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| (June 14, 1959–Sept. 1998) BACKSTORY: 38 Riders were able to enter the 8 half-submerged mini-submarines by descending through access hatches at either end on this E-Ticket attraction. Each 52' long sub cost about $80,000 to build and could go about 1.7 miles per hour. The Disney-designed subs were built at the Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, California, and driven down freeways and side-streets to their ultimate destination of Anaheim. Sitting on small fold-down seats, guests leaned forward to peer out through port holes on either side. The subs moved around a track in the mermaid lagoon and gave the illusion of diving by having bubbles rise around it while the captain intoned commands over the loudspeaker. Guests saw real-looking and imaginary sea life fastened to rocks or floating in the water, a treasure chest of gold, mermaids, a sea serpent, and passed under icebergs at the “North Pole” during their 9 minute voyage. As you can see from the photos below, REAL(!) mermaids actually swam in the lagoon for a brief period. During the opening ceremonies, there was a water ballet of mermaids. The mermaids were around for the first year, then returned for the tencennial. Requirements for those auditioning at the Disneyland Hotel were height between 5'4"–5'7", long hair, and able to swim! From summer 1965 through summer 1967, the mermaids could be seen for four hours a day on the rocks in the middle of the lagoon. A few overly amorous males apparently swam out to the rocks to the meet the mermaids. In addition, the chlorine in the lagoon turned the mermaid’s hair green. Mermaids entered the changing room located on the sub dock, wearing a Tiki Room mumu while transitioning from backstage. The cover was added on top of the old service dock so that the public did not see them put on their lower fish half. It included a small air unit for ventilation. Early on it was a canvas covering, then became metal to go along with the rest of the maintenance boxes. The submarines were originally military gray and named after vessels in the 1950’s Nuclear submarine program: Seawolf, Skate, Ethan Allen, Patrick Henry, Nautilus, Triton, Skipjack, and the George Washington. They were all part of the largest peacetime fleet of subs in the world. The subs were repainted yellow in the 1980’s. This classic attraction was shut down in September 1998 and replaced by the “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage” on June 11, 2007. |
1950’s |
1960 |
FROM THE DISNEYLANDER NEWSLETTER, MARCH 1961 |
| ASPHALT SEA Dry Submarine Lagoon A Beehive of Activity Disneyland has long been noted for its beautiful landscaping and gardens and most employees know that our gardening experts raise a good percentage of these plants in the Winston Road nursery, but…not until recently were Disneylanders aware that Bud Washo's Staff Shop artisans have a flourishing "nursery" of their own. In the service area behind the Administration Building, on a "sea" of asphalt, is a beautiful "under water" garden. Brilliantly colored blossoms and lush foliage thrive despite their concrete "roots." If one happens to see a mermaid or two among the foliage, coral, driftwood and other flora and fauna usually found in the depths of the sea—the explanation is simple. It's all part of the extensive Submarine Voyage rehab program. In the Submarine lagoon, and cavern, drained of its cool clear, filtered water, even stranger things are taking place. To the sidewalk superintendent, it looks like Jack Reilly has Joe Fowler's and Truman Woodworth's entire crew concentraiting on this one area. The scope of rehab is tremendous. Leo Chsney's plumbers, Fred Johnson's electricians, Larry Smith's and Bud Washo's craftsmen and Robbie Robbins' animation mechanics are working with Dick Irvine, Claude Coats, Marc Davis, Bob Sewell, Roger Broggie and Emile Kuri of the DIsney organization. This concentrated grop of talented men are adding new rock work, iproving the camouflage, as well as repainting and redecorating the entire ride. The animation devices and lighting effects are undergoing complete rehab and many new and exciting props are being added to the popular attraction. King crabs and lobsters, sea turtles and another sea bass, sun fish, additional and more realistic moray eels and giant clams are being readied for placement and animation. New manta rays, a shark and octopus in an underwater fight will also be added to the adventure. The newly animated mermaids, will, according to DIsney experts, be doing just what beautiful ladies do everywhere, when there's a treasure chest of jewels and a mirror handy, and even the winsome sea serpent is getting a new animation overhaul which will make him more captivating than ever. A strange sight, indeed, is this dry lagoon with as many workmen as props, but when the work is completed in a few weeks and the lagoon and cavern are once again filed with water, Disneyland's guests will enjoy an even more beautiful and exciting adventure than when the Submarine was opened to the public less than 2 years ago. Not only does Disneyland continue to grow, but Walt Disney and his staff are continually searching for a better and more exciting way to present Disneyland's world famous attractions. |
GETTING FRESH: FROM THE DISNEYLANDER NEWSLETTER, APRIL 1961 |
|
1961—1962 |
1963—1965 |
1966—1967 |
1968—1969 |
DISNEYLAND LINE NEWSLETTER, APRIL 20, 1978 |
| The Submarine Voyage: An In Depth Look When guests come to Disneyland, they expect the unexpected. Their expectations are easily fulfilled in the watery wilderness of Tomorrowland's Submarine Voyage. The mysterious world of the attraction's undersea waterways reveals in intriguing array of rare and seldom-seen life forms and sunken ships laden with treasure. Adventurous guests experience many exciting events within the security of the air-conditioned submarines. Inspired by the filming of Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," construction of the Submarine Voyage begain in the fall of 1958 and was completed in time for what was referred to as Disneyland's "second opening," when it was premiered in June 1959, along with the Matterhorn and the Monorail. The hulls of the eight submarines that comprise one of the largest peace-time submarine fleets in the world were built by Todd Shipyards of San Pedro, shipped to the Park, and ocmpleted in Disneyland's Naval Shipyard under the supervision of their designer, Joseph W. Fowler, a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. Each of the vessels, named after submarines in the U.S. Navy Nuclear-Powered Submarine Fleet, can carry 38 passengers, and makes a round-trip journey to the North Pole in just nine minutes. As dark and remote as the voyage may seem at times, the undersea scenes are always clearly visible through the portholes, because the water in the lagoon and caverns is continually filtered. While the technical intricacies touch the Submarine Voyage with the essence of realism, the significant factor that makes this adventure a real attraction is the friendly and expert corps of Attraction Hosts who fill the roles of the submarine captains and deck hands. These dungaree-outfitted seahands have more to be concerned with than they let on, for they have to be constantly on the watch for the safety of the guests near the waterways. Our smaller guests who wonder if they will get wet have nothing to worry about, according to Working Leader Steve Weisman. Even though the attraction is so complex, Steve and his crew keep the operation shipshape. "It's like a giant chessgame, the way we have to move things around," says Steve of the hustle and bustle required to load and unload the submarines. When higher attendances require the deployment of all available submarine units, the situation becomes even more involved. The deck crew implements a technique called "wolf-packing," in which three submarines go through loading and unlaoding procedures simultatenously. At peak capacity, the Submarine Voyage can handle 1300-1400 guests per hour, which necessitates the teamwork of 22 Attraction Hosts. "'Syncing' the sub speed to the spiel and docking are the most difficult skills for new Casuals to master," explains the Working Leader Pat Selitrennikoff. Each unit is different form the next in forward and reverse modes, and each has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to handling or braking. Guest safety is a factor that demands extra attention on the Submarine Voyage and the Attraction Hosts continuously alert the guests to warch their footing on the deck and on the stairs. "Some children have a fascination for the water, so we have to watch them closely on deck," adds Host Bob Applewhite. Besides the deck hands who keep things in order topside, there is a crew of experienced divers who attend to all underwater details of the attraction. These aquatic mechanics have the job of keping the animation and other effects in line, as well as checking the subs theselves to verify their seaworthiness. They are headquartered in Disneyland's Naval Shipyard, located behind Fantasyland Autopia, where major submarine rehab work is done. There is something to fascinate children of all ages in the liquid depths of the Submarine Voyage lagoon and caverns. Through the combined efforts of the Disney Imagineers and the Tomorrowland Attraction Hosts, the attraction has become one of the more popular experiences for our visitors, one which returning guests revisit again and again. |
1970's—1980's |
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