Leaving well enough alone

Can't Disney just leave well enough alone? Here's a snippet from their website regarding the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean is currently closed, but Captain Jack Sparrow joins the crew when it re-opens on July 7! Get ready to set sail on this boisterous boat ride to discover Captain Jack and his nemesis Barbossa interacting with some of the more familiar Audio-Animatronics® buccaneers and adding a terrific twist to the adventure — along with new special effects.

Pirates was just fine the way it was. Didn't they make enough money on the movie? Now they need to "cross merchandise" with the ride?

Walt Disney World used to be about imagination, about telling a story, about escapism. Sure, many of the attractions ended in a gift shop, but most of the attractions also stood on their own - they weren't used to hawk plush characters from Disney's latest movie. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but if I really want to see Capt. Sparrow again, I'll pop in the DVD. I don't need to see him in a ride.

Okay, call me bitter. I'm PO'd at Pooh for evicting Mr. Toad. I'm ticked off that they drained Captain Nemo's lagoon to make way for Finding Nemo. I'm mad that Buzz Lightyear shot down the airplanes at If You Had Wings. But does Disney really need to <insert bodily function here> all over Walt's grave by messing with the last ride he had a major hand in designing? Pirates is supposed to transport you to an age where pirates sailed the high seas, not drop kick you into a gift shop.

Aerial courtesy of Live Local