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2020: Piraten in Batavia

AstroDan

TS Team
Favourite Ride
Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
This topic follows on from the 2019/20 re-build topic which focussed more widely on attractions such as Fjord Rafting, Scandinavia, Snorri Touren and Piraten in Batavia. The 2019 focussed topic will be un-stickied shorty after the opening of Snorri Touren, which is scheduled in late November 2019.

Piraten in Batavia is currenlty the park's largest construction site and is scheduled to open in 2020. An exact opening date has not yet been released.

Given the scale of this re-build, I felt it was worthy of its own discussion area.

 
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I am really looking forward to seeing what they do with this. I was never a fan of old Pirates, yes it was a large dark ride but it came across as a poor Disney rip off. I am hoping that advances in effects and technology will lead to a much more immersive ride experience.
 
I am really looking forward to seeing what they do with this. I was never a fan of old Pirates, yes it was a large dark ride but it came across as a poor Disney rip off. I am hoping that advances in effects and technology will lead to a much more immersive ride experience.

Perfectly reflects my thoughts. Whilst the first scene after the drop was okay, as you floated around the rest of the scenes at a snail’s pace, all I could think was how much the original was a misunderstood rip-off of POTC.

The preview animatronic gives me some cause for optimism. I just hope that, like Disney has done with the reimagined Pirates in Shanghai, this will be a dramatic reinterpretation of the original which utilises some innovative technology and perhaps a reworked storyline which is better understood.
 
I wouldn't get hopes up too much.

I do expect it to be better than the original, but it's not going to be dramatically so and certainly the budget will be a fraction of rides like Pirates.

I enjoyed the old ride for what it was, really. It was a must-ride for my visits, without me being a major fan. I liked the atmosphere and music more than anything else. Relative to EP's dark rides, which have never hit the heights of parks like Efteling or Disneyland, Piraten was nevertheless one of their better ones.

:)
 
Mack Media have been filming more Piraten footage, this time on the Junior Club's green screen set. If only there was a closer photo of Robbemond so we could have a Where's Wally-esque 'Wo Ist Robbemond?' photo insert joke.

 
Pretty sure the Macks only added a green screen in the kids club building so they could use it for all their filming, Rather than doing it externally!
 
Oooh, a lantern on the bow of each boat? Anyone else getting DVH VIBES?
 
Didn't the old boats used to have a glowing orb on the front?
A lantern seems more thematically appropriate.
 
Starting to think that new Pirates could be more different than initially anticipated, which is a good thing in my eyes. Love that concept!
 
I’m not sure if this is a change, but Pirates was being advertised as Summer 2020 this week. Whether that means the Summer park season or meteorological Summer is a little unclear - either way, there was quite a bit still to do on the facade, albeit the building itself now looks to be fully in place and enclosed.

I’d imagine a mid-summer opening is not unlikely.
 
A new, short teaser has been released. I suggest you use subtitles if you don't speak German.

 
EPfans.ch has reported some news on Batavia 2020 from the Q&As held at the recent EP Fans Gathering event.
- Iconic scenes of the old ride will find their place in the new attraction, but the entire complex, including its fragrance, atmosphere and music will become more modern. Additionally some scenes will be differently arranged.
- The budget for new animatronics should be particularly interesting: It is claimed to be roughly equivalent to the total budget of the recently opened Snorri Touren dark ride.
- The ride will have the highest capacity in the park on par with Silver Star to avoid extreme queue times or the queue spilling out of the building upon re-opening.
- They are working back to front according to one poster the on and off load, and restaurant theming is well underway. The former burning city scene space remains bare concrete as theming work here as not yet started on the replacement scene.
- The restaurant and ride will open at the same time. They don't want to announce a completion date yet but a planned one exists and things are currently on schedule. Quality is being prioritised over deadlines or budget.

- Fans of the Bamboe Baai restaurant should be pleased to hear that its ambience and appearance will be similar as before; relying on Indonesian architecture and dark wood. It will have a similar capacity as before too. They can look forward to an Asian Food Market and enjoy Indonesian-style dishes. In addition, a bowl system should enable individualized dishes to be put together. Popular outdoor sales will also return, so some dishes will also be available on the go.
- The day time Chinese National Circus shows will not return; although the restaurant will still have a stage for use in the evenings as the Indonesia Malam evening event will return. The stage area will be used during the day as an expanded seating area for restaurant guests. The decision was made because places for restaurant guests were often blocked as non-eating guests took their places to see the day time shows.
- The gastronomy department's presentation also revealed that the restaurant is scheduled to open in late June / early July. Which is interesting when one considers that the separate ride project team presentation stated the restaurant would not open before the ride...

Sources
 
- The day time Chinese National Circus shows will not return; although the restaurant will still have a stage for use in the evenings as the Indonesia Malam evening event will return. The stage area will be used during the day as an expanded seating area for restaurant guests. The decision was made because places for restaurant guests were often blocked as non-eating guests took their places to see the day time shows.

This alone makes the whole fire worth it! :D That bloody show ruined both the ride and any hope of ever getting a table to eat at!
 
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