ANAHEIM, Calif. – January 29, 2008 – A new name and face are joining the ranks of those infamous pirates whose images appear inside the entrance to “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Disneyland.
Alongside such legends of the high seas as Captain Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, a specially created portrait of Jenifer Greenwell of St. Petersburg, Florida, now appears along the wall where queuing guests approach the dock to board the attraction. Jenifer was selected at random as the grand prize winner from hundreds of thousands of entries in the “Become a Disney Pirate” sweepstakes conducted in connection with the DVD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Her likeness as “Mademoiselle Greenwell” in pirate costume will stand alongside the others and be viewed by millions of Disneyland guests.
Jenifer’s pirate journey, following the news of her big win, took her to the headquarters of Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California. There, in May 2007, she was sketched as a pirate in full costume by Imagineer artist Jim Crouch. She also was given a tour of Imagineering, which few non-Imagineers ever get to experience.
Jenifer returned to California in July where, in the Pirate Suite of the Disneyland Hotel, Jim Crouch and other Imagineers showed her the original artwork that he would paint as a four-foot-tall mural on the wall of the attraction. (The other notable pirates in this Pirates of the Caribbean rogues gallery were also painted by Crouch.)
The art was unveiled the morning of Tuesday, January 29, in a special presentation featuring Jenifer and some of the pirate denizens of New Orleans Square in Disneyland. “Mademoiselle Greenwell” will remain on view in “Pirates of the Caribbean” through June 2009.
In addition, Jenifer was given a VIP tour of Disneyland Resort during her January 29 visit. She met and posed for photos with Disneyland pirates, and took home the original “Mademoiselle Greenwell” artwork developed for the attraction.
About Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks – Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure – three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district. Disneyland Resort is celebrating its “Dreams Come True” heritage with the Year of a Million Dreams through 2008. In addition to meeting and playing with Disney Princesses at the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, guests can experience other Dream Come True opportunities such as dueling with Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy, creating mayhem with the denizens of Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island and showing their school spirit by joining in the fun of “High School Musical 2: School’s Out!” at Disney’s California Adventure park. The Year of a Million Dreams is being celebrated at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
For more information about new attractions, the Year of a Million Dreams, and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com , call (866) 60-DISNEY or visit local travel agents. Please visit our podcast at www.disneyland.com/podcast .
About Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the unique innovative organization that creates – from concept through construction – all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, cruise ships, real estate developments, and regional entertainment venues worldwide. Imagineering’s unique strength comes from the teamwork and synthesis of creative and technical professionals representing more than 140 diverse disciplines.