finding nemo submarine voyage disneyland

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Water Rides

Dive into the Deep

With all the humor and heart of the original film, this immersive submarine ride takes you on an unforgettable ocean adventure—to find a missing clown fish.

Climb down into a yellow research submarine operated by the Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation Institute (N.E.M.O.).

Peek through the portholes as you sail past scuba divers and artifacts of an ancient civilization scattered along the seafloor.

Some familiar fins soon swim into view: it’s Nemo and his turtle pal, Squirt, with Marlin and Dory hot on their trail. During your underwater adventure, you’ll encounter other friends from the movie, including Bruce the Shark, Mr. Ray, Gill, Bubbles, Pearl, Peach, Crush and more—and thanks to special “sonar hydrophones,” you can hear what everyone’s saying!

Will Marlin and Dory ever find Nemo? Just keep swimming to find out!

A Unique View

Watch from shore, submerge into history.

The original Submarine Voyage debuted on June 14, 1959 and was one of the first “E” Ticket attractions. The attraction was loosely inspired by the 1958 voyage to the North Pole by the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus , which shares its name with the fictional submarine in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea .

The attraction enjoyed a 39-year run at Disneyland Park, setting sail for the last time on September 7, 1998. The current attraction uses the same lagoon and submarines as the original.

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Ride at Disneyland California

TripSavvy / Betsy Malloy

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in Disneyland packs much of the animated film's fun into a short trip.

After you pass a coral reef and underwater city, you'll find Nemo and pals under the sea, with convincingly real film clips visible through the windows. Everyone seems to like it, but you'll enjoy it more if you saw and liked the movie.

What You Need to Know

We polled 397 of our readers to find out what they think about Finding Nemo. 77% of them said it's a must-do or ride it if you have time.

Location: Finding Nemo is in Tomorrowland
Rating: ★★★★
Restrictions: No height restrictions. Children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
Ride time: 13 minutes
Recommended for: All ages
Fun factor: High for fans of the film, but some people think it's boring.
Wait factor: High and Finding Nemo is not a Fastpass ride (for many reasons, among them no space for a station).
Fear factor: There are moments of darkness and a simulated explosion during the ride, which could scare smaller children. Unless you judge that this will be a big problem for your child, the rest of the trip more than makes up for it. Some people also hate it when the sharks show up.
Herky-jerky factor: Low
Nausea factor: Low
Seating: You have to walk down a spiral staircase to get into the subs. Riders sit in rows, facing the windows, which you look through to see the undersea world.
Accessibility: If you can't make it down the stairs, the Observation Outpost offers similar visuals and wheelchair and ECV users can stay in their vehicles. Enter through the main entrance.

How to Have More Fun

This is one of the most popular rides in Disneyland with long lines most of the time, and it does not have a FASTPASS option. If you have a ticket for Magic Morning early entry (or if you're entering at opening time on a non-Magic Morning day), you may want to head to Nemo first before the lines build up. They'll be more than 30 minutes long within a half hour of opening. The fastest way to get there is via the Downtown Disney entrance and taking the Monorail .
One of the most interesting aspects of Finding Nemo from a technical standpoint is timing the sound. The ride moves slowly, and people in different parts of the cabin see different things - yet somehow they all hear just what they're supposed to and nothing else.
Each submarine holds 40 guests. You might not like it if you're susceptible to claustrophobia .
Very tall people can have trouble looking out through the windows . Ask a cast member for suggestions.
If you're worried about being underwater , take a look at the subs running before you get on. Even though it will feel like they're underwater, they never submerge.
If you're walking past Finding Nemo, look for the seagulls on the buoy in the lagoon. They're yelling "Mine!"
Finding Nemo is a ride that's really nice at night .

The original submarine voyage opened in 1959 and was loosely based on the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine, and its journey to the North Pole in 1958. The original closed in 1998 and didn't reopen until 2007. It took that long to find the perfect new story to tell.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage features over 60 animated figures, 7,000 pieces of artificial foliage and 23,000 pieces of artificial coral in a 6.3 million gallon tank.

Imagineers used more than thirty tons of recycled crushed glass to "paint" the coral and rockwork in the lagoon.

The ride uses the eight original 1959 vehicle hulls, which were built at the Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, California. But don't worry about going around in old equipment. In 2001, a naval engineering firm inspected the subs and discovered that they had forty to fifty years of life left in them.

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

An Attraction in Disneyland

Last updated: November 25, 2023

At a Glance

The attraction is well done. You don’t have to be a Nemo fan to be impressed by the scale and effects. It’s not fast-paced but, rather, leisurely in the way that Pirates of the Caribbean is.

Video Captioning
Audio Description
Must Be Ambulatory

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Ride Through

Touring Tips

The attraction’s capacity is only about 900 guests per hour, a shockingly small capacity for a headliner attraction. Further, owing to the low carrying capacity, the subs are not a good candidate for FastPass (all FastPasses would be gone before noon).

Though Finding Nemo isn’t as immensely popular as when it first opened, a sizable percentage of the guests on hand at park opening head straight for the subs—only if you are literally among the first 70 people to enter the park and arrive at the subs will you be rewarded with a short wait. But here’s the kicker: Adding the time it takes to reach the subs, wait to board, ride, and disembark, you will invest 35–70 minutes to ride Finding Nemo first thing in the morning, sacrificing in the process the most crowdfree touring period of the day for the other popular attractions. Loading is especially slow during early entry, as it often takes an hour before all the subs are brought into service.

We’ve determined that, taking the day as a whole, you make much better use of your time enjoying Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, and other popular attractions during the first hour the park is open and saving the subs for later, when a parade, fireworks show, or Fantasmic! has siphoned a large number of guests from the line. Incidentally, arriving 15 minutes before a parade or other presentation is not an arbitrary suggestion—during this time window, the Finding Nemo line (or lines at other popular attractions) will be its shortest. The last 30 minutes before park closing is another good time to get in line.

Claustrophobes may not be comfortable with the experience, even though the sub doesn’t actually submerge (we saw one 30-ish woman who started hyperventilating before the sub left the dock). Children may be scared of the same thing, or of the encounter with sharks (they keep their distance). The sharks here are a bit less menacing than in the movie too.

The bright-yellow subs use electric power to minimize noise and pollution. The subs fit 40 people. It’s not easy to get 40 aboard, however, because the seats are narrow and a few guests take up two. Ideally, large guests should aim to be in one of the four seats at the front or back, but this may be difficult to negotiate.

Wheelchair-bound guests or those who can’t get down the spiral staircase into the sub can view the experience from a special topside viewing room (seats about six able-bodied persons plus two wheelchairs). With the exception of one small animated effect, the visual is identical (perhaps faster), but despite a large monitor, the creatures appear smaller than when viewing them through a real porthole. The wait for the alternate viewing area is usually brief (ask a cast member how to bypass the standby line), and there are Mickeys hidden in the dive lockers inside.

A reader from Sydney, Australia, disagrees with our Finding Nemo rating, writing:

Finding Nemo was the most overrated ride. Perhaps it would rate high for those younger than 8 years old, but for our group it was one of the worst rides. It was boring, had rushing water, and moved slowly. What made it worse was that it had a high rating, and this raised expectations.

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Here's roughly how many minutes you'll wait for Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at each Disneyland Crowd Level.

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Ride Review

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a classic Disneyland attraction located in Tomorrowland that takes riders on an underwater adventure through scenes from the popular Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo. This ride is a reimagining of the original Submarine Voyage attraction that operated from 1959 to 1998. In this review we’ll go over the ride details, history, ride experience, and tips for riding.

Ride Details

Average Wait Times : As one of Disneyland’s popular attractions, wait times can vary depending on the time of day and season. It’s advisable to check the Disneyland app for real-time wait times to plan your visit accordingly.

Height Requirements : Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has no height requirements, making it suitable for guests of all ages. This family-friendly attraction is ideal for children and adults alike.

Ride Duration: Approximately 13 minutes

Single Rider Option : Unfortunately, there is no single rider line available for this attraction. Guests will board the submarine as a group or family.

Genie+ and Lightning Lane : Genie+ and Lightning Lane are not currently available for this ride.

Rider Switch : Rider Switch is available for families with small children who do not meet the height requirements or do not wish to ride. This feature allows one adult to wait with the non-riding child while the rest of the group experiences the attraction. Afterward, the waiting adult and up to two additional guests can use the Rider Switch to board without waiting in line.

Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) : Guests with disabilities can take advantage of the DAS , which provides accommodations for attractions, including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Guests can remain in their wheelchair/ECV on this ride. To use this service, visit the Guest Relations window near the entrance to the park.

Best Times to Ride : While wait times can vary, you can typically expect shorter lines during the first hour the park opens and later in the evening. To minimize wait times further, consider visiting on weekdays or during Disneyland’s less busy seasons .

History of the Attraction

The original Submarine Voyage ride opened in 1959 as one of the first “E-Ticket” attractions in Disneyland history. It featured 8 submarines built by the Disney Studios that could hold 38 riders each. The subs followed a track submerged just below the surface of the large man-made lagoon. Scenes included the North Pole, a sea of whales, and the lost continent of Atlantis. After nearly 40 years of operation, the ride closed in 1998.

It sat dormant until it was reimagined with the Finding Nemo theme and reopened in 2007. The refreshed attraction reused the same submarines and track layout but included all-new show scenes inspired by the popular Pixar film. Since its debut, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has undergone periodic refurbishments and upgrades to maintain show quality. The ride remains a classic Disneyland attraction that continues to delight guests of all ages with its immersive underwater adventure.

Loading & Queue

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage loads 8 yellow submarines at a time, with each submarine holding around 40 riders. After boarding, the submarines depart one by one into the large lagoon area. The queue winds underneath the Disneyland Monorail tracks and is made to look like a series of caverns and tunnels designed to resemble an underwater research facility. The dimly lit passages are adorned with nautical paraphernalia, creating an authentic and slightly mysterious ambiance while providing ample shade while waiting in line.

Ride Experience

As soon as the submarine departs, it slowly submerges underwater into a vibrant coral reef filled with tropical fish and sea life. Riders can view the underwater scenery through real working portholes on the sides of the submarine. The captain provides narration and information over the onboard speakers as the sub continues on its journey. Some of the scenes and characters riders encounter throughout the voyage include:

Darla – The braces-wearing niece from the movie diving near the coral reef
Crush and Squirt – The sea turtles surfing the East Australian Current
Mr. Ray and his class – Swimming along looking for Nemo
Bruce and friends – The vegetarian sharks swimming near a sunken shipwreck
Jellyfish Forest – With lighting effects simulating stings
Undersea Volcano – With bubbling lava flows

The ride’s climax occurs when the submarine narrowly escapes an erupting undersea volcano, getting caught up in the lava flow along with Marlin, Nemo, and Dory. The sub makes it back safely to the reef, culminating with a pod of humpback whales swimming by. Throughout the experience, Disney utilizes a combination of detailed physical set pieces, projections, lighting effects, and bubbly water to convincingly simulate the feeling of being underwater. The onboard audio also helps tie the scenes together with music and dialogue from the film.

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Tips for riding.

Arrive early and head to the ride immediately at park opening or during Early Entry to avoid long standby waits. The line typically gets very long later in the day.
Request to ride in the front center seats for the most immersive experience, with the best views out the front portholes.
Keep an eye out for hidden Mickeys designed into the rockwork and coral!
Riders who are claustrophobic or unable to use the steep staircases to board can ask to experience the ride from the Marine Observation Outpost viewing area instead.
Photography and videography are not allowed during the ride.
The dark environment, loud noises, and simulated motion may frighten some young children.

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a beloved Disneyland classic that provides a leisurely and immersive underwater experience. While not a thrill ride by any means, the incredible attention to detail and unique ride system make it a one-of-a-kind attraction worth checking out. Riding during early morning hours is highly recommended to avoid long wait times.

Fans of the movie will enjoy spotting their favorite characters, and all riders are sure to appreciate cruising through the vibrant, lifelike underwater scenery. Minor criticisms include the dated ride system and small porthole views, but overall the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a charming Disney ride that makes you truly feel submerged on a deep sea adventure.

Nearby Rides

Disneyland Monorail
Space Mountain
Matterhorn Bobsleds

Accommodations

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INTRODUCTION

Take an underwater voyage to the reefs and ocean off the coast of Australia where Nemo and the rest of the gang just keep swimming in the Big Blue. Join the search as Marlin and Dory again go looking for Nemo, who is off surfing the EAC with his turtle pal Squirt.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is located under the monorail station in Tomorrowland. The queue winds around under the monorail track, and is largely shaded. Notice the vegetation , which resembles underwater coral reefs and creatures such as sea anemones.

Four subs at a time can pull up to the loading dock, where Cast Members will lower a boarding ramp. The sub loads from the front and the back. There is a steep, narrow circular staircase down into the sub – be sure to hold onto the handrails. The seats fold down – follow the person in front of you as far as possible and pull down on the seat and sit down. Each seat has its own porthole. There are twenty seats on each side of the sub, and although each seat will have a slightly different viewing experience, all will have an equal view of the attraction (and see Nemo the same number of times). There’s nothing visible on one side of the sub that isn’t visible on the other and no particular location in the sub is better or worse.

As the sub pulls away from the dock the captain’s voice provides information on what the sub is doing and what can be viewed outside the portholes. To “hear” the fish, the sonar hydrophones are turned on, and Nemo and friends can not only be heard, but are also visible swimming around outside. After some adventure and a few surprises the sub returns back to the dock where guests disembark by going back up the steep staircase and out. The voyage takes approximately 12 minutes.

After cruising by part of the Great Barrier Reef the captain turns on the “sonar hydrophones”…but instead of the normal underwater sounds there are familiar voices – Nemo, Mr. Ray and his school, Marlin and Dory. Nemo is off on another adventure with Squirt, riding the EAC, and Marlin and Dory (who has again forgotten Nemo’s name) are off searching for him. Passing by a sunken ship the holes in the hull reveal all sorts of creatures, including Nemo and Marlin and Dory – and Bruce the shark, who expresses a liking for “canned food” as the submarine glides by.

The sub follows along with Dory and Marlin, who are still looking for Nemo, and everything goes very dark except for some small blue lights – but suddenly there’s a bright flash of light revealing a very scary looking creature that’s all mouth and teeth. Next they encounter a large group of beautiful jellyfish, which Marlin is nervous about, but they pass by without incident.

The submarine reaches the undersea volcano and its lava flow, and there’s Nemo, but everyone rides the lava flow and ends up safely back at Nemo’s reef. The whales are swimming by and someone comments on the whale that’s eating the “yellow whale.” The view of the reef disappears into blue nothingness, but not to fear – the whale sneezes and in a blast of blue bubbles the sub is freed. Dory says goodbye (in whale) to the “yellow whale” and the sub re-surfaces and proceeds back to the dock.

TOURING TIPS

This is a very slow-loading attraction and Fastpass is NOT available. The shortest lines are at park opening or during Early Entry.

The stairway down into the submarine is steep and narrow . Hold onto the handrails and watch your step. Children may require some assistance from their parents.

The entire queue is accessible for wheelchairs and ECVs, but the attraction is not. For those not able to use the stairway into the submarine, the “Observation Outpost” is available. This room is off to the side of the loading area and holds two wheelchairs/ECVs and up to 10 people. There is a large high-definition screen on the wall where the same scenes that those aboard the submarine are seeing and hearing may be viewed. The “pre-boarding” narration is somewhat different, though, since the premise is that the room is a marine observation outpost with a remote live submarine camera. There is not a separate line for the Observation Outpost – entry is through the regular queue.

For the hearing impaired, closed-captioning is available via a hand-held device either on board the submarine or in the Observation Outpost.

The submarine is fairly narrow with seats that are very close together and a relatively low ceiling. Those who are claustrophobic or “plus-sized” might want to ask to experience the attraction from the Observation Outpost. Simply ask a Cast Member when you reach the loading area.

If you are borderline claustrophobic, then do not be the first one to board from either the front or the back – those seats are partially under the staircase and have less headroom.

The closest restrooms are located in the base of the Star Wars Launch Bay building, behind the Winner’s Circle shop.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

There is no height requirement but smaller children may need to sit on a parent’s lap to see through the porthole.

There is one very dark scene with a big scary-looking fish that some children might find frightening.

There are no Disney characters associated with this attraction. There are other character Meet and Greet opportunities nearby – check the daily Times Guide for times and locations.

Tomorrowland Terrace offers burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner, and also serves a quick-service breakfast.

Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port – offering pizza, pasta, and salads, is on the far side of Tomorrowland next to Space Mountain.

Disneyland Restaurants at a Glance Menus Around the Disneyland Resort

Finding Nemo merchandise is available at most shops around the Disneyland Resort.

Winner’s Circle – located near the entrance to the Autopia, featuring Disney character hats and other small souvenirs.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Disneyland submarine fleet is the 8th largest in the world. The names of the submarines are: Explorer, Scout, Voyager, Mariner, Seafarer, Nautilus, Neptune and Argonaut.

Projection technology developed by Walt Disney Imagineering allows Nemo and Friends to appear exactly as they do in the movie, but in a 3-D underwater setting.

To maintain the vibrancy of the bright colors of the coral and rockwork in the California sun, Imagineers developed a new “paint” made with recycled glass. There are more than 40 colors with names like Mango Mud, Phantom, Yamber, and Peritwinkle.

The lagoon holds approxmiately 6.3 million gallons of water.

Some references to the original Submarine Voyage exist in the new dialog – like the “sonar hydrophones”, and the captain’s comment about seeing sea serpents and mermaids.

If you have comments or tips to share with others about touring Disneyland, please email us . Thank you.

How long is Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage?

The ride takes 13 Minutes Find all the attractions by their length

Will Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage make me motion sick?

The motion level is Low. Low speed underwater attraction. Beware if afraid of small spaces. Details on handling motion sensitivity on your visit

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Entertainment | nfl draft: 49ers make two trades en route to defensive back green, offensive lineman puni, entertainment, entertainment | how disneyland refurbished everything on finding nemo submarine voyage.

Disneyland will reopen the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage on Monday, July 25 after conducting a series of employee previews aboard the renovated attraction.

Even something as simple as buying seaweed for the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a daunting challenge when you’re talking about the major overhaul of a Disneyland underwater attraction that stretches for acres under Tomorrowland and Fantasyland.

“It’s a lot of seaweed,” Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Michael Dobrzycki said. “It’s like going to the store and saying, ‘We want all the seaweed that is currently existing in the world.’ It’s not even a joke. It’s pretty much what we had to do. It’s like, ‘Who makes seaweed and can we get the factories rolling?’”

Disneyland added 12,000 linear feet of faux seaweed to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage during the yearlong overhaul of the venerable 1959 underwater attraction — enough seaweed to stretch for more than 2 miles if laid end to end. Dozens of pallets of brightly-colored sea algae in 3-foot-tall bins were stowed backstage under the monorail tracks during the massive refurbishment. Sourcing that much aquarium-grade seaweed required six months of lead time.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind experience you don’t get outside of Disneyland — unless you’re a submarine captain,” Dobrzycki said during an online video interview.

Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Michael Dobrzycki with the new Hank the septopus figure in the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage lagoon. (Disney)

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has an extremely large footprint that stretches all the way back to It’s a Small World with Disneyland Monorail pilings and PeopleMover footings spread throughout the attraction.

“It’s pretty huge,” Disneyland Resort Project Manager Jibram Martinez said. “It’s essentially under Autopia. All you see is the lagoon portion. You don’t see what’s under Autopia.”

The majority of the ride is hidden underground inside a horseshoe-shaped tunnel that stretches under the Autopia and Disneyland Monorail tracks. Every bit of the hand-sculpted rockwork and coral lining the submarine route had to be power-washed, primed, base painted and faux painted during the extended rehab project.

“It’s just absolutely amazing,” Disneyland Resort Lead Ager and Grainer Nancy Hayes said. “It’s 25-foot-tall walls on both sides. All of that is sculpture. All of that is painted. Every single part of that has sometimes seven different layers of paint. It’s just a lot of hand work.”

SEE ALSO: ‘Finding Dory’ octopus swims into Disneyland submarine lagoon

The massive refurbishment project required nearly 500 Disneyland workers and contractors from a wide host of trades and specialties who all had to work side by side in the submarine lagoon and tunnel.

“It’s several different projects within one overall project — there’s projectors, underwater lighting, XY mirrors, show effects, coral, painting and seaweed,” Martinez said during an online video interview. “From the beginning, it’s about getting the right people in the room to talk about exactly what we’re going to be doing where and when. It’s just making sure everybody’s on the same page.”

The yearlong submarine rehab project started with draining 6.3 million gallons of water from the attraction.

“It’s not like a regular open-air attraction where you can say, ‘OK, we’re going to take it down for a week this year,’” Dobrzycki said. “It’s a big effort to displace the water in the lagoon. So it goes for long stretches where we have to do things with divers and we don’t have the benefit of having it drained.”

After the lagoon was drained, crews power-washed every rock, coral and surface before tackling a series of infrastructure projects that included sandblasting the 1,600-foot-long track to mitigate corrosion.

A host of technical improvements included upgrading 90 projectors and 400 underwater lighting fixtures.

“The technology has improved since we did the last upgrade in 2007,” Dobrzycki said. “The projectors are just crisper and sharper and the colors are truer.”

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has remained closed since the Anaheim theme park reopened in April 2021 after a yearlong pandemic closure while Imagineering and Disneyland crews refurbished the classic 1959 attraction.

Disneyland’s original Submarine Voyage ride beneath the ocean depths closed in 1998 amid an uncertain future for the undersea attraction. Several replacement thematic ideas were considered for the ride based on Disney’s 1989 “Little Mermaid,” 2001 “Atlantis” and 2002 “Treasure Planet” — but none of them made the leap from silver screen to theme park.

Then in 2007, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opened at Disneyland after nearly a decade of inactivity in the lagoon. A 2014 refurbishment of the popular Nemo attraction drained the sub lagoon for months.

The goal of the latest refurbishment project: Bring back a brighter and better looking version of the Finding Nemo submarine ride that otherwise remains largely unchanged.

“The show should look exactly as it did under the water when we first opened it,” Dobrzycki said. “It really should be like watching the 2007 show in HDTV.”

Pandemic-related supply chain issues caused delivery delays for some of the technical equipment and specialty items needed for the rehab project.

“There’s also the unanticipated challenges of having an attraction down for as long as it’s been down,” Dobrzycki said. “It was longer than normal because we had the addition of having the world shut down for a moment there.”

The unanticipated delays also presented some unexpected upsides with crews able to squeeze in more upgrades and maintenance thanks to the extra downtime.

Disneyland’s sub ride is filled with a lot of water — but not as much as you think. A virtually invisible glass wall separates the submerged subs from dry “show boxes” where many of the upgraded projection scenes and refurbished animatronic figures are located throughout the ride’s tunnels.

“It’s absolutely amazing what happens to create the animation that you are seeing in the attraction,” Walt Disney Imagineering Producer Michele Hobbs said. “It’s a one-of-a-kind system that has been created to give our guests a real-life underwater experience.”

The riders’ point of view through the portholes varies depending on whether they sit in the front, middle or back of the sub — presenting a challenge for Imagineers trying to project undistorted images of the Finding Nemo characters on screens embedded throughout the ride.

“That’s why we test and adjust to make sure everything looks just right,” Dobrzycki said. “The angles change a little bit once you’re down there in the sub. So we’ve got people working really hard to make sure everything lines up just right because of that reason.”

During the extended rehab, Disneyland crews removed faded hand-crafted coral reefs throughout the attraction and added 3,000 new pieces of brightly colored coral.

“The benefit of draining the water from the attraction is being able to go in and deal with all the challenges of the water, the sun and degradation over the years of the show set,” Hobbs said during an online video interview.

Disneyland crews added 3,000 new pieces of brightly colored coral to Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. (Disney)

A team of nearly 100 painters primed the rockwork throughout the drained attraction and added a base color layer and faux finishes to make the craggy outcroppings look like they’ve been underwater for eons.

“We had a lot of rain at the time so we pumped a lot of water out,” Hayes said with a laugh. “Nature kept on trying to refill the lagoon, which was irritating when you’re doing paint because you want paint to dry.”

Painters sprayed, splattered, flicked and sponged paint onto the rockwork to add texture, highlights and shadows.

“Disney has this down to a science. We use just about every type of process and technique in the toolbox,” Hayes said during an online video interview. “Our process of aging and graining applies different finishes on the surfaces. We use a base color and then more vibrant colors on top of that.”

The newly-added candy-colored coral looked vibrantly colorful before the water was reintroduced into the submarine lagoon.

“When we painted the coral we used super-hyper-saturated color on everything because the addition of the water — even clear water — grays everything down several tones,” Dobrzycki said. “You’d think, ‘Oh man, that’s far too cartoony of a color palette to make it feel like a realistic underwater experience.’ When you first walk through it’s just like walking through a crayon box.”

Imagineers and the paint team had to constantly remind themselves to not be fooled by the unnaturally bright colors of the coral.

“You have to compensate in your brain when the lagoon is empty and just say, ‘It’s got to be brighter,’” Dobrzycki said. “It may seem bright, but it needs to be more saturated. It needs to be stronger. You just have to keep telling yourself that and don’t dull it down.”

Adding water to the lagoon made the jewel-like coral look more natural.

Despite all the upgrades and new tech, some things haven’t changed on the 63-year-old submarine ride.

“It’s the same fleet of subs,” Dobrzycki said. “We’ve renamed them and repainted them, but these are still the subs that were built in San Pedro, brought here and finished up in 1959. It was the eighth largest navy in the world at the time.”

The final steps before refilling the ride with water: Painting the underwater track and installing the refurbished audio-animatronic figures. The Nemo rehab crew tested and adjusted the show elements in the ride twice — before and after the lagoon was full of water.

“The water is going to change your point of view,” Dobrzycki said. “It’s going to change the color and change the lighting for sure.”

Maintaining an underwater ride is a constant work in progress — even after a yearlong rehabilitation. Disneyland diving crews conduct maintenance on a regular basis in between major rehabs that typically happen every 10 years or so on the Submarine Voyage attraction.

“Everything we do, we can do underwater,” Dobrzycki said. “It’s a lot harder and it’s a lot slower. You just can’t get to the amount of things that you can get to when the water is gone.”

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Disneyland | how disneyland refurbished everything on finding nemo submarine voyage.

Disneyland will reopen the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage on Monday, July 25 after conducting a series of employee previews aboard the renovated attraction.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind experience you don’t get outside of Disneyland — unless you’re a submarine captain,” Dobrzycki said during an online video interview.

“It’s pretty huge,” Disneyland Resort Project Manager Jibram Martinez said. “It’s essentially under Autopia. All you see is the lagoon portion. You don’t see what’s under Autopia.”

SEE ALSO: ‘Finding Dory’ octopus swims into Disneyland submarine lagoon

The yearlong submarine rehab project started with draining 6.3 million gallons of water from the attraction.

A host of technical improvements included upgrading 90 projectors and 400 underwater lighting fixtures.

“The technology has improved since we did the last upgrade in 2007,” Dobrzycki said. “The projectors are just crisper and sharper and the colors are truer.”

SEE ALSO: How Disneyland updated ‘Fantasmic’ and ‘World of Color’ special effects

The goal of the latest refurbishment project: Bring back a brighter and better looking version of the Finding Nemo submarine ride that otherwise remains largely unchanged.

“The show should look exactly as it did under the water when we first opened it,” Dobrzycki said. “It really should be like watching the 2007 show in HDTV.”

Pandemic-related supply chain issues caused delivery delays for some of the technical equipment and specialty items needed for the rehab project.

The unanticipated delays also presented some unexpected upsides with crews able to squeeze in more upgrades and maintenance thanks to the extra downtime.

SEE ALSO: How Disneyland keeps Boba Fett from bumping into Kylo Ren in Galaxy’s Edge — and why it matters

During the extended rehab, Disneyland crews removed faded hand-crafted coral reefs throughout the attraction and added 3,000 new pieces of brightly colored coral.

Painters sprayed, splattered, flicked and sponged paint onto the rockwork to add texture, highlights and shadows.

The newly-added candy-colored coral looked vibrantly colorful before the water was reintroduced into the submarine lagoon.

Imagineers and the paint team had to constantly remind themselves to not be fooled by the unnaturally bright colors of the coral.

Adding water to the lagoon made the jewel-like coral look more natural.

“The first time we rode it, the water was actually still really murky because it takes a while for the water to clear up after you refill the lagoon,” Dobrzycki said. “But now with the true, clear water conditions the colors look perfect.”

SEE ALSO: Why Disneyland turned the Jungle Cruise river pink

Despite all the upgrades and new tech, some things haven’t changed on the 63-year-old submarine ride.

“The water is going to change your point of view,” Dobrzycki said. “It’s going to change the color and change the lighting for sure.”

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In June of 1959, the first major expansion arrived at Disneyland . Two of the attractions became the first true anchors of Tomorrowland. You’re familiar with the monorail , of course, but the current version of the other attraction is extremely different from its initial intent. Let’s go behind the ride to learn about the complicated history of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

The experience: A deep dive into the seas below

The trick: a number of misleading tricks to mimic submersion.

Image: Disney Have you ever watched one of the submarines travel down its path? If so, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that they never, you know, submerge. The ships stay at the same level around the track, and yes, you can see the track when you look in the water. In other words, the very premise of Submarine Voyage is misleading.

You do board a submarine. Walt Disney proudly bragged about his naval fleet many times. He’d tell reporters that his eight submarines comprised one of the largest fleets on the planet. You’d almost wonder whether Uncle Walt was ready to conquer some foreign soil by sea. He’d hired a naval admiral, Joe Fowler, and then given the man a fleet of submarines. It did seem suspicious.

Disney planned a novel voyage for theme park tourists. He wanted to take them on a voyage under the sea. His inspiration was the U.S.S. Nautilus, the first nuclear submarine. That vessel famously traveled to the North Pole in 1958, the year before the original Submarine Voyage opened. It was the source of inspiration for the Imagineering team. Alas, Disney had a problem.

Image: Disney Some guests don’t like to be submerged underwater for an extended period, especially in the claustrophobic setting of a “submarine.” From the early days, the spacing of the ride was problematic. You’d sit in long rows, with most riders effectively sitting in an uncomfortable setting akin to the middle seat of an aisle on an airplane. Then, Imagineers had to persuade these people that they were doing a deep dive when they weren’t.

How does Disney achieve the trick? They use a siren, bubbles, and fixed perspective. The audio cue of a whooping siren creates the impression that something important is happening on the submarine. The bubbles and fixed perspective are twin parts of the same immersive exploit, one that’s desperately needed for the ride to succeed.

Much of the “action” in Submarine Voyage occurs in a ride building, just like many other attractions. The difference is that riders must believe that they’ve sunk 10 fathoms under the sea. Common sense will tell these same riders that they’re barely beneath the surface. They can look up and see that the depth of their perspective is roughly the same as the amount that they walked down to enter the vessel and sit down.

Image: Disney To help guests to buy into the illusion, Disney hides the view at the start of the ride. You’ll sit down and look through your porthole at what appears to be a wall of a coral reef. Due to the limitations of the fixed perspective, you cannot look to see how far down you are.

Then, you hear the narration of the submarine captain and his competent assistant. The alarm will blare, and bubbles will obscure your view. The purpose of this entire series of events is misdirection. All the ride vehicle does is to follow a track to a designated location. It’s no different than Jungle Cruise in its motion.

You’re heading into the ride building hidden behind a waterfall, but you can’t tell due to the fixed perspective. Instead, you’ll willingly believe that you’re doing a deep dive beneath the sea. It’s classic Disney Imagineering, the kind that has stood the test of time for 60 years.

The experience: Close encounters with creatures of the sea

The trick: audio-animatronics that simulate aquatic life.

From the earliest days, Walt Disney was enamored with the idea of using live created at Disneyland. He famously wanted to host live animals at Jungle Cruise . Stressed Imagineers talked him out of the idea, although it later inspired Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When the Tomorrowland 1959 expansion began in earnest, Disney returned to the premise.

This time, Uncle Walt wanted to place real fish in the giant lake that would host Submarine Voyage. Once again, his team at WED Enterprises was apoplectic about the idea. Time would prove them right. For a brief period, this attraction famously featured cast members dressed in mermaid outfits. The draw of women in skimpy clothing was supposed to sell the attraction. Alas, the combination of overwhelming amounts of chlorine and exhaust from the submarines led to health issues for the mermaids. Fish would have never had a chance.

In place of aquatic life, cast members developed simulated fish. Describing the first batch as audio-animatronics (AAs) is rather generous. Many of the creatures were immobile constructs. Over time, Disney plussed the attraction. They upgraded the original denizens into believable monsters including a monster of the deep and artificial mermaids.

Image: Disney When you ride in the submarine today, you’ll still think of the AAs as amateurish. The harsh reality of Submarine Voyage is that it’s extremely difficult to maintain. The original version required nine million gallons of water to operate.

Disney pared that down for the modern ride, but it’s still 6.3 million gallons. Then, there’s all of the visible parts, all of which reside underwater. Rust and debris are everyday factors. Cast members work all night to keep the attraction clean enough to operate. Major overhauls are extremely difficult. Plus, the last time that Disney did one, it had to shut down monorail operation for an extended period due to the location of the two attractions.

For all of these reasons, the AAs that you see are the most lifelike that Disney could do way back when. They’ve been modernized as much as possible given the oppressive limitations of the underwater set pieces. They could change one element, though…

When David's not at Walt Disney World, he's writing about movies and box office analysis, economics, streaming media, technology, travel, and parks and recreation. He's the author of the Disney Demystified and Behind the Ride book series.

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland that opened on June 11 , 2007 . It uses the submarine vehicles, track layout, and location used by the Submarine Voyage , which closed in 1998 . It is themed to the 2003 Disney / Pixar animated film Finding Nemo .

It is the much-larger sister attraction of The Seas with Nemo & Friends , an Omnimover ride at The Seas Pavilion in Future World (now renamed World Nature ) at Walt Disney World's Epcot .

3 Voice cast

History [ ]

For more information on the original attraction, see Submarine Voyage .

The Submarine Voyage, as it was originally called, opened on June 6, 1959 . It featured eight "submarines" (actually submarine-shaped boats with the guest seating area below the waterline), which sailed through Submarine Lagoon , past animatronic sea life, and simulated a trip under the polar ice cap. The attraction closed on September 9, 1998 , after more than 39 years of operation.

After the attraction's closing, then-Disneyland president Paul Pressler promised a new attraction to replace the Submarine Voyage by 2003 and was long rumored to be based on Disney 's 2001 animated feature film Atlantis: The Lost Empire , but 2003 came and went with no new attraction, a year after Paul Pressler stepped down to become president of The Gap .

Finally, on July 15, 2005 , two days before the 50th anniversary of Disneyland , Walt Disney Parks and Resorts president Jay Rasulo officially announced the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at the newly-opened Turtle Talk with Crush attraction (which is also based on Finding Nemo ) at Disney's California Adventure .

The current attraction uses the same subs and tracks layout as the original Submarine Voyage. Other than the addition of the projection screens, the only noticeable modification to the attraction was moving the entrance waterfall up quite a distance, reducing the amount of time the subs spend outside and necessitating lengthy closures of the monorail to allow construction of the show building extension to take place.

Throughout the first half of 2014, the attraction underwent its first "dry rehab" (a refurbishment involving draining the entire lagoon). At the time, there was speculation and fear that the "refurb" was not actually such and that the ride, like its shuttered Floridian counterpart, had been quietly and permanently closed. Disney put various messages on the work walls promising a September return, and Bob Iger dispelled rumors of a permanent closure at a shareholders meeting, stating the attraction was "too unique" to be nixed.

On April 30, 2021, Disneyland Resort reopened after being temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this attraction remained closed due to its tight quarters being conducive to social distancing. Rumors have circulated that park management is planning to use the pandemic as an excuse to permanently close the attraction and, along with Autopia and Star Wars Launch Bay (plus shortening the route of the monorail), bulldoze it for a future Tomorrowland overhaul and Fantasyland expansion; allegedly, management has been trying to find a way to get rid of the labor-intensive attraction since the first dry rehab in 2014. On July 12, 2021, however, Disney once again assured the public that the subs would be staying via construction walls around the lagoon. During this refurbishment new coral was added to the lagoon and a figure of Hank the Septopus was placed on a rock above the surface within eyesight of the seagull trio.

Summary [ ]

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is hosted by an Australian group known as the Institute for Nautical Exploration and Marine Observation (NEMO). For handicapped guests that cannot transfer into the Submarines, a "Marine Observation Outpost" offers an enhanced video ride-thru of the attraction. On a nearby buoy, a trio of Seagulls sits, constantly shouting "MINE" at the passing subs. On this voyage with NEMO, we are seeking out an active underwater volcano and begin our voyage through the lagoon passing through recently emerged ruins of a lost civilization (resembling the Tiki decorations in the dentist's tank) and briefly coming across divers P. Sherman and his niece Darla , who has bagged and caught a new fishy friend, as we travel further into the coral reef. As we pass giant clams and sea bass, a surface storm begins, prompting the captain to dive further.

At this point, the submarine travels through a waterfall and enters the hidden ride building, where guests find themselves apparently moving through underwater caverns. The captain announces that, due to advancements in marine technology, they can use "sonar hydrophones" (an homage to the original attraction), to hear the fish talk. The sub passes through a dark cavern where huge eels lunge toward the submarine, and lobsters can be seen as well. The sub passes Marlin and Dory as they discover that Nemo has gotten lost again. Farther along the reef, guests encounter Mr. Ray and his class swimming through the coral looking for Nemo as well. The first mate announces that the sub is approaching the East Australian Current, and the submarine enters the current along with Nemo, Squirt , Crush , and other sea turtles.

The sub then exits the current and enters a graveyard of sunken ships, Jacques can be seen nearby while Marlin and Dory continue their search for Nemo. Bruce and Chum swim inside a sunken submarine surrounded by World War II mines. The submarine "hits" a mine, causing the mine to explode, resulting in the sub shaking and temporarily losing power. As the sub goes dark, Marlin and Dory are surrounded by small glowing lights, which turn out to be phosphorescent lights on several huge deep-sea anglerfish. After Marlin and Dory escape the creatures, they make their way through a forest of jellyfish.

The submarine reaches the active deep-sea volcano. Gill , Bloat , Gurgle , Bubbles , and Squirt chant as lava flows down the volcano's sides, while Marlin and Dory finally reunite with Nemo. The volcano erupts just as the sub escapes and returns to the reef. The fish gather around and celebrate finding Nemo once again. Suddenly, a pod of humpback whales appears, and one of them swallows both Dory and the submarine. Dory swims about trying to understand the whale's vocalizations. After a few moments, the whale shoots the submarine and Dory out through its blowhole. Dory then mistakes the sub for a "big yellow whale" and speaks whale; saying goodbye.

The captain tells the first mate not to enter anything that has happened in the ship's log because "nobody would believe it anyway." He then says, "We'd better take her up before we have a run-in with a sea serpent or an encounter with a mermaid" (references to the original attraction, which included mermaids and a sea serpent). Two rock formations can be seen, one shaped like a sea serpent's head, and the other shaped like a mermaid. The sub then surfaces and reenters the harbor, where a pair of king crabs snap at air bubbles coming from a sewage pipe. An instrumental version of "Beyond the Sea" plays as the submarine docks and the captain thanks the passengers for riding.

Voice cast [ ]

Jess Harnell as Marlin
Anthony DeMarco as Nemo
Jennifer Hale as Dory
Bob Peterson as Mr. Ray
Andrew Stanton as Crush and Seagulls
Nicholas Bird as Squirt
Barry Humphries as Bruce
Jim Pike as Captain
Gail Knight as First Mate
Bruce Spence as Chum
Thomas Bromhead as Safety Spiels
Erica Jones as Pearl
Brad Garrett as Bloat
Austin Pendleton as Gurgle
Stephen Root as Bubbles
Katherine Ringgold as Chickenfish
Georgia Van Cuylenburg as Narrator

Gallery [ ]

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Has FINALLY Reopened in Disneyland!

By Madison Owens Leave a Comment

Many things have reopened in Disneyland over the past year, but some things have still been missing.

It’s back!

While we’ve seen character meet and greets return as well as entertainment , some attractions have remained closed, like Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage . But now, the ride is finally back open !

This popular attraction did not open with the park in April 2021 due to being under refurbishment. In June, it was announced that the ride would reopen on July 25th , and we made sure we were on that ride the next day to check out what’s new!

We’re in line — let’s go!

This ride takes you on the adventure of Finding Nemo from under the water! Each seat on the submarine offers a different view , so you’ll see something a bit different every time you ride.

Yep, you really go into a submarine!

If you’re claustrophobic, this might not be the ideal ride for you. But, if you want to be literally underwater, it’s a great opportunity to do so — you don’t even have to get wet!

The ride looks like it’s had some fresh paint and touch ups.

So colorful!

You look out of a porthole while you’re down here.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has REOPENED in Disneyland! 🐠 Come underwater with us 🫧 pic.twitter.com/LtqneNsKF8 — Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2022

The colors are pretty vibrant down here!

In the big blue world…

Take a closer look!

Just keep swimming 🐠 📍: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Disneyland pic.twitter.com/SJalGLJPDJ — Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 26, 2022

We’re so excited to ride this again!

See anyone?

If you love Finding Nemo or Finding Dory , make sure to check out the ride on your next visit to Disneyland!

It’s very blue down here

Head on over to Tomorrowland to finally experience this ride once again! The line could get pretty long, especially since it just reopened, so make sure to give yourself ample amount of time, and keep checking those wait times on the Disneyland app !

If you want more on Disneyland, don’t miss the iconic (and huge) new souvenir we found recently, and don’t forget to learn about another popular ride is closing for refurbishment soon .

Go under the sea!

Keep an eye on DFB for all the latest Disneyland news!

Planning a 2028 Disneyland trip? You’ll want to plan ahead for this!

Want to learn more about disneyland check out the links below, dfb disneyland restaurants guide, disney genie and how to use it in disneyland, what you need to know about the theme park reservation system for disneyland and disney california adventure, closures and construction at disneyland, learn all about disneyland park, see what marvelous stuff you’ll find at avengers campus in disney california adventure, learn about pixar pier in disney california adventure, get all the details about the disneyland mobile app, everything you need to know about mobile order in disneyland, learn more about disneyland’s magic key program, full details about the holiday season in disneyland, full details about halloween time at disneyland, get some strange tips for disneyland, click here to check out lots of other dfb posts about disneyland, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe.

Are you a lover of this ride, or would you rather skip it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Submarine Voyage

BACKSTORY (June 14, 1959–September 1998): 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.

Uncle Grumpy Remembers

Disneylander newsletter 3/61.

DISNEYLANDER NEWSLETTER 4/61

DISNEYLAND LINE NEWSLETTER 4/20/78

1970's—1980's.

FINDING NEMO SUBMARINES
Tomorrowland

1950’s

Disneyland Submarine Voyage construction, 1958

Recently, I was contacted by the niece of a former Disneyland employee who found a vintage photo of her Uncle on my website . She was kind enough to interview her Uncle about his years there and share the information with me. This is the kind of stuff I love! One of these images contains Uncle "Grumpy" (not saying which one for purposes of anonymity!) and the rest are appropriate to the period that he worked at the Park.

Grumpy, my uncle, worked at Disneyland from 1959-1961. It was back in the day when it was mostly college kids working there. They had a lot of fun joking around with guests or hiding out on an attraction waiting to scare them...all in good fun of course! Grumpy’s Disneyland employment started with a friendship with a girl who already worked there. She arranged for him to meet her uncle who was a supervisor there. He met her uncle who interviewed him and then walked him over to the personnel department. He was interviewed by a few more people, then hired two weeks prior to the opening of the Submarine, Monorail, and Matterhorn rides in June 1959. His first job at the Park was as a driver on the Submarine Voyage. At the time the attraction opened, some local laws in Anaheim had to be changed to allow underwater vessels to operate inside city limits. With eight submarines, Walt Disney was the commander of the world's eighth largest submarine fleet.

There was a lot of excitement at the time with a movie being filmed to promote Disneyland. They were also testing the new attractions and preparing for the arrival of Vice President Nixon and his family for the dedication ceremony. Grumpy didn't get to see Vice President Nixon but he saw Walt Disney in the park many times. Walt was there during the testing for the new attractions and was spotted up by the loading area for the Monorail, looking down at the Submarine Voyage. One of the supervisors walked up to my uncle and told him that he had been promoted by Walt Disney to be a Monorail driver. It was quite an honor! Walt Disney and his family made the choices for all of the transportation rides, and Walt only had certain people that he wanted for these positions.

In the beginning the Submarine lagoon had live mermaids that swam around the subs, and they would also sunbathe on the rocks. It eventually became a problem when young men started jumping into the water and swam out to meet the mermaids! The girls practiced swimming in the Disneyland Hotel pool but soon realized that the chlorine was changing the color of their hair. There were also costume malfunctions; Grumpy recalled one instance when one of the girl's shell bras came off and she was sitting on the rocks yelling for someone to bring her a towel! They had him row out to her in a little boat and save the day. Disney eventually decided not to use "real" mermaids and they became part of Disneyland history.

Most cast members do not stay in one place; they get scheduled to work in many areas throughout the park. Grumpy also worked on the Monorail and the Matterhorn. These attractions (Submarine, Matterhorn, and Monorail) were the reason for Disney adding the "E" ticket to their ticket books. My uncle worked all three rides (and a few others) during his time at Disneyland. When he wasn't working, he would call his friend Bill and some of their buddies to go have fun at Disneyland. His favorite attractions were the Jungle Cruise, Matterhorn, and the Submarines. The park was especially fun at nite with all of the lights, and the lines for the rides weren't as long. He didn't really have a favorite place to eat since they were young and broke! But he has always liked to stop by the Carnation Ice Cream Parlour.

While driving the Monorail one day, a group of guests insisted on sitting in the back of the Monorail. Grumpy explained to them that it's winter and the windows in the back of the Monorail will fog up. The guests had heard that you have the best views in the back, and that's where they demanded to sit. When the Monorail came to a stop, the guests were pounding on the windows and yelling to get out. The windows had completely fogged up and they couldn't see a thing!

Since he worked on the Matterhorn, I asked if Grumpy saw a basketball court up in the top of the attraction. He did not recall it being there at that time. Occasionally there were technical difficulties on the Matterhorn. One day one of the bobsleds was stuck on the track, so Grumpy and an electrician ran up the stairs inside the Matterhorn. They reached the disabled bobsled and the electrician released it, but Grumpy didn't have time to get out of the way. He was okay but a little banged up. Disney scheduled him to work in Town Square over on Main Street for a while until he felt better. They had him dress up as President Lincoln and talk with guests. He saw a mother and her son walking toward him and decided to freeze like a statue. The little boy asked his mother if he was real, and the mother replied yes. Despite this, the little boy said he was a fake. She told her son to touch him and find out. The little boy hesitantly reached out with his finger and poked him. Grumpy yelled "Boo!" and the little boy took off running down Main Street. The mother looked at Grumpy and said, "I told him so!"

A painter was hired once to touch up some paint on the guns at the Shooting Gallery in Frontierland. All of a sudden the painter ran out screaming. When asked what was wrong, the painter turned around to reveal a dart in his backside. It turned out that a little boy had a dart gun and shot him in the rear!

Grumpy was also a Skipper on the Jungle Cruise. One day some guests ran up to him claiming that the natives in the jungle were real! No, he told them; they're mannequins that move. Just in case, Grumpy decided to check it out for himself. He and his supervisor walked back through the jungle to find some college kids that had hopped the fence and were dancing around with the Native Indian mannequins. Interesting fact: the water in the Jungle Cruise is dyed brown so that it looks real and you can't see the bottom, which is only 3’ deep. Walt had originally wanted real hippos and elephants on the attraction.

Disneyland still has a special place in Grumpy's heart. It is there where he can still be a kid and his memories will live forever.

MANY thanks to Uncle Grumpy and his niece for sharing these amazing stories!

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: DISNEYLANDER NEWSLETTER 4/61

"NEW" SUB VOYAGE READY FOR EASTER

The wolrd famous Disneyland Submarine Voyage, after having been out of operation for the past couple of months for rehabiliitation, is all set to welcome guests aboard again. Flooding of the lagoon and cavern building has been going on for the past week after literally thousands of man hours went into the extensive rehab program.

Disneylanders who had the opportunity of walking through the completed attraciton before the water started to flow were amazed and thrilled with the additions and changes in both the lagoon and the cavern. Thousands of added props, pieces of coral andn rocks (the Bud and Bill Washo kind) have been added and even the conrete walls of the laoding dock have been "dressed" with star fish, bits of coral and other underseas wonders. These will be immediately seen by passengers when they sit to await the start of their voyage through the wonders of the seven seas.

As soon as the subs pull away from the dock thousands of additional air bubbles will start stirring the crystal clear water to give the passengers a genuine feeling of "diving" and no longer will a blank wall be discernible on the port side. This wall as well as all of the walls in the cavern building have completely camouflaged and darkened in color so the illusion of being thousands of miles at sea and at great depths will be firmly established in the minds of Disneyland's guests.

As the submarines travel through the lagoon area brilliantly colored underseas wonders will be seen along with giant animated crabs, turtles, lobsters, sea bass, Moray eels, Manta rays and an ingenious shark and octopus in a "fight to the death."

The rock work exterior of the cavern building has had a new paint job by Larry Smith's fine crew (and they also did all of the other painting that was necessary) and as soon as the submarines disappear under the water fall passengers will experience the feling of diving even deeper because of the tremendous added number of air bubbles that pass by the port holes.

The Grave Yard of Lost Ships area has had a complete face lifting which makes it even more exciting and Chuck Fowler and Hank Dains and their crews have been busy adding more jewels, coins, nets and ropes for added realism to the area.

Dick Irvine's art director staff, with Bob Sewell as the resident, have done wonders with all of the animated creatures, as well as the beautiful mermaids, in the cavern. No longer will hanging wires be seen because Roger Broggie and his mechanical wizards have found the answer to animating in other ways.

Thanks to the Disneyland Maintenance Department under Truman Woodworth and Earl Vilmer, the Submarine Voyage has a new thrill for "old timers" who have enjoyed it before and the thrill of a life time for first time guests. Jack Reilly has been the coordinator for the entire project and in addition to those already named in this article, Dale Drummond, Leo Chesney, Robbie Robbins, Andy Anderson, Fred Johnson, Sam Billings, Tommy Thomas and all of their hard working helpers can take a low bow for a job well done.

The record one day patronage for the Submarine Voyage, according to Ted Crowell, is 16,502 and the theoretical capacity in a 16 hour day is 18,240 happy guests. Everyone who has seen the "new" voyage agrees you ain't seen nothing yet and that patronage records are made to be broken.

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.

"NEW" TOMORROWLAND
BACK TO TOP

The Best Rides at Disneyland, According to a Pro

We’re ranking the best rides at Disneyland Park – don’t skip these classic, thrilling, and one-of-a-kind attractions during your next visit!

With over 50 different attractions in total (36 of which are rides), planning your visit to Disneyland Park means choosing which rides you’d like you ride. Home to slow-moving dark rides featuring classic Disney characters, thrilling coasters that’ll get your heart racing, and innovative adventures that’ll surprise you with immersive storytelling as well as twists and turns. As a Disneyland expert who’s been to the park hundreds of times in the last 30 years, I know the theme park’s rides like the back of my hand – and while every attraction is magical, some are bigger standouts than others.

So, which attractions are the best rides at Disneyland? I’m sharing my favorites and ranking Disneyland’s rides below so you know which are worth grabbing a Lighting Lane for.

The Best Dark Rides at Disneyland

Mr. toad’s wild ride.

Photo by Nick Barese

When it comes to classic Fantasyland dark rides at Disneyland, it’s hard to beat Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. This iconic attraction is a must-visit, especially if you’re at Disneyland for the very first time. It’s a piece of history – it’s one of the theme park’s opening day attractions – that takes guests on a (slightly) harrowing ride through the English countryside from the perspective of Mr. Toad himself.

Step inside Toad Hall and get ready to take a memorable spin behind the wheel of Mr. Toad’s motorcar! While this attraction can be somewhat scary for younger guests (after all, it does include a trip to hell), it’s a relatively slow-moving classic dark ride that’ll please riders of any age.

Alice in Wonderland

Tumble down the rabbit hole and head to the magical world of Wonderland! Alice in Wonderland is one of the best rides at Disneyland thanks to its slow-moving caterpillar vehicles and its brightly-colored, eye-catching visuals that make it a whole lot of fun. Plus, with such a long history in the park, who wouldn’t want to wander through one created by legends such as Bub Gurr and Claude Coats?

Since it first opened in 1958, Alice in Wonderland has been a staple within Fantasyland. More whimsical than other dark rides at Disneyland and free of any frightening scenes – as long as you don’t mind the Queen of Hearts coming for your head after a game of croquet! – it’s a ride that guests of every age will adore.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Photo by Brian Shih

Technically Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage isn’t one of Disneyland’s classic dark rides. It’s not located in Fantasyland, and it uses realistic submarine ride vehicles instead of more traditional cars, flying ships, or even caterpillars. But this ride, which takes guests underwater to explore the worlds of the beloved Finding Nemo film franchise, artfully combines a historic Disneyland attraction with a fresh, modern spin that makes for one standout experience.

What makes this one of the best rides at Disneyland, in my opinion, is that bridging of the old with the new. You’ll climb aboard one of the original submarines from the ride’s heyday (it originally opened in 1959 as Submarine Voyage) and follow the very same ride track. However, the underwater scenes have been updated and upgraded, mixing cool topography with computer-animated scenes that feature Nemo, Marlin, Dory, and more familiar faces, right outside your sub’s portholes.

The Best Thrill Rides at Disneyland

Space mountain.

If you’re looking for a high-speed coaster, you really can’t top Space Mountain. This Disneyland attraction has been a guest favorite since it first opened in 1977. Originally dreamed up by Walt Disney himself after the success of the Matterhorn (more on that classic – and one of my favorites! – in a bit), it’s both futuristic and exciting no matter how many times you’ve ridden. Plus, during certain times of the year, you might get a special ride overlay, such as Hyperspace Mountain during Season of the Force or Ghost Galaxy during Halloween Time .

Having experienced Space Mountain at both Walt Disney World, which is home to the original version of the ride, and Disneyland, I have to say that Disneyland’s version is far superior. It’s the best Space Mountain on either coast, with more comfortable ride vehicles, higher speed, and more thrilling twists and turns. If you’re a thrill seeker, don’t skip this Tomorrowland favorite!

Indiana Jones Adventure

Photo by Cliff Wang

If you’re looking for thrills, Indiana Jones Adventure is one of the best rides at Disneyland. This exciting attraction will take you into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, with stellar theming and plenty of adventure. Even if you’re not an Indiana Jones film fan (I definitely am not one!), the combination of an exciting, rough ride paired with cool scenes that feel larger-than-life is a can’t-miss experience.

Indiana Jones Adventure isn’t actually a roller coaster; in fact, it’s officially classified as a dark ride. However, it’s one seriously thrilling ride. As you navigate the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, you’ll encounter some incredibly bumpy terrain, speed through dangerous rooms and realms, and even encounter that famed gigantic rolling boulder… and keep an eye out for Indy himself!

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Join the Resistance and delve into the incredible storytelling that’s part of Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge with a ride on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This Disneyland attraction is a standout for a few reasons. It’s one of the newest additions to the park, and it’s technologically advanced, making for one incredibly adventurous ride experience. Plus, I personally love how immersive it is; you’ll feel like you’re visiting multiple touch points within the Star Wars universe… and with a bit of speed thrown in the mix, it’s a thrill all around.

While there’s virtually no difference between the version of Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland and the version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, I think this is a ride that’s still one of the best in any theme park. With its innovative trackless design and its twists, turns, and immersive storytelling, both Star Wars fans and those who aren’t entirely familiar with the universes and characters will enjoy it. Plus, who doesn’t love combining speed with some surprises?!

The Best Classic Disneyland Rides

King arthur carrousel.

Photo by Ernie Carr

The centerpiece of Fantasyland and a glittering jewel of a traditional carousel, King Arthur Carrousel is one of Disneyland’s iconic attractions. While adults might not ride it too often – those Fantasyland lines can get crazy! – it’s a slow-moving spin set to classic Disney tunes anyone will enjoy. As an opening day attraction, it’s also iconic; I particularly love the fact that the carousel dates back to 1922 and was refurbished and updated just for Disneyland.

What makes the carousel one of the best Disneyland rides, in my opinion, is the array of little touches across the attraction. From images of Sleeping Beauty decorating the interior panels to the shining golden poles to the colorful canopy overhead, it’s a gorgeous attraction to behold. I also love that one of the horses, Jingles, was Walt’s personal favorite. Every time I ride, I love to see if I can hop on Jingles. As an added perk, Jingles will often get special decoration or freshening up for big milestones, like when the horse was painted gold for Disneyland’s big 50th celebration.

I know, I know: Choosing the Matterhorn as one of the best rides at Disneyland is highly divisive choice! For some guests, the park’s snow-capped mountain is too bumpy, too hard on the back, and just too painful all around to even be considered as a top attraction. However, as someone who’s always loved speeding around the Matterhorn’s curves and into its tunnels, I can’t skip this classic coaster on my must-ride list!

As you race down the Matterhorn, zipping past waterfalls, glittering icicles, and good ol’ Harold the Yeti (technically Harold 2.0, since he got a significant upgrade for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary), you’ll enjoy the ride’s speed and visual thrills. Plus, there’s an added perk: Matterhorn is one of the Disneyland thrill rides that features a Single Rider line , which can save you precious time in the park without springing for the cost of Genie+ .

Storybook Land Canal Boats

Photo by Dom Tabon

In Disneyland’s Fantasyland, there’s a hidden gem: the Storybook Land Canal Boats. One of Disneyland’s original opening day attractions and an eye-catching piece – who can overlook the open-mouthed Monstro the whale, swallowing up boats that pass by? – this slow-floating attraction may not be thrilling, but it’s a quiet and beautiful tour through landscapes of some of the most iconic Disney animated films.

Wait times can get long, but they’re never too long for the Storybook Land Canal Boats. Guests of every age will adore this ride and its exciting settings, from the interior of Monstro to the miniature villages straight of out Pinocchio , Cinderella (don’t overlook the pumpkin coach halfway down the mountain!), Aladdin , and even old classics like The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and Lullaby Land . Take some time away from the bustle of the park and make sure to enjoy the scenery on this attraction.

The post The Best Rides at Disneyland, According to a Pro appeared first on WDW Magazine .

We’re ranking the best rides at Disneyland Park – don’t skip these classic, thrilling, and one-of-a-kind attractions during your next visit! With over 50 different attractions in total (36 of which are rides), planning your visit to Disneyland Park means choosing which rides you’d like you ride. Home to slow-moving dark rides featuring classic Disney […]

Florida Completely Ignored Once Again, Disney Fans Outraged

in Disneyland Resort

Pixar Pal-A-Round, Incredicoaster, and Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure, taken from Paradise Gardens Park

Disney has reignited an age-old debate, sparking outrage among fans while the company snubs Walt Disney World.

Disney fans worldwide are always eager to learn about the latest developments, expansions, and upgrades coming to their favorite Disney Park, whether that be new attractions, characters, immersive lands, or even new theme parks! However, not everyone is happy when the company releases new details about exclusive offerings.

A picture of Sleeping Beauty Castle with Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse's Partners statue in the foreground at Disneyland Park in Disneyland Resort

Related: Disney Park Closing Beloved ‘Toy Story’ Ride Forever, Replacement Announced

This has been the case for the exclusive Pixar Fest event, officially kicking off today, April 26, at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Park. The unique event brings all sorts of exciting experiences to Walt Disney’s original theme park and inadvertently reignites a divisive conversation.

New offerings reignite age-old debate

The official launch of Pixar Fest is bringing all kinds of fun experiences for the whole family to enjoy at Disney California Adventure — the heart of the celebration — and Disneyland Park, from unique character meet and greets to new entertainment offerings, mouth-watering treats, and more!

Meilin Lee turned into a red panda, Miriam, Priya and Abby — Meilin Lee's best friends — and the five members of 4*Town, Tae Young, Robaire, Jesse, Aaron T, and Aaron Z from the Pixar movie 'Turning Red' (2022) in the upcoming parade Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration at Disney California Adventure

Sadly, previews from the unique event posted on social media triggered mixed reactions online, with many netizens questioning The Walt Disney Company’s decisions for this year’s Pixar Fest.

Perhaps the most discussed opinion involved an all-new parade that features characters from Pixar movies like Luca (2021) and Turning Red (2022), with Disney fans questioning why other beloved animated films had been left out of the daytime spectacular, particularly Onward (2020) — which features Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot, Ian’s older brother.

Guinevere, Barley LIghtfoot's van from the Pixar movie 'Onward' (2020)

While the Anaheim-based Disney Resort obviously won’t change this exclusive parade to include new floats and characters (at least for this year’s event), the company quickly eased Disneyland fans after posting a video announcing that Ian and Barley Lightfoot would meet guests for a limited time before embarking on another epic quest. “To meet Ian & Barley, simply maketh your way to Pixar Pals Playtime Party at Disneyland Park during Pixar Fest,” said Disney in a TikTok post. You can see the video below or click here to watch it.

Let the quest beginneth! #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #Onward #Ian #Barley #Guinevere #Quest

@disneyparks Let the quest beginneth! 🗺️🚐🧙 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #Onward #Ian #Barley #Guinevere #Quest ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

Inside the Magic visited the Pixar Pals Playtime Party in the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park to meet the Lightfoot brothers and enjoy a party where everyone can dance and play the Pixar way. The location also offers a high-energy show, reading and coloring areas, and picture-perfect backdrops inspired by the worlds of Monsters Inc. (2001), Cars (2006), Onward , Up (2009), and A Bug’s Life (1998).

A guest posing with Ian Lightfoot and Barley Lightfoot in front of Guinevere from the Pixar movie 'Onward' (2020)

Disney also revealed that guests can meet Luca and Alberto from Luca and Wade and Ember from Elemental (2023) during Pixar Fest at the Pixar Pals Playtime Party. You can see the video announcing Wade and Ember’s debut at the park below, or click here to watch it.

Meeting Ember & Wade would make us as emotional as Wade’s family #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #Elemental #Lutz #Ember #Wade

@disneyparks Meeting Ember & Wade would make us as emotional as Wade’s family 🥹 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #Elemental #Lutz #Ember #Wade ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

The chance to meet these new characters from Pixar’s newest movies eased Disneyland fans and sparked even more excitement to visit the resort during Pixar Fest. However, the news inadvertently reignited the constant debate surrounding The Walt Disney Company’s alleged preference for Disneyland Resort, excluding Walt Disney World Resort from some of the most awaited offerings.

“Be fair to Florida”

“Be fair to Florida,” or some form of this sentence is something that constantly pops up on social media whenever Disneyland Resort gets new offerings that haven’t been announced to be coming to Disney World, making Disney fans think that the company has a preference for Southern California over Orlando and frequently sparking outrage online.

Ahsoka Tano ready to meet guests at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland Park

The most recent trigger for this discussion has been the debut of new characters from George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise making their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park. From Ahsoka Tano to Chopper and General Hera Syndulla, Din Djarin, Grogu, and even the all-new BD-X droids , Disney fans of all ages have voiced their opinions, feeling robbed of the experiences while The Walt Disney Company apparently ignores Florida , failing to release details about these characters arriving to Disney World, if there are any plans to do so in the first place.

However, the debate dividing Disney World and Disneyland gained traction before these characters debuted at Anaheim.

Frightfully Fun Parade in the dark at Oogie Boogie Bash.

In 2022, Disney triggered a heated debate online with the debut of multiple characters at Disney California Adventure for Oogie Boogie Bash — Disneyland Resort’s yearly after-hours Halloween event — while Walt Disney World Resort only welcomed Max Goof in his Powerline outfit for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.

Clearly, fans were not happy about this abysmal difference. However, it appears that, due to logistics, size of the resort, or any other reason, Disney will continue to debut new offerings at Disneyland Resort before bringing them to Walt Disney World Resort.

Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite character concept art

Other announcements that have prompted the rise of the “Be fair to Florida” debate around Disney Parks have been the return and debut of exclusive Disneyland After Dark events , including Star Wars Nite, Pride Nite, Disney Channel Nite, and Sweethearts’ Nite to mention a few.

While Disney World offers after-hours access tickets to its theme parks, the Orlando-based Disney Resort rarely hosts themed events apart from seasonal celebrations.

Disney World - Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse on a float during a parade at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Sadly, Pixar Fest has not been the exception to this divisive discourse. Viewers from the videos we shared above quickly commented how they wished that Ian, Barley, Ember, and Wade would travel to Disney World to meet guests, mentioning that they love their movies. “Cries in WDW,” one user commented.

One user boldly claimed that Disney World only “gets crumbs […] compared to any of the other parks.” They added, “Sooo once again why are you not doing anything special at Walt Disney world in Florida! It’s your #1 visited park besides Disneyland which is VERY tiny and almost only locals go to!”

A picturesque view of a fairy tale Cinderella Castle with spires, under a clear blue sky with the sun setting behind, casting a warm glow over the scene.

Related: Disneyland’s Billion-Dollar Expansion Could Kick off This Summer!

While, to many, it would be ideal to see The Walt Disney Company close the gap between Disneyland and Disney World, the differences between both parks make them unique destinations for guests of all ages. Additionally, each Disney Resort is gearing up to develop a series of thrilling updates, bringing new attractions, immersive lands, and more to Disney World and Disneyland .

Pixar Fest kicks off at Disneyland Resort

Despite these mixed reactions online, Pixar Fest is kicking off today, April 26! The unique event celebrates “friendship and beyond” with colorful décor, themed menu items, commemorative merchandise, and fun experiences for the young and the young at heart at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Park.

Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland

What is Pixar Fest?

Pixar Fest is a limited-time event bringing some of the most beloved Pixar stories like Toy Story , Cars , Soul (2020), Inside Out (2015), and more to life at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure! The event is scheduled to run from April 26 through August 4, 2024, bringing fun offerings for everyone at both parks.

Exclusive offers debut at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure

The highlight of this year’s celebration is the debut of “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” at Disney California Adventure Park. The all-new parade features amazing floats inspired by Pixar films, including Luca, Turning Red, Soul, and more, with many characters from these stories making their first appearance at the parks!

You can see a video of how Walt Disney Imagineers brought this parade to life below, or click here to watch it.

WAS THAT A REAL VESPA?! #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #BetterTogether #Parade #Float #DisneyCastLife

@disneyparks WAS THAT A REAL VESPA?! 🛵 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneylandResort #Pixar #PixarFest #BetterTogether #Parade #Float #DisneyCastLife ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

Additionally, the emotional “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” is set to return to Disneyland Park with some all-new scenes.

Carl Fredricksen's house from the Pixar movie 'Up' (2009) behind Sleeping beauty Castle during the fireworks show Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland Park

Related: A Complete Guide To Pixar Fest 2024

What can guests expect when visiting the resort during this event?

As if these heart-stirring shows weren’t enough, guests can find character greetings throughout Disneyland Resort, 6 marketplaces in Disney California Adventure Park with tasty menus inspired by Pixar stories (starting May 10, 2024), unique merchandise to commemorate the event, and drinks and treats that will make you sing “Remember Me” with every bite.

Mickey's Fun Wheel and Incredicoaster at dusk.

To add even more fun, guests can enjoy their favorite everyday Pixar park experiences, including Incredicoaster and Toy Story Midway Mania! at Pixar Pier, Cars Land, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage to mention a few.

Would you like to see a similar celebration debut at Walt Disney World Resort? Weigh in on this Disney Parks debate and share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments below!

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FINDING NEMO SUBMARINE VOYAGE at DISNEYLAND RESORT (11/30/2022)
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Part 1 of 2)
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[NEW 2023] Finding NEMO Submarine Voyage -FULL RIDE- 4K! Disneyland
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COMMENTS

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
The original Submarine Voyage debuted on June 14, 1959 and was one of the first "E" Ticket attractions. The attraction was loosely inspired by the 1958 voyage to the North Pole by the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, which shares its name with the fictional submarine in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.. The attraction enjoyed a 39-year run at Disneyland Park ...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage 2023
Join Marlin, Dory, Crush and Nemo on a journey 20,000 leagues under the sea, on Disneyland's Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage!Filmed February 7, 2023 at the Dis...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction in the Tomorrowland area of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. It opened on June 11, 2007. It opened on June 11, 2007. Based on the characters and settings of the 2003 Disney · Pixar film Finding Nemo , it is a re-theming of the classic Submarine Voyage attraction that operated from 1959 to 1998.
Take a Look Inside the Lagoon of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
See how the attraction has been revitalized with more coral, paint, kelp, seaweed, special effects and lighting. Plus, wave to Hank, the new septopus friend from Pixar's "Finding Dory."
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Ride at Disneyland California
Experience the undersea world of Finding Nemo with this classic attraction that combines film clips and animatronics. Learn how to enjoy it more with tips on timing, accessibility, and fun facts.
FINDING NEMO Submarine Voyage (FULL RIDE) Disneyland POV (1080p HD)
Finding Nemo Submarine VoyageImmerse yourself in the world of Disney·Pixar's Finding Nemo, on this fascinating submarine voyage!Into the DeepBoard the yellow...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride is based on the story line of the hit Disney-Pixar animated feature Finding Nemo . Here you board a submarine in a loading area situated below the Disneyland Monorail station in Tomorrowland. After a quick lap of the open-air lagoon, the sub passes through a waterfall and inside to follow the general ...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage • RE-OPENING • Disneyland
Journey into the charming world of Disney and Pixar's Finding Nemo on a gentle undersea expedition.Climb down into a yellow research submarine operated by th...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Ride Review
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland is a fantastic, underwater adventure that seamlessly blends the nostalgia of the original Submarine Voyage with the magic of the Finding Nemo and Finding Dory films. The ride's history and design pay homage to the past while offering a fresh, contemporary experience that appeals to guests of all ages.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage uses the same track and the same 8 submarines, though they have been modified. Modifications include the addition of one additional seat and porthole on each side and conversion of the power source from diesel to electric engines. The Disneyland submarine fleet is the 8th largest in the world.
How Disneyland refurbished everything on Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland will reopen the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage on Monday, July 25 after conducting a series of employee previews aboard the renovated attraction. A team of nearly 100 Disneyland painters ...
Daveland Disneyland Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Photos
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. BACKSTORY (June 11, 2007-PRESENT): The names of the subs are Nautilus (107), Scout (207), Voyager (307), Mariner (407), Seafarer (507), Explorer (607), Neptune (707), Argonaut (807). This attraction opened June 11, with Annual Passholder preview days one week beforehand. Imagineer Kevin Rafferty explained the ...
How Disneyland refurbished everything on Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland added 12,000 linear feet of faux seaweed to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage during the yearlong overhaul of the venerable 1959 underwater attraction — enough seaweed to stretch for ...
Behind the Ride: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
When the Tomorrowland 1959 expansion began in earnest, Disney returned to the premise. This time, Uncle Walt wanted to place real fish in the giant lake that would host Submarine Voyage. Once again, his team at WED Enterprises was apoplectic about the idea. Time would prove them right.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Take a ride on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park taking you under the depths of the ocean where you discover your favorite characters from...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland that opened on June 11, 2007. It uses the submarine vehicles, track layout, and location used by the Submarine Voyage, which closed in 1998. It is themed to the 2003 Disney/Pixar animated film Finding Nemo. It is the much-larger sister attraction of The Seas with Nemo & Friends, an Omnimover ride at The Seas Pavilion ...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Ride Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage when there's any type of parade or fireworks show going on in the evening, or even right before Disneyland® Park closes. This ride can be a bit frightening to those with claustrophobia. Fun Facts. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland ...
Disneyland Submarine Voyage: 13 Facts You Didn't Know
The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park immerses you into the world of Finding Nemo. You'll find your favorite characters from the film, including Nemo, Dory, Crush, Bruce and many more. The Disneyland submarine is also a great place to enjoy contemporary Disney while remembering the early days of the park's history. Here are ...
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Has FINALLY Reopened in Disneyland!
While we've seen character meet and greets return as well as entertainment, some attractions have remained closed, like Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. But now, the ride is finally back open! This popular attraction did not open with the park in April 2021 due to being under refurbishment. In June, it was announced that the ride would reopen ...
Daveland Disneyland Submarine Voyage Photos
Submarine Voyage. BACKSTORY (June 14, 1959-September 1998): 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 ...
The Best Rides at Disneyland, According to a Pro
Technically Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage isn't one of Disneyland's classic dark rides. It's not located in Fantasyland, and it uses realistic submarine ride vehicles instead of more ...
[NEW 2022] Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride at Disneyland park in California shot in 4K 60FPS! Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an underwater type of ride that takes ...
Disneyland Resort Celebrates Return of Pixar Fest for a Limited Time
Guests will also find a new limited-time line of Pixar Fest merchandise with designs featuring many Pixar pals from films such as "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo" and "Up" for the 2024 festival.
Disney Sparks Outrage Among Fans, Florida Resort Snubbed
As if these heart-stirring shows weren't enough, guests can find character greetings throughout Disneyland Resort, 6 marketplaces in Disney California Adventure Park with tasty menus inspired by ...
Look Inside The Lagoon of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Ever wonder what it would be like to step into the lagoon of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage? While this beloved family-friendly attraction has been closed for...
Sur Sweets
11 likes, 0 comments - itssursweets on August 31, 2022: "Since we're talking about #Disneyland…who remembers the #FindingNemo ride? Who remembers #SubmarineVoyage ‍ ...". Sur Sweets | Since we're talking about #Disneyland…who remembers the #FindingNemo 🐠🐟 ride?

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

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