ABANDONED UNDERWATER: Disneyland’s Original Submarine Voyage

[@donaldcrabtree6259]

I used to be a Ride Operator on the Subs in 1974 to 1977. It was great to ride on the Submarine tower and head right into the falls. The inside of the cavern was fantastic with the lights and machinery all moving above the water. On hot SoCal nights, the exterior of the Subs would be hot, when they went thru the falls, steam would fly away into the colored lights in the carvern...a memorable picture. The Matterhorn looks super tall when you are in the lagoon in a sub. We would deadhead a sub in the morning to ride check the animation-great fun. The coworkers and most managers during that time were just like family.

[@FM7Studios]

That’s amazing, thank you so much for sharing!

[@stratoplayer1988]

What was it like in the show building? Did you get to walk around the catwalks that hung above the water?

[@donaldcrabtree6259]

Yes, you could walk the catwalks. They were used by maintenance for lighting and operations. Plus, in event of an emergency, guests could exit from Subs at almost any area along the cavern pathway. Catwalks were accessible thru small doors concealed in the artificial rocks on the Autopia attraction. A metal spiral staircase would bring you down to them.

[@stratoplayer1988]

@@donaldcrabtree6259 I’ve always wanted to be inside the show building especially during the original version of the ride. Also, I wish there were photos of the submarine dry dock that was used for maintenance. Unfortunately, the only photos to surface (no pun intended) are those from the 20K Submarine ride at Disney World.

[@mro4ts457]

An Atlantis ride would have been WILD! Loved that movie

[@FM7Studios]

I agree, I wish it happened!

[@ghosty4]

I don't honestly care about the Nemo overlay but I am gobsmacked to think what this attraction must have been like to people in 1959. And that Walt Disney brought something like this into this world for people to experience.

[@FM7Studios]

It must have been absolutely mind blowing in the 50s!

[@shawnthegangster4207]

I love finding Nemo submarine voyage at disneyland, especially the underwater volcano scene, and the disney World version looked amazing

[@FM7Studios]

I agree, the current version is a lot of fun!

[@toshibavoodoo]

That was a hole in my Disneyland Visits! Didn't realize the Subs were almost gone forever! Great Video!!

[@FM7Studios]

Thank you!

[@fire2box]

2:38 that was the state of Imagineering back in the late 90's. I shudder to think of what they are faced with now other than " more screens, less animatronics, cut all cost!"

[@FM7Studios]

Yes, I think Imagineering is going through another similar phase currently with the lack of proper investment in the park’s.

[@superbubsymariobobcat1097]

awesome video! its a shame we couldn't get a ride based on Atlantis the Lost Empire, that movie is honestly a Disney hidden gem

[@FM7Studios]

I agree, it would have been really cool to see!

[@superbubsymariobobcat1097]

@@FM7Studios Disneyland's lucky they still have a submarine ride, i really wish 20,000 leagues was still open in WDW

[@FM7Studios]

@@superbubsymariobobcat1097 That would be cool if it were still around!

[@superbubsymariobobcat1097]

@@FM7Studios at least the Nautilus in Disneyland Paris is still open ...for now at least

[@FM7Studios]

@@superbubsymariobobcat1097 that’s true!

[@powerpup97]

The subs had another 50 years of surface life in 2003? I guess that means we could see this ride surviving until at the very latest, 2053.

[@FM7Studios]

Theoretically, yes

[@powerpup97]

1:49 - Was that the sea serpent's tail fin?

[@FM7Studios]

Yes it is!

[@lonesoul663]

Too bad Disney can't make a decision for an attraction without a movie to tie it together. I definitely prefer the old theme for the subs.

[@FM7Studios]

I agree with you on that!

[@LiamStudiosOfficial]

Once again a lovely video! 🤩

[@FM7Studios]

Thank you so much!

[@joecascone2189]

Now if only they could duplicate it at Walt Disney World in Florida!

[@FM7Studios]

Walt Disney World had a very similar attraction, like the Disneyland version it was also abandoned but never returned! :(

[@Revkor]

@@FM7Studios yup themed after 20 thousand leagues. jsut as abandoned. sadly there is no hope of a return. the area has been raised and somethign different is there

[@DavidVitrano]

Talk about Nickelodeon Studios, Florida next.

[@montanajackson3713]

I would’ve loved an Atlantis ride!

[@MK1MonsterOck1989]

1:30 submechanophobia!

[@FM7Studios]

Spooky! 👀

[@MK1MonsterOck1989]

@@FM7Studios 2spooky4me! 😱😱😱

[@AndrewPriester]

It’s not abandoned if Disney is still using it

[@FM7Studios]

The ride was abandoned from 1998 to 2005 when construction began on Finding Nemo!

[@silentbunny9797]

I heard stories of men and older teenagers jumping into the water and swimming to the mermaids, was that true?

[@FM7Studios]

That’s true 😂

[@silentbunny9797]

@@FM7Studios wow, they were certainly brave jumping into that lake filled with animatronics swimming around

[@FM7Studios]

@@silentbunny9797 All for some mermaids 😂

[@silentbunny9797]

@@FM7Studios i wonder what happened after that

[@imovieseriestv248]

😮

[@donaldcrabtree6259]

Subs Rule!

[@FM7Studios]

I agree!

[@JessicaCarlson-h9t]

Everything old is new again

[@danrodriguez6205]

Done both The original and the Finding Nemo and I'm sorry but the new version sucks too much Pixar video and it's obvious that's what it is

[@VervainHelsdottir]

Yes! I love the mermaids as a child, they were one of my favorite things at Disneyland. I was excited when they reopened the submarines but SO disappointed that it was mostly just video and not even animatronics! And of course, very sad that there were no mermaids