Disneyland’s Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Re-Surfaces

WDWNT on September 30, 2014

DSC_0602

Finding Nemo Submarine “Scout” was the first to ferry Guests when the ride was re-commisioned.

Disneyland’s long closed Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage re-opened on Saturday, September 27 after an almost 10 month closure. Many fans of the attraction feared it would not return, as rumors of a wholesale demolition and remaking of that area of Disneyland Park have been rife since the filming of a new Star Wars film began recently overseas.

The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm, the creators of the Star Wars film franchise, in October of 2012 for $4 billion.

A wholesale change in the north Tomorrowland area could have been an expensive and disruptive undertaking for the park that will celebrate its 60th Anniversary next year. There were also questions about Monorail transportation to and from the Disneyland Hotel and Downtown Disney District should that area of the Park have been scraped clean. Rumors are now focused on other areas of the Parks for addition of Star Wars and Marvel content. Disney has made no formal announcements.

Disney Park fans had some reason to fear that the closure might be permanent. In September of 1994, Walt Disney World’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride, a descendant of the original Submarine Voyage,  closed without advance notice for what was termed a rehabilitation period.  In 1996 that closure was made permanent.

DSC_0603

The Disneyland submarines have been sailing (mostly) since June 14, 1959.

Disneyland’s Submarine Voyage closed for an extended period in September of 1998 before re-opening as a Disney-Pixar film based adventure on June 11, 2007. It was the first major Disneyland park project for Bob Iger, who became CEO of Disney in 2005, as well as the first major project for John Lasseter (chief creative officer of Pixar and Disney Animation, and executive producer of Finding Nemo) in his role as Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction received some very general refreshing during the project, with rumors implying that infrastructure for “Finding Dory”-related additions was also put into place to be rolled out closer to the release of that sequel to the original Finding Nemo.

So, how did Disneyland manage to fill the 5-million gallon lagoon the subs ply in the middle of an epic drought? When work began, the water was purified and returned to the aquifer that has existed since the land was an agricultural plot. The water was returned to the ride when work was nearly complete.

DSC_0604

Bon Voyage!

Chris Lastrapes’ 5/17/10 Mini-DLR Photo Report

WDWNT on May 18, 2010

DLNT Reporter Chris Lastrapes took a small trip to the Disneyland Resort today and has some newsworthy photos to share…

[smugmug url=”http://wdwnt.smugmug.com/hack/feed.mg?Type=gallery&Data=12224169_iGr2g&format=rss200″ imagecount=”14″ start=”1″ num=”14″ thumbsize=”Th” link=”lightbox” captions=”true” sort=”true” window=”false” smugmug=”false” size=”L”]]

Thanks for the Mini-Report Chris

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on May 24, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage exit waterfall rock-work is almost finished


Inside Innoventions, the VMK arcade games have been switched over to Pirates of the Caribbean Online & Disney’s ToonTown Online


A new sign has been put up at the entrance to the Golden Vine Winery, that is the same, minus Seasons of the Vine


For some unknown reason, a light or projector has been placed atop Don Tomas’, & is directed towards the Toy Story Midway Mania marquee


The Disneyland: Then, Now, & Forever book has been updated with a new cover, & a page for both the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage & Toy Story Midway Mania

MiceAge Picture Update

WDWNT on May 17, 2008

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland, plus a special Friday edition of Monday in Parks on MiceAge:


The new railings for the Sunshine Plaza Fountain have been installed


A new sign has been installed at the Tomorrowland Monorail Station


A look at the drivers seat for the Mark VII Monorail


The exit waterfall rock work at the Subs is almost finished


Also, the green water hoses feeding the entry waterfall have been half-camouflaged with a covering that is similar to the cavern rock work

2 New Possible Refurbishments

WDWNT on February 17, 2008

We’re hearing about some possible new refurbishments in Disneyland Park, for Pirates of the Caribbean & the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. The first 2 are about the Subs, & the last is about Pirates:

  • Change projections so that both sides see the same thing at the same time.
  • Rework the loading station, for more efficient loading.
  • Revamp the end in both Disneyland & Walt Disney World’s, something new involving Jack Sparrow.

Dateline Disneyland Picture Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at some various things going on through-out the Disneyland Resort from this week’s Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge:


The Harbor Blvd. entrance to the resort is closed due to electrical work for the DCA & Grand Californian expansions


The Pixar Play Parade sign at the Mickey & Friends Tram Station is getting some work done


A copy of the Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters mural has been added to the Segway Experience in Innoventions. Talk about originality!


Here’s a better look at the new Build Your Own Lightsaber stand inside Star Traders


The exit waterfall at the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is getting some extensive work done


The hot dog/turkey leg stand opposite Toy Story Midway Mania is to be known as Don Tomas

50th Anniversary Monorail Pin

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The What’s HapPINing official Disney pin blog put up a preview of a pin being release next year, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Monorail system:

It should be safe to say that Disneyland will somehow be celebrating the 50th anniversary of not only the Monorail, but also the Submarine Voyage & the Matterhorn next summer.