Well, if you are, you have lots of company! Until the latest installment -- At World’s End -- comes out on May 25th, it’s going to be a tough time for some fans. But I think I can help make the wait a bit shorter with this double shot of Classic Roger for you here.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to join members of the press from all over the world to attend the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest at Disneyland. It was a long day, but made for many happy fans as they got to see their favorite stars from the film series as well as other celebrities. So enjoy a look back with these two articles that appeared on Jim Hill Media on June 26 and 29th, 2006.

From the Spanish Main to Main Street U.S.A. : "Dead Man's Chest" stages lively premiere at Disneyland.

Join Roger Colton on the red carpet at the stars arrive in Anaheim for Saturday night's screening of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel

How dedicated are "Pirates" film fans?

So dedicated that -- even with temperatures in the upper 80s and humidity on the rise -- thousands of people staked out places along Main Street U.S.A.

Spending hours standing in the hot sun just so they'd have a great spot for star-gazing once the celebrities began arriving for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" 's world premiere at Disneyland this past Saturday night.

 

Manning the barricades just outside of Tomorrowland

Photo by Roger Colton

 

The first folks to make the trip up the red carpet weren't actually members of the cast of this sequel to "The Curse of the Black Pearl." But -- rather -- people who'd been lucky enough to win radio & TV contests that awarded them with tickets to the premiere. And some of these winners decided to get into the spirit of the event by arriving at the park in piratical garb.

Once darkness fell, the stars started coming out. Among the celebrities who stopped to chat with members of the online press were ...

That's just a taste of what it was like to be on the red carpet this past Saturday night. Come back to JHM later this week and I'll share even more photos & stories from this most memorable movie-related weekend at the Disneyland Resort.

Red Carpet Redux: Even more pictures from "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" 's world premiere at Disneyland

Now that Roger Colton's home from Anaheim, he can finally organize his thoughts (as well as all of those pictures that he took this past Saturday night) and talk about what it was really like when Hollywood took over "The Happiest Place on Earth"

As you entered Disneyland this past Saturday afternoon, this is the view that greeted you ... 

... Town Square already barricaded off, with a red carpet running along the entire length of Main Street U.S.A. With patient "Pirates of the Caribbean" fans having already staked out choice spots along the way. Hoping for a little face time with the various celebrities that were expected to attend the premiere of "Dead Man's Chest."

As these film fans stood broiling in the hot Californian sun, Disneyland did what it could to keep the crowds along Main Street U.S.A. entertained. Even going so far as to send a pirate band (on stilts yet!) down the red carpet to serenade the sweaty on-lookers.

But it wasn't just Johnny Depp fans who had to put up with all that heat & humidity. Reporters from all over the globe had also made the trip out of Anaheim, Just so they could then get shots of the various celebrities who were expected to attend the "Dead Man's Chest" premiere.

Finally, around 6 p.m., the invited guests began filtering into the theme park. Among the first to make the trip down the red carpet was Lee Iacocca (r), the former chairman of the Chrysler Corporation.

Given the great job that he'd done of chronicling Disney history, it only made sense that company archivist Dave Smith (l) was on hand for this memorable moment in Disneyland history.

Walt Disney Imagineering was also strongly represented at this event, with senior VP of Design Tony Baxter (l) ...

... and WDI ambassador Marty Sklar (r) & his lovely wife, Leah, also making appearances at this event.

The "Dead Man's Chest" premiere also brought out other members of the Disney family. Representing the Disney Channel's hit sitcom, "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" was Ashley Tisdale ... 

... While Zac Efron of "High School Musical" fame also put in an appearance at this event.

Christopher Massey of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101" (r) and his brother Kyle of "That's So Raven" put in an appearance ...

... As did Miley Cyrus from the Disney Channel's newest hit, "Hannah Montana."

Even a couple of Disney songbirds -- Kieley Williams (r) and Adrienne Bailon of the "Cheetah Girls" -- came by to chat with the press at the "Pirates" premiere.

For those of you who haven't a clue who the "Cheetah Girls" are, there were also some celebrities who were over the age of 21 who attended this event. They included ...

... Christian Slater ...

... Tony Shalhoub ...

... as well as Miami Heat coach Pat Riley.

Speaking of sports legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar strode down the carpet at Disneyland this past Saturday night ...

... as did the bad boy of basketball, Dennis Rodman.

Some hoped that Tony Hawk (l) might ride down the red carpet. But sadly this skateboarding legend left his board at home.

Some of the great ladies of television also turned out for the "Dead Man's Chest" premiere. First up was Roseanne ...

... followed by "Laugh-In" favorite Joanne Worley.

"Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert proved to be a big hit with Disneyland visitors who had been waiting for hours along the red carpet. Melissa happily posed for pictures and signed hundreds of autographs ...

... as did MTV's Daisy Fuentes.

Jennifer Love Hewitt also got a big response from the folks who were crowded up against the barricades ...

... while Anthony Kiedis (center) of "Red Hot Chili Peppers" fame found that he had a really big fan in the person of that pirate wearing the stilts.

So as you can see, this was one celebrity-filled event. One where I shot so many shots that I got a cramp in my clicking finger.

And you wanna know the worst part? I still have other images to share with JHM readers. I've got a photo story about Disneyland's recently re-opened Café Orleans as well as a detailed look at the newly "plussed" "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction.

But that stuff will all have to wait for another day. For now, I really need to rest my weary bones. 

Speaking of rest, no column again until Monday. So check back then for a Mousellaneous item I think you’ll enjoy!