I was just going by what they said in the actual podcast but that definitely sounds right. https://www.retrowdw.com/podcast/podcast-episode-26-tiny-bubbles-20k-leagues-under-the-sea/
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20K Seagulls?
- Thread starter Dragonman
- Start date
VicariousCorpse
Well-Known Member
Welp, I was wrong then. The discussion starts at 1:20:50. Turns out the ride was very different when it first opened. Most of the figures were like the more modern mermaids with the chains. No actual movement from machines, just water current moving hair, chains, hinges, etc. The ride was pretty much rebuilt. All the figures were given pneumatics, most of the rockwork replaces, the engine conversions on the Nautilus', the lagoon cut off from the aquifer, etc.
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I wonder if any footage or photos exist of the original figures.
VicariousCorpse
Well-Known Member
Theres a short clip here.
At 5:00 you can see non-moving eels and turtle wrangler along with some fish.
GladToBeHear
Well-Known Member
Man, I miss this attraction. LOVED this ride when I was a kid.
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S.I.R. the Robot
Active Member
- In the Parks
- No
I heard the lagoon used to have comely mermaids who would smile at passing men.
Disneyland did for sure but for WDW I don’t believe any evidence has surfaced but they did build a rock for them to sit on:
S.I.R. the Robot
Active Member
- In the Parks
- No
That means they were there.
They were probably scrapped around the same time as Disneyland’s because the chlorine was having an effect on them and I believe there were several incidents of men trying to swim out to them.
yensidtlaw1969
Well-Known Member
They were never there in WDW - some believe that rock was designed as a perch for them while the ride was under construction, but even if that were true no performers ever swam in the 20K Lagoon.
They did appear at Disneyland in their Submarine Voyage lagoon, but they never appeared in the Florida equivalent:
Would you say it was a Flock of Seagulls?
CHOX
Well-Known Member
I have noticed some unseen really exciting photos popping up recently (these from Reddit).
@Dragonman I figured you’d definitely be interested and this seemed like a good place to dump these. Does anyone have any idea where these are coming from? Surely there’s more.
These are the type of photos I have wanted to see for decades, I can’t believe there’s this slow drip almost 30 years after closure.
On second thought, this looks like the Submarine Voyage. Probably taken right before the transition to Nemo.
@Dragonman I figured you’d definitely be interested and this seemed like a good place to dump these. Does anyone have any idea where these are coming from? Surely there’s more.
These are the type of photos I have wanted to see for decades, I can’t believe there’s this slow drip almost 30 years after closure.
On second thought, this looks like the Submarine Voyage. Probably taken right before the transition to Nemo.
Attachments
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VicariousCorpse
Well-Known Member
1967 was the last year the mermaids swam in Disneyland.
Yes, the statue is from the Atlantis section on the Submarine Voyage.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Just thought about this now...
One of the reasons used to close 20K was how labor intensive it was for an attraction with such a low throughput. I think it took at least 12 CMs to have the ride open.
But think about how many CMs it takes to run Fairytale Hall. An attraction with a far lower hourly capacity. You have 4 princesses, in duplicate rooms with other CMs to have back-to-back sets, plus the handlers and queue attendants. That's a lot for a meet 'n greet space. No way did Snow White ever need anything close to that.
Disney would say the meet 'n greets help to push photopass, costumes, autograph books, BBB, and other items, and that rides require more maintenance (and certainly 20K was the most expensive for that), but as far as staff vs throughput I don't think 20K has been the worst offender in WDW's Fantasyland.
One of the reasons used to close 20K was how labor intensive it was for an attraction with such a low throughput. I think it took at least 12 CMs to have the ride open.
But think about how many CMs it takes to run Fairytale Hall. An attraction with a far lower hourly capacity. You have 4 princesses, in duplicate rooms with other CMs to have back-to-back sets, plus the handlers and queue attendants. That's a lot for a meet 'n greet space. No way did Snow White ever need anything close to that.
Disney would say the meet 'n greets help to push photopass, costumes, autograph books, BBB, and other items, and that rides require more maintenance (and certainly 20K was the most expensive for that), but as far as staff vs throughput I don't think 20K has been the worst offender in WDW's Fantasyland.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Tony rules.
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CHOX
Well-Known Member
Tony rules.
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Yeah, so I have been meaning to ask you if in any of the times you met him if he talked about this ride? There is so much more to be said about this attraction!
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
We have talked a little about it, yes.
One of my favorites.
The 20K Submarines at WDW were one of Tony's first Attraction jobs in the field.
Before this, he primarily worked in the WED Model Department.
His mentor Claude Coats sent Tony to Florida to oversee installation of the Attraction.
Along with Snow White's Scary Adventures. it was these two major projects that Tony had a hand in during the creation of the Park.
He also contributed to a design element included in 'Country Bear Jamboree' ( corn stalk patterned sculpt on Gomer's piano, now removed ) and The Hall of Presidents ( life cast of his face was used for one of the figures ).
Of course a few years later he was heavily involved in other projects at WDW, namely certain Pavilions over at EPCOT Center.
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