[sandanv1]

This was in todays Orlando Sentinel - sounds like fun!!

Resort packages: A slice of 'Pirates' life to tie in with 3rd movie release in May

Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies will get a chance to celebrate the May release of the third film at Walt Disney World by purchasing pirates-themed resort packages costing between $199 and $2,350 per person.

The Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon promotional weekend will be held at Disney's Contemporary Resort, May 22-25. The activities will culminate in a midnight showing of the new movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, on the film's general opening day, May 25. The screening at Pleasure Island AMC Theater, however, won't be the movie's world premiere, the Disney World Web site disneygallery.com notes.

Three packages carry price tags of $199, $700 and $2,350 per person. All include the midnight movie, pirate-themed meals, entertainment, seminars with special guests, commemorative merchandise, and admission to an auction. The top two packages add stays in the Contemporary and other activities. With the $2,350 deal, people get three nights in the Contemporary's concierge level and additional activities such as a themed voyage on Disney's 7 Seas Lagoon.

Disney posted notice of the deals on the Web site last week and confirmed the plans Tuesday. The company intends to start taking reservations Jan. 11, and will limit availability of all three packages.

Disney World frequently organizes themed weekends at particular hotel resorts, though rarely for movie releases, said Charles Stovall, a Disney World spokesman. This will be the first such weekend resort package tied to the Pirates movies.

The movie franchise starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush was based on the venerable Disney ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, which opened in California's Disneyland in 1967 and at Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1973. Last year, in anticipation of the second movie's release, Disney updated the rides with fresh technology and the addition of two characters from the movies, Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow and Rush's Capt. Barbossa.

The first two movies were big successes for Walt Disney Pictures. According to the Web site boxofficemojo.com, the first movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl, released in 2003, grossed $654 million worldwide. The second, Dead Man's Chest, released last summer, took in $1.07 billion, making it the third-highest grossing movie in history, according to boxofficemojo, a widely cited source for movie ticket sales information.

[Dana]

That sounds very fun.....I can't go, but I do hope someone from here gets to.

[Soundgod]

It's the wrong time for me as well. Usually, I'm getting set for my Spring Coaster Expedition the first week in June.

[catfish1999]

Sounds like a blast to me! Wish I could go...aaarrrrgh

[Princessbaby]

Sounds like fun! I didn't realize the new one was coming out so soon! My boys' screamed when I told them! That probably means that there will be new characters-which means when we go next summer we will picking those up in the form of figures somewhere in WDW! I can't wait to read A MB's experience- I hope someone can go in May and tell us all about it!

[dznygrl]

WOW that sounds super neat! If I had the $$ I would book it right now!

But alas, I don't. I hope at least one MBer gets to enjoy this though, so we can hear all about it!

[WishUponAStar]

If I wasn't going to Disneyland/Palm Springs/Vegas in June I'd be all over this!!

[Cavey]

Anyone notice that for $199 I get admission to an auction????

Next thing you know I'll be paying an entry fee at Sears.