Take the pirate oath with Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney has found a clever way to turn what could have been nothing more than an overblown ad for a movie franchise into a fun walk-through experience — if you go in with tempered expectations.

© Steven Liebman Inside the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Hollywood Studios.

In the 8-minute “Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow,” guests enter a room resembling a cove, populated by skeletons (one killed by a cannonball through the heart) and festooned with treasure. In the course of the show, you help Captain Jack fend off some of the more memorable villains from the movie series. In the end, you take the pirate oath and become part of Captain Jack’s crew.

The effects envelop you, making you feel like you’re part of the action. But the most breathtaking effect is Captain Jack himself. At first it almost seems like Johnny Depp is standing right in front of you.

Be prepared to play along — give Captain Jack a mighty “ARGH” and cover your ears against the singing of the mermaids. If you’re not game, you may find yourself wishing you could have those 8 minutes of your life back again.

The most disappointing thing is that you’re hustled in and out in a hurry, not giving you any time to soak in the details of the set — let alone take any pictures.

© Steven Liebman The detail inside the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attraction in Disney World.

If you’re a cynic, you could say this is a really cool pre-show — without the show. (See the video below on the pre-preshow.)

In some ways this show represents a natural evolution: For years this space was devoted to “Journey into Narnia: Creating the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” (2005-2008), a walk-through in which guests essentially stood to watch a video recap of the movie, then walked past a few costumes on their way out. Then, it morphed into “Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian” (2008-2011), which included clips from the movie but added some interactive elements, like a trivia game and a set where you could have your photo taken with Prince Caspian.

The one benefit of the Caspian incarnation: You had time to appreciate the movie memorabilia and take pictures. Now you’re in and out in a jiffy. Captain Jack himself even makes a joke about the turnaround time.

In most ways this experience is a big improvement over its predecessors. And it makes you wonder: What will come next in the evolution?

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