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One of the first movies I remember watching on the Disney Channel was Disney's 1954 release of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I recall staying up late one summer night in 1983 to catch the movie, probably because it had looked pretty good in the previews. Looking through the old Disney Channel Magazines in my personal archives, I found that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea first aired on the Disney Channel on August 2, 1983; the movie was even featured on the cover of the magazine. Just a few weeks before, on my first visit to Walt Disney World, I had ridden the 20,000 Leagues attraction in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland. I was immediately fascinated by both the movie and the ride. The mysterious Captain Nemo. The large submarine. The secret island hideout. What more could you ask for? During the following school year, when we were given the opportunity to pick a book for a book report, I chose Jules Verne's novel. Like most books that have been made into movies, this book was a good bit different from the movie, but it was still quite fun to read.
While I don't know if I ever considered it my favorite Walt Disney World ride, I always enjoyed riding in those cool submarines, seeing all the underwater marvels as we passed by. Who wouldn't enjoy seeing the graveyard of ships, or the lost continent of Atlantis, or being attacked by a giant squid? My grandfather also enjoyed it, and I suspect that was due to his time in the Navy during the Second World War. The only thing we didn't like about the ride was the wait time, which was often rather long. The ride didn't move very fast, and it also didn't load and unload very quickly. We found that the best time to ride it was at night during one of the performances of the Main Street Electrical Parade. In addition to the smaller crowds, the darkness gave the underwater scenes an even more mysterious appearance, at least the scenes that weren't in the large show building hidden behind the caves. I found out a few years later that the ride borrowed heavily from Disneyland's original Submarine Voyage, which had opened in 1959. However, that attraction did not have the 20,000 Leagues theming.
The movie for me was an exciting adventure, traveling through uncharted depths with a captain who was either a genius or a lunatic, or maybe a little of both. A man tortured by his past, intent to bring a bit of justice to the world, while at the same time escaping from the reality of the world to the ocean depths in his submarine. Although some may not find the movie as action-packed as some of today's blockbusters, it still had more than enough to keep my attention. The movie sets and locations had a certain uniqueness to them. That same atmosphere was captured quite well at Walt Disney World, where the waiting area resembled Captain Nemo's secret hideout at the island of Vulcania. And the subs were perfect replicas of the Nautilus in the movie, except on a smaller scale.
Sadly, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed without much previous notice in the fall of 1994. I was disappointed because we hadn't ridden it during our 1994 visit, being talked out of it by a rather claustrophobic friend who was with us. If I had only known that would be my last chance. For a while, the submarines sat in the lagoon, as if to say the ride might re-open, and the official word was that the ride was down for maintenance. But the subs were later removed, leaving the lagoon empty. A statue of King Triton was installed in the lagoon near the Little Mermaid area. The waiting area is now used for character greetings. I find it a little odd to be taking pictures of Dopey on the island of Vulcania. But then, I guess it is Fantasyland, after all.
As I pass by the area now, I find myself remembering the attraction that was once there. I enjoyed it a bit for the mystery involved of undersea travel, since I have never been in an actual submarine. I remember learning that the subs never really did go below the surface of the water, despite all the bubbles going past the windows to give that illusion. I can still remember hearing Captain Nemo describe the things we were seeing, and hearing him play his grand pipe organ.
Now, for the new Tokyo DisneySea park, the Imagineers have designed an area called Mysterious Island, recreating the look and feel of Vulcania. This exciting area has two major attractions, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Mysterious Island has a marvelous look to it, capturing the look and feel of the movie even better and more completely than the attraction at Walt Disney World. In the shadow of the erupting volcano, Captain Nemo has set up his secret hideaway, and now lets guests experience some of his innovations. The Nautilus is parked in the lagoon, and some of his other creations can be seen in the area as well.
The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction here differs greatly from the Walt Disney World attraction. Captain Nemo has developed small, 6-passenger submersible vehicles, and he invites guests to try them out on a journey under the sea. Journey to the Center of the Earth uses another of Captain Nemo's designs, a vehicle for tunneling through the side of the huge volcano, taking guests on an exciting ride.
From all the pictures I have seen and the descriptions I have read, Mysterious Island looks to be the perfect homage to the designs and themes of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! Thanks to Marc Borrelli for his great pictures from Tokyo DisneySea. To see more of his photo tour of this great new park, visit Laughingplace.com or TokyoResort.com! - Story and Photos by Steve Burns E-mail Steve at steve@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below. |
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