
• EPCOT - Spaceship Earth (the refurbishment has been delayed), Soarin' Around the World, Frozen Ever After, and Test Track 
• Hollywood Studios - Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

There will be characters in the Parks, although Meet and Greets have been suspended for the time being. Some characters can be seen in surprise parades while others might pop up in unexpected locations. Here are a few ways the characters will appear:

• Magic Kingdom - cavalcades down the parade route, perhaps a captive Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue (I've seen Cap'n Jack in the queue before and it's hilarious!)
• Animal Kingdom - characters sailing the waterways 
• EPCOT - processions along the World Showcase promenade, Queen Anna and Elsa may cross your path in the World Showcase
• Hollywood Studios - motorcades on Hollywood Boulevard, Resistance members may be hiding from the First Order in Black Spire Outpost

Several music groups will also be returning, such as Mariachi Cobre and JAMMitors at EPCOT and the Main Street Philharmonic at Magic Kingdom.

While it will be different, I can't wait to return to Walt Disney World this summer!

Quote of the Week

Disney

This is either madness, or brilliance. 
- Will Turner

It’s remarkable how often those two traits coincide. - Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Blu-ray

Disney

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is available on Blu-ray and DVD today. I saw the film in the theater, and I absolutely loved it. It was crazy and funny, and at times incredibly sad, but overall it was a fantastic addition to the series. Caution: There Be Spoilers Ahead. Ye Be Warned.

Disney

Dead Men Tell No Tales starts where At World's End left off, with the love story between Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Their young son, Henry, is determined to break his father's curse, with help, of course, from Captain Jack Sparrow, whether anyone likes it or not.

While seeking Jack, a grown-up Henry meets Capitan Salazar, who wants revenge on Jack, and Carina Smyth, an astronomer accused of witchcraft, who is about to be executed alongside Jack. On the way to the execution scene, keep an eye out for Uncle Jack, a cameo by Paul McCartney, who is hilarious.

Disney

Eventually, everyone's journeys collide as they all seek Poseidon's Trident. It's a race to see who will find it first: Henry and Carina with Jack and his ragtag crew, Barbossa and his crew of miscreants, Capitan Salazar and his ghosts, or the British Royal Navy.

I won't reveal any more, but if you liked the first three films, you should definitely see Dead Men Tell No Tales. It is supposed to be the final film in the series and it provides a good stopping point for all the different characters' stories. And while I did cry through much of the end, I can't wait to see it again. Oh, and make sure to watch for the post credit scene. It made me wonder if there are more tales to tell afterall.

Disney

The Blu-ray has a treasure chest full of Special Features:

• Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure - take a behind the scenes look at the making of the film with  a collection of stories that can be viewed individually or together
• A Return to the Sea - hear how Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg developed this new chapter and brought it to the screen
• Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya - meet Brenton Thwaites and Lays Scodelario, the newest members of the Pirates franchise
• The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary - Javier Bardem speaks about his character and his foreboding ship 
• First Mate Confidential - go on-set with Kevin McNally, the long suffering Mr. Gibbs, Captain Jack's first mate
• Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks - a glimpse into the depths to see how these monsters were created and brought to life 
• Wings Over the Caribbean - Captain Jack and Sir Paul McCartney 
• An Enduring Legacy - One last look at the impact of Pirates of the Caribbean; the ride, the movies, and beyond
• Bloopers of the Caribbean 
• Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary
• Deleted Scenes 

Funko's Disney Treasures Boxes Subscription

Funko

When Funko announced that they were adding a Disney Treasures box to their subsciption lineup, I was excited. I've been thinking about ordering one of the Marvel or Star Wars boxes because they sounded pretty cool, but I didn't want a million t-shirts. The Disney Treaures boxes seemed like the perfect choice: Disney POPVinyls and few, if any, t-shirts.

When I saw a sneak peek of a character from the first box, Pirate's Cove, I knew I had to have it. I wanted the Mr. Smee POPVinyl to go with the Captain Hook I've had for years. Since the boxes contain exclusive collectibles, it made a subscription very appealing. I will admit, I did watch the spoiler video, which showed another item from the first box, a Dorbz Ridez of the Wicked Wench complete with a captain sporting a beribboned, braided beard. I ordered the six box plan, one every other month for a year, and began waiting for it to arrive.

Several weeks later, a box arrived, printed to look like a chest with a Mickey padlock. I couldn't wait to see what other treasures would be inside. When I opened the lid, I found a Captain Hook patch, a pirate Mickey pin, and a Disney Treasures Pioneer pin. The inside of the lid showed a map with all of the themed lands marked on it. Under the flap was a paper with more information about the collectibles on one side, and a fold-out map with a dotted line from Pirate's Cove to the next destination, Festival of Friends, on the other. There was also a Pirate's Cove sticker.

Finally, the moment I'd been waiting for, the collectibles. First up was Mr. Smee, looking absolutely adorable from his stocking cap to his toes, with his belly peeking out in between. Next up was the Wicked Wench, a highly detailed vessel with a removable captain. The final item came in a tin decorated with scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Inside was the cutest little Captain Jack Sparrow Mystery Mini. He even has his compass.

I was very happy with the first box, but had two months to wait for the second one. When June arrived, I received an email with tracking information for the next box from Funko. I waited for it, and waited, and waited, and waited, all the while trying not to see any of the unboxing videos cropping up everywhere. Somewhere between DHL and USPS, the tracking stopped. After several very annoying days, I had to file a missing package claim just to get USPS to actually deliver my package. It arrived the next day. So far, the shipping method is my only real complaint about the subscription.

Box number two was similar to the first. It contained a Piglet patch and a Thumper pin in the top. Under the flap was a flying Dumbo with Timothy on his hat. It has a clear acrylic stand attached to the bottom so Dumbo can "fly". The second figure was a POPVinyl Pluto, who.was very cute. The last figure was in a tin decorated with scenes from Toy Story Mania. Inside was the most adorable Sherriff Woody, Mystery Mini. He really is too cute, from his plaid shirt to the tiny pull string loop on his back.

So far, I'm very happy with the additions to my Funko Disney collection. And if you can avoid all the spoiler videos, it's a lot of fun to open up a new surprise every other month. If you've considered purchasing one of Funko's subscription boxes, try the Disney Treasures. It's perfect for Disney collectors. The next box's theme is Tiny Town. So far, the box will contain a Flying Tinker Bell POPVinyl. It will ship out sometime around the first week of August.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Lego Silent Mary

Photos courtesy of Lego

When I heard that they were making the latest Pirates movie, I really hoped that Lego would make a new ship. Boy did they ever! The Silent Mary, which can be yours for the low price of $199, is an incredible Lego creation.

The 2294 piece set includes eight minifigures: Captain Jack Sparrow, Henry Turner, Carina Smyth, Captain Salazar, Lieutenant Lesaro, Officers Magda and Santos, and the Silent Mary Masthead.

There are also two Ghost sharks. The ship can be opened to switch from sailing to attacking, just like in the movie. Accessories include a compass, sextant, ship-in-a-bottle, and Galileo Diary.

The set is amazing. While I could never spend so much on a single set, I do love it. It would be hours of piratey fun putting it together. The Silent Mary is available from the Lego store as well as online at shop.Lego.com.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Review

I saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean last week, and I absolutely loved it. It was crazy and funny, and at times incredibly sad, but overall it was a fantastic addition to the series. Caution: There Be Spoilers Ahead. Ye Be Warned.

Part of the ship. Part of the crew.

The film begins shortly after the post credit scene from At World's End. Young Henry Turner has vowed to save his father from his terrible curse. Like father, like son, right? To do so, he decides to seek help from the notorious pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. Although Will tells Henry to let him go and stay far away from Sparrow, he's too much of a Turner to simply give in.

Like father, like son. Henry is definitely a Turner.

Flash forward ten years. Henry is now a sailor in the King's Navy, although his penchant for legends seems to cause him no end of trouble. When Capitan Salazar and his crew attack Henry's ship, they kill everyone aboard, save Henry, who is tasked with taking a message to Jack Sparrow. When we finally see Jack, he's a down on his luck, landlocked drunkard who seems to be a bit lost. The Black Pearl is still trapped in a bottle and most of his crew have deserted him. To add insult to injury, he's scheduled to be executed, alongside one Carina Smyth, an astronomer and horologist who has been accused of witchcraft. (I love the scene on the way to the execution when Jack discovers his Uncle Jack, played by Paul McCartney, is also in jail. Too hilarious!)

"How bad could it be?"

The execution scene itself is full of hilarity and hijinks. And the dialogue is just too funny. Guard - "How would you like to die, Pirate? Hanging, firing squad, or a new invention, the guillotine?" Jack - "Guillotine? Sounds French. I love the French. Did you know that they invented mayonnaise? How bad could it be, it's French, eh?"

Eventually, Henry, Carina, and Captain Jack with his broken down ship and ragtag crew set sail in search of Poseidon's Trident. They are guided by a map no man can read, but fortunately, Carina is a woman. Soon, it's a race to see who will reach the Trident first, Jack, Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants (including two very familiar British guards from the first three movies), Capitan Salazar and his ghost crew, or the British Royal Navy, who'd like to see them all destroyed.

I won't reveal any more, but if you liked the first three films, you should definitely see Dead Men Tell No Tales. It is supposed to be the final film in the series and it provides a good stopping point for all the different characters' stories. And while I did cry through much of the end, I can't wait to see it again. Oh, and make sure to stay for the post credit scene. It made me wonder if there are more tales to tell afterall.

Lego BrickHeadz

When I first saw the new Lego BrickHeadz, I wasn't sure if I liked them. But then Bean gave me Belle and the Beast for my birthday, and I have to say, when put together, they really are cute. The figures are about four inches tall and quite detailed.

On a recent trip to the Lego store, I discovered that they now have several different Brick Headz character figures: Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow from Marvel's Avengers, and Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Salazar from Pirates of the Caribbean.

There were also four figures from the Lego Batman Movie: Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and the Joker. The BrickHeadz figures cost $9.99 each and are available at Lego stores and from Lego.com.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Clips

Disney

There have been several great TV Spots for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Only Captain Jack would find pants an unnecessary intricacy.

Captain Salazar is so creepy when he's calling for Jack Sparrow.

"I'm not one to complain, but this baskets full of heads." Captain Jack does enjoy his gallows humor.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

Quote of the Week

Will Turner: You want me to find this?

Jack Sparrow: No. You want you to find this, because the finding of this finds you incapacitorially finding and or locating in your discovering the detecting of a way to save your dolly belle, ol' what's-her-face. Savvy?

Will Turner: This is going to save Elizabeth?

Jack Sparrow: How much do you know about Davy Jones?

Will Turner: Not much.

Jack Sparrow: Yeah, it's going to save Elizabeth.

- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales POPVinyl

The POPVinyl figures from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales look amazing! They should arrive in stores in time for the movie's theatrical release on May 26. The set includes three figures:

Captain Jack Sparrow

the Ghost of Will Turner

and Captain Salazar,

and two special versions: a gold Captain Jack Sparrow 

available exclusively from Hot Topic,

and a chase figure, a ghost version of Captain Salazar. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer 4 and Poster

Disney

Disney has released another Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales trailer. The voice over by Salazar says, "Pirates had infected the seas for generations, so I vowed to eliminate them all. Jack Sparrow cursed me. I will have my revenge." The new poster from Germany features this face off between Jack and Salazar. It's seems Captain Jack has gotten himself into trouble again, and, according to the trailer, somehow lost his pants.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters on May 26.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer and Poster

Disney

Captain Jack Sparrow is back for one final swashbuckling adventure. And he's just as irreverent and lecherous as always.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” 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. 

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” also stars Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the sea-witch Shansa, Stephen Graham as Scrum, David Wenham as Scarfield and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales arrives in theaters May 26, 2017.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer

Disney

A new trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales debuted during the Super Bowl last night. It looks incredible! I can't wait to see it. Jack Sparrow and his crew return to theaters this Memorial Day.

#PiratesLife

Quote of the Week

The problem is not the problem. 

The problem is your attitude about the problem.

Do you understand?

- Jack Sparrow,  

Pirates of the Caribbean