20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: What Happened to This E-Ticket Attraction?
One of the most innovative attractions ever created for Disney theme parks was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A Walt Disney World “E-Ticket” attraction since its opening on October 14, 1971 (when WDW used individual coupons instead of single-pay tickets), this Fantasyland attraction closed exactly 23 years after it opened. making it the only e-ticketed attraction to be removed from the park.
The 38-passenger submarines (39 with cast member “Captain”) used on the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction based on the Disney film of the same name were distinguished by their Roman numeral markings on the exterior. They were built at a shipyard in nearby Tampa and then brought on flatbed trucks to Walt Disney World. In fact, when “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” opened, the 24 submarines operating at Walt Disney World and Disneyland gave the Walt Disney Company the fifth-largest naval fleet in the world.
Guests board Captain Nemo’s submarine and journey under the sea through coral reefs, dark caverns, and unexpected dangers beneath the deadly polar ice caps. Unfortunately, the ride closed in 1994 with almost no notice to guests, not because of lack of popularity, but because of constant ride breakdowns, difficulties loading (submarines were not handicapped accessible), long lines, and difficulty and high maintenance costs (including keeping 11.5 million gallons of water clear enough for guests to see).
For some time after the attraction’s closure, the submarines remained “docked” in the lagoon, leaving futile hope that the ride would be renovated and reopened. However, the submarines were soon withdrawn and the lagoon was drained. They were later stored for some time in backstage maintenance areas, but have long since been taken to a whereabouts unknown… well, for the most part, anyway. While rumors persist that many of the old subs have been dismantled or buried somewhere on the property, two of the subs were brought to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, for Disney Cruise Line passengers to explore. . As of January 2005, parts of the old submarines, including the portholes and flip-up seats, were available for sale at Epcot’s Art of Disney store and on the inevitable eBay secondary market. (And yes, I already bought my personal pieces of Walt Disney World attraction history.) Additionally, as part of Disney’s Piece of Disney History Pin collection, Guests can purchase actual pieces of the 20,000 Leagues attraction in a limited-edition 2,500-piece pin.
The attraction’s former waiting area was converted into what became known as the “Fantasy Land Character Festival,” where you could meet and get autographs from Disney characters. The back of the lagoon area was used for “Ariel’s Grotto” where Guests could meet the star of “The Little Mermaid” and children could play in a soft area of the park dotted with water jets. For years, rumors of a bigger “The Little Mermaid” ride had swirled, and in 2003, with the success of “Finding Nemo,” similar, but unsubstantiated, rumors began to surface.
For quite some time afterward, the empty lagoon that once carried Guests to faraway lands on perilous underwater adventures stood empty, a sad reminder of days gone by. Then in 2004 something strange happened… The area surrounding the lagoon was enclosed with the familiar green walls indicating to Guests that major renovations are taking place behind them. The massive process of removing all the contents of the lagoon and filling it with soil has begun, and as of this writing, has recently been completed. A ride aboard an elephant-riding cart above Dumbo reveals to the curious eye that construction has begun on what will eventually become a “Hundred Acre Wood” meet and greet area for Winnie the Pooh characters. . Conveniently located across from the popular “The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh” attraction, this “temporary” area will give kids a place to meet Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and others, take a photo (and, of course, buy some themed merchandise on the way out, I’m sure).
Rumors have started to surface that eventually (around 7-10 years), the area will become a “door smasher” attraction logically linking Toontown and Fantasyland. (but I’ll save that story for another article). Then again, don’t be so sure that the Hundred Acre Wood area will disappear too quickly. Remember, that’s what Disney said about Toontown and Voyage of the Little Mermaid: They were “temporary” too. Only time will tell. For now, the wondrous 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction remains a distant part of Disney history and a treasured memory for millions of fans.