Pinocchio's Bold Voyage
Façade and Queue
The town in the movie is based-off of the real-life town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany (although the story itself is set in Italy). To be consistent with the movie and the other Pinocchio attractions at Disney parks, the ride building has a facade of German wooden architecture. The ride building is adjacent to the harbor, and there are some docks and dinghies to give it a nautical theme.
The queue takes place in Gepetto’s shop, where many of Gepetto’s toy creations are within view. Figaro the Cat and Cleo the Fish are both seen in the queue.
Ride Experience
The ride system used is the boat systems from Pirates of the Caribbean. There is one medium lift hill with a drop of the same size that follows. The ride takes place inside a show building except for the drop (which is visible to non-riding guests and thus creates some kinetic energy in the land).
Guests are immersed in the great down-and-up story of Pinocchio’s struggle to become a real boy. Rather than re-tell the entire movie, the attraction will focus on two major events--Pinocchio’s time at Pleasure Island and Pinocchio trying to save Gepetto from the belly of Monstro.
The opening scene is Geppetto having just completed making the wooden puppet called Pinocchio, whom he loves dearly. Before he goes to bed, Geppetto wishes upon a star that Pinocchio would become a real, live boy. The Blue Fairy arrives to the scene (with magical effects like those found in Frozen) to give Pinocchio life, but he is still a puppet and must prove himself worthy before becoming a real boy. The Blue Fairy appoints Jiminy Cricket to be his "conscience". The cricket tells Pinocchio that anytime he needs Jiminy, all he needs to do is whistle ("Give a Little Whistle").
The next day, Pinocchio says bye to his dad (Jimmy is seen in the foreground sleeping) and then bumps into Honest John and Gideon, who are rounding up boys to take to the Pleasure Island amusement park. Jiminy (now awaken and on the street) yells at the wagon, “Pinocchio, wait for me!”
In the next scene, the gates to the hilly Pleasure Island open up (like in the Pinocchio dark ride). Pleasure Island has the standard amusement park attractions: a carrousel, a Ferris wheel, a fun house, and slides (some of which are shown in 3-D while the rest is 2-D). He sounds and sites might evoke some excitement among the guests, but the amusement park will look very lackluster compared to the great experiences they have been having at Disneyland Brazil. There are many cut-outs of boys (including the character of Lambert) running around the dirty but well-lit park with junk food and cigars while making noises of excitement. There is a fire outside the Model Home Open for Destruction. The next scene has the boys turning into donkeys and then herded into crates (ready for salt mines and circuses). Jimmy finds Pinocchio next to Lampwick and warns the puppet that they must leave at once. Lampwick says that doing bad things is fun, but he already has the ears of a donkey. In the next scene, Pinocchio has grown ears and a tale. Jiminy tells him that they have to hurry out of there before it’s too late.
As Pinocchio and Jiminy sit on the island’s dock (with the craziness on the island continuing in the background), a dove arrives with a note from the Blue Fairy. Jiminy reads it to Pinocchio: Geppetto has gone to sea to search for Pinocchio and has been swallowed by the whale Monstro. Determined to save his father, Pinocchio and Jiminy row out to sea. They journey to the bottom of the sea and ask the fish if they have seen Monstro. At the mention of Monstro’s name, the fish flee. The boats turn a corner and see Monstro’s big mouth ready to swallow them whole. Pinocchio and Jiminy find Geppetto in the belly of the whale. As the boats go up the lift hill, a fire is set in the belly of the sea monster, who sneezes them right out. This is where the drop occurs. After going into the caves (the show building again), guests see Geppetto's raft destroyed (by Monstro). Without regard for his own safety, Pinocchio saves Geppetto from drowning but at the cost of his own life.
Geppetto's wish is finally granted. Pinocchio's sacrifice has proved to the Blue Fairy that he is worthy, and he is brought back to life not as a puppet but as a real live boy.
While Geppetto, Pinocchio, Figaro and Cleo celebrate, Jiminy Cricket steps outside to look at the wishing star. Jiminy has now also proved himself to be a good conscience, and receives a gold badge.