Abandoned - Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

[Ken_NJ]

[Das Boot]

Disney has never been known for it truthfulness.

[Albacore 569]

The submarine ride was always the most fun ride in both parks. Having the privilege to have been a 'rider' on both, they were essentially the same. Just different sub external appearance changes and ride attendants' outfits.

When they built the second ride in Florida, Disney Corp. surely already should have had an economic model of the ride's cash performance. One thing the video fails to mention - that video seems to go on and on tediously was the attraction also had one added benefit the park guests loved - THE AIR CNDITIONING. The ride was a cool very welcome relief from the heat and a welcome calming respite from the mile upon miles of crowded walking in the hot Southern California or Florida sun.

Later the Pirates of the Carribean only eclipsed it in attendance, again air-conditioning, a soothing underground ride and of course Water!

I never forgot my first time I boarded in Anaheim in the 1960's. The boat was in the dock, you stepped aboard, after the inevitable long double back lines designed to look short in the beginning when you enter the line.... suddenly the impressions were flooding in all over into this kid's head, a hum, ...the water swirling around the hull, the low rush of the air conditioning humming as you went below, a darker environment suddenly divorced happily from the hustle & bustle outside. We walked in two rows and sat in fold down seats (ala 'Hunley'). The water outside through your port hole ... The sub ready 'for sea'. As a kid I probably having my first submarine hard on!...lol.

Disney hoped to boast to Nikita Khrushchev about the size of Disney's submarine fleet when he was expected to arrive in a state visit. Then with VP Nixon in tow I'm sure. Nixon had been present for the parks opening. But security was impossible in the happiest place on earth and Khrushchev never came to the park. Just as well. heheheh

Later they painted the subs yellow, (Cousteau yellow?) and the ride started its WOK slow downfall. The ride attendants in later years (yellow era) even grumbled in public. They exclaimed out loud (in my presence anyways) away from Park managers only thing missing sarcastically was the giant rubber duck on the bow.

The ride was great , and as a kid I balled all the way home in the back seat (250 miles) on Hwy 101, faster but less scenic Hwy 5 was only in the planning stage then. Happy memories. I'm sure the ride in Florida was added because of the popularity despite the least profitable ride - at the insistence of 'Walt'.. Thank you for that too, Walt.