June 30: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea "finally wrapped"

[orlpassholder]

Greetings all from the Geek Labs

Cast Members have talked about it for years. Now, it's going to happen.

The area formerly known as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at the Magic Kingdom Park finally will be remodeled into an area for future development.

We've prepared an article about the demolition and restoration process for the July 8 issue of Eyes & Ears, but in the process of putting the story together, I was reminded of my impressions of the attraction.

I first rode it when I was eight. Already a fan of the movie, I was captivated by the attraction's setting of tropical Vulcania and the submarines. I always wanted one of my own -- how cool would it be to cruise through a lake back home in your own 20K sub?!… as long as you had a real gasoline engine… and it went more than 10 miles an hour… and it didn't have to run on a track… Anyway, loved Pete Renoudet's close imitation of Captain Nemo/James Mason's voice. Loved the "undersea worlds."

Yes, I avoided looking up at the "ocean's surface" from my little porthole.

The attraction closed in 1994 (has it been that long?) and has since been the subject of countless rumors: We're refurbishing it with new technology. We're installing a new show. We're installing a new ride. A dark ride. A thrill ride. A kiddie ride. Well, we may do any of those options in the future, but not for now.

In the meantime, if you want a taste of the old attraction, take a Disney cruise. On Castaway Cay, you can see one of the attraction's subs in the snorkeling lagoon. Just getting close to it made me feel like I was at Vulcania all over again.

 

[General Grizz]

Heh, I wish they could tell what they were doing!

Thanks! I'd like to hear the July 8th article.

 

[Lee]

Well, we may do any of those options in the future, but not for now.

Absolutely ridiculous.
Not starting work on a replacement immediately is a pure waste of time.
This valuable piece of land should not be allowed to sit idle (yes, a character greeting area is idle) for any substantial length of time.
What a waste. :brick:

 

[orlpassholder]

Last I heard its going to be a 7 month project and they are making a "garden" area

 

[Lee]

Last I heard its going to be a 7 month project and they are making a "garden" area

Pathetic.
Someone wake up Walt and tell him they closed an attraction for 10 years, then bulldozed the lagoon to make a "garden area".
In my opinion...20K should still be open...or could you tell?

 

[dxwwf3]

I must say I was never a huge fan of 20K but I thought it was a neat little ride. But there is no excuse to not have anything new there after all this time. We keep on losing great attractions for replacement, while this huge open area just sits there. Let's hope the attraction they come up with is worth the wait.

 

[dxwwf3]

Last I heard its going to be a 7 month project and they are making a "garden" area

Great. Then there will be no need to spend money to keep up Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival. We could have a permanent "garden" all year :brick:

 

[Youvegotafriend]

Possibility?

I had a friend just come back from Disneyland Ca., and was told by a cast
member that the 20,000 Leagues ride out there was being redesigned with a
"Finding Nemo" theme. Wouldn't that be awesome for Disneyworld?

Hopefully, they don't just turn around and let that valuable land go to
waste...let's hear it for new atttracions!

 

[Brewski]

Sweet im planning on going on a cruise next march. If this materializes i'll bring back pics of the sub. Unless its already been pictured

 

[Gepettotrevor]

I had a friend just come back from Disneyland Ca., and was told by a cast
member that the 20,000 Leagues ride out there was being redesigned with a
"Finding Nemo" theme. Wouldn't that be awesome for Disneyworld?

Hopefully, they don't just turn around and let that valuable land go to
waste...let's hear it for new atttracions!

I Think they are doing that to the living seas

 

[orlpassholder]

 

[orlpassholder]

I Think they are doing that to the living seas

They are currently working on that see the Jan 19th 2004 update Click Here

 

[Chux]

Yeah, the Living Seas was all Nemo themed when I went there in May.

 

[General Grizz]

Absolutely ridiculous.
Not starting work on a replacement immediately is a pure waste of time.
This valuable piece of land should not be allowed to sit idle (yes, a character greeting area is idle) for any substantial length of time.
What a waste. :brick:

OK. . . you can join the D-army. Just join on the Land bandwagon.

 

[Lee]

By the way, the sub in the photo...not there anymore.
There is one out there in the lagoon, but the top part with the eyes, etc. is gone. The only thing above the water is the tail. Looks bad.

 

[speck76]

Absolutely ridiculous.
Not starting work on a replacement immediately is a pure waste of time.
This valuable piece of land should not be allowed to sit idle (yes, a character greeting area is idle) for any substantial length of time.
What a waste. :brick:

It may not be in the budget...and yes, no matter what we all think, budgets rule every company.

Besides, out of the 4 WDW parks, MK needs a new attraction the least. They just got Philharmagic, Wishes, and they are getting SGE this fall.

The other parks are in much more need of new attractions, but they all currently have projects under construction.

Maybe 20KLUTS should have been replaced 10 years ago, right after in closed, but if that had happened, we would still all be complaining that something new needs to be added.

 

[DarkMeasures]

Why are so many people complaining about a ride that has been closed for 10 years that is finally being demolished? And they are not saying "it's about time" but instead they are saying "why are they taking away this attraction?"

2KLUTS took up too much room. When the whole building is gone there is probably is room for 2 E-tickets. Fantasyland will now be able to double in size.

 

[General Grizz]

And they are not saying "it's about time" but instead they are saying "why are they taking away this attraction?"

About time for what? They're not doing anything substantial with it.

 

[DarkMeasures]

It's finally being removed like it should have been right when the ride closed.

 

[orlpassholder]

It may not be in the budget...and yes, no matter what we all think, budgets rule every company.

Besides, out of the 4 WDW parks, MK needs a new attraction the least. They just got Philharmagic, Wishes, and they are getting SGE this fall.

The other parks are in much more need of new attractions, but they all currently have projects under construction.

Maybe 20KLUTS should have been replaced 10 years ago, right after in closed, but if that had happened, we would still all be complaining that something new needs to be added.

Yes I agree budgets rule but the only issue allot of us have is the area sat unused for so long. Yes MK did get Philharmagic but it didnt take them 10 years to remove Legend of the Lion King and replace it with a new attraction.