October 14 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage

On this day, in 1971, the classic attraction 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage opened in the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World. Submarine Voyage had proved to be quite popular with guests when it opened in Disneyland in 1959, so a bigger and better version was planned for the Florida Project. And what better movie to theme the new attraction after than the Disney classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?

The ride vehicles (which are actually boats not real submarines) were started by Morgan Yachts in Clearwater, Florida and then transferred to Tampa Ship for finishing. Their look was based on Harper Goff's Nautilus design for the 1954 film. Twelve vehicles were built, identical in every way except for one of them. 11 subs had diesel engines; the twelfth sub was powered by natural gas. Guess which one was never to be hit from behind. The subs usually ran in three groups of three, with the remaining three resting on a spur dock, ready to be put into use if needed (and, as the years went by, they were frequently needed).

Even though this version of Submarine Voyage was themed to a movie, it was pretty much the same as the original with small tweaks here and there. The narration throughout was done by Captain Nemo, voiced by Peter Renaday doing a pretty good impersonation of James Mason. Some of the show scenes also included touches from the film, like the divers in the kelp beds had suits and helmets that were also based on Harper Goff designs.

One of the lost pieces of Walt Disney World history could be found in 20K's (as it was known internally) show building. You would never know it looking at the pile of "rocks" complete with waterfalls, but if you went inside it as cast members sometimes did to do maintenance, you might notice something curious about the ceiling: there were massive concrete arches supporting it. As the building existed for the almost 23 years the ride operated, those arches were completely unnecessary. It becomes clear why the building was constructed that way, though, when you learn that a version of the Matterhorn Bobsleds was slated to be built on top of it. That, of course, never happened and we are all left to sigh over what might have been.

I have three additional favorite tidbits about this attraction. The first is that when it opened, an "E" ticket was required to ride it. Anyone who rode it near the end might raise an eyebrow at that, but you have to remember that "E" tickets didn't mean thrill rides, they meant the best rides. And in its day, 20K was pretty spectacular. The second is that women never worked the attraction. In fact 20K and Jungle Cruise were the last two attractions that required a Y chromosome of its cast members. Shortly before 20K closed, Jungle began training women to lead its safaris, but none ever piloted the Nautilus. It might sound Draconianly sexist but the explanation is simple: the only women in the movie were whores. Try theming that in a family park. The third is how everything you read claims that the ride closed suddenly and unexpectedly on September 5, 1994. It might have seemed that way to guests, but the cast members knew that its run was over. I should know as I did my College Program on this attraction that final summer. All kinds of costume pieces disappeared as August came to a close (not, mind you, that I'm aware who took them or where they ended up).

The 20K lagoon went on to become two character meet and greet areas, one for Ariel and, in the old queue, one for characters like Robin Hood and the mice from Cinderella. Then part of the area became a Winnie the Pooh themed play area. Eventually the lagoon was drained, filled in and now sits under the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, gone but not forgotten.

Also on this day, in American history: Lawrence Herkimer