20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Whatever Became of This E-Ticket Attraction?

One of the most advanced attractive forces ever created for the Walt Disney subject Parks was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A Walt Walt Walt Disney World "E-Ticket" attractive force since its gap twenty-four hours on October 14, 1971 (back when WDW used individual vouchers instead of pay-one-price tickets), this Fantasyland drive closed exactly 23 old age to the twenty-four hours after it opened, making it the lone E-Ticket attractive force to ever be removed from the park.

The 38 rider (39 with the Project Member "Captain") bombers used in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction based on the Disney movie of the same name were distinguished by their Roman number markings on the outside. They were built in a shipyard in nearby Tampa, and then brought over on flatcar motortrucks to Walt Walt Disney World. In fact, when "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was open, the 24 bombers that operated at Walt Walt Walt Disney World and Disneyland gave the Walt Disney Company the 5th biggest naval fleet in the world!

Guests boarded Captain Nemo's pigboat and traveled under the sea through coral reefs, dark caverns, and into unexpected danger below deathly water ice caps. Sadly, the drive closed in 1994 with almost no notice to guests, not owed to deficiency of popularity, but because of changeless drive breakdowns, burden troubles (the bombers were not handicapped-accessible), long lines, and the trouble and high costs of care (including keeping 11.5 million gals of H2O clear adequate for invitees to see through).

For some time after the attractive force had closed, the bombers remained "docked" in the lagoon, leaving ineffectual hope that the drive would be refurbished and reopened. However, the bombers were soon removed and the laguna drained. They were later stored for some time in backstage care areas, but have got long since been removed to whereabouts unknown… well, for the most part, anyway. While rumours prevail that many of the old bombers have got been either dismantled or buried on the place somewhere, two of the bombers were brought to Outcast Cay, Disney's private island, for geographic expedition by Walt Walt Disney Cruise Line passengers. As recent as January, 2005, parts word form the old subs, including portholes and flip-down seats, were available for sale in Epcot’s Art of Walt Disney store, and the inevitable secondary marketplace of eBay. (And yes, I have got already purchased my personal pieces of Walt Walt Disney World attractive force history). Additionally, as portion of Disney’s Piece of Walt Walt Disney History Pin Collection, Guests can buy existent pieces of the 20,000 Leagues attractive force in a 2500-piece, limited edition pin.

The attraction’s former waiting line country became what was known as the "Fantasyland Fictional Character Festival," where you could ran into and acquire autographs from Disney characters. The dorsum of the laguna country was used for "Ariel's Grotto," where Guests could ran into the star of "The Little Mermaid”, and children could play in a soft parkland country dotted with H2O jets. For years, rumours of a bigger "Little Mermaid" drive swirled, and in 2003, with the success of "Finding Nemo," similar, yet uncorroborated rumours began to surface.

For quite some time thereafter, the empty laguna that once took Guests to faraway lands on perilous, undersea escapades stood empty - a sad reminder of years gone by. Then, in 2004, something unusual happened... The country surrounding the laguna was closed off using the familiar greenness walls that signaling Guests that major renovations are going on behind them. The monolithic procedure of removing the full table of contents of the laguna and filling it with soil began, and at the time of this writing, was recently completed. A trip aboard an elephant drive auto high above Dumbo uncovers to the funny oculus that building have begun on what will eventually go a “Hundred Acre Wood” ran into and greet country for fictional characters from Winnie the Pooh. Conveniently located across from the popular “The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh” attraction, this “temporary” country volition give children a place to happen Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and others, have got got their image taken (and of course, purchase some themed wares on the manner out I’m sure).

Rumors have begun to surface that eventually (as in about 7-10 years), the country is to be converted into a “gate-buster” attractive force that will logically bridge Toontown and Fantasyland. (but I’ll save that story for another article). Then again, don’t be so certain that the Hundred Acre Wood country will be going away all too quickly. Remember, that’s what Walt Disney said about Toontown and Ocean Trip of the Little Mermaid - they were just “temporary,” too. Only time will tell. For now, the fantastic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attractive force stays a distant portion of Walt Disney history, and a precious memory for billions of fans.