20,000 Leagues

[FLASHBACK]
Just what is a League anyway?
1954 – Disney’s Version of a Jules Verne Classic.
20,000 Leagues under the Sea was a great movie… full of action and adventure, and for me, generally anything to do with the sea or submarines was a huge plus… and it was Disney! How could it loose.
The ride at WDW opened with the park in 1971, it since is long gone… but the thrill of remembering the movie, and the ride, still evokes a moment of thoughtful delight. Remnants of the ride are still there awaiting some type of revival that is long overdue, and may never ever take place.
So here’s a short trip down memory lane…

The ride at Walt Disney World

Artists model of the Nautilus - Movie

and the ride version with viewing portals for guests

Nemo’s pipe organ – movie model

underwater helmets

The Nautilus’ Globe

navigation charts - movie

screenshot from the movie

Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, & James Mason.

and a final look at the ride.

On the ride, the guests walked down into the Nautilus and sat long benches to view the scenes out of the portals… simulated dives and underwater images created the illusion and adventure.

Somewhat out-lived in a more modern high tech world that expected a bit more, the ride closed in 1994…. awaiting a renewal.

A similar ride in Disneyland, originally a nuclear submarine adventure was closed too,

but has since been revived as

Finding Nemo Undersea Adventure

( Nemo the fish… not the Captain)

Original Submarine - Disneyland

the conversion…old to new…

Rebirth…”Finding Nemo”

note: The monorail was especially decorated for “The Year of a Million Dreams”

This special paint was at Disneyland only.

The monorail was later painted to promote the Finding Nemo Ride… pretty cool too!

I kinda liked the Million Dreams Version best.

Disneyland now has the newest Mark Vll Monorails

Extremely Super Cool!

( that was in an earlier blog entry Dec 2008 )

now that’s a cool bus to promote the ride.

Does kinda make you wonder…

Nemo the Captain – Nemo the Fish

Was there a thoughtful connection here?

or just coincidence?

Not much is ever… just coincidence!