Disneyland has been changing to a more IP based theme park under the Iger era. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea being replaced by Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage saw the removal of a not very popular IP and the birth of a newer, more popular one in its place. However, after adding Nemo to the submarine attraction, Disney just kind of left it to slowly deteriorate into obscurity. Now, Pixar is bigger and better than ever (kind of) in DCA at the Pixar Pier, so Disney decided that Nemo just didn't need to take up any more of the precious land that it does.
"Tomorrowland is finally going under a refurbishment" said Chairman of Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Bob Chapek at the 2019 D23 Expo. "Gone are the days where we have to shoehorn in properties because we can't predict the future. Instead, we are taking inspiration from Paris's Discoveryland. But instead of a Jules Verne futuristic look, we're taking a United States 1950's what the future could be. Back in the hayday where Walt himself dreamed of space travel, robots, and flying cars. This is what Disneyland's Tomorrowland will become."
Because submarines weren't a huge part of this 1940's-1950's look at the future, the Nemo Submarine Journey will be closing down for good. In fact, the entirety of the submarine area will be closed, the pond drained, and the rockwork demolished. In its place, a brand new building will be erected. The building will look like an old Hollywoodland movie theater, the sign reading "Hollywood Hills Theater Presents: The Rocketeer." Inside, the queue is very similar to the old Great Movie Ride queue, but instead, exclusively featuring props from the 1991 Disney film "The Rocketeer".
Guests pass through the queue and finally enter a pre-show room where Peevy (played by a de-aged Alan Arkin) has improved his jetpack design after receiving the blueprints at the end of the first movie. Peevy explains that they will be able to use his jetpack to fly all over 1940s Hollywood, including up and over the newly repaired Hollywoodland sign (referencing the destroyed "land" portion of the sign at the end of the film). Here, Peevy explains that he will be hooking guests up to their rockets and they'll be going for a high-speed flight, so any pregnant women, people with heart conditions, back problems, etc, or anyone with a fear of heights may want to use the exit at the end of the preshow room.
Guests then enter the loading area that makes you feel like you are outside at night in 1940s Hollywood. The Hollywoodland sign and Griffith Observatory off in the distance (using forced perspective). There is a loading dock (almost exactly like the one in Disney World's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster) but instead of the cars pulling in on the ground, instead, harnesses pull in suspended from a track on the ceiling. Yes, this is Disney's first ever suspended roller coaster. The ride vehicles are much like "Manta" at SeaWorld Orlando where guests lie on their stomach and the vehicle is above them.
Guests hook into their harnesses and launch out of the chute (again, much like Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, but less fast) into the Hollywood skyline. There is some flying over the buildings and lights and sounds play in the guests ears. Guests weave in between tall buildings, up and down, and finally, up towards the Griffith Observatory. However, suddenly, a giant (projected) Zeppelin rises up in front of the jetpacks, making you take a sudden turn, going around the zeppelin. They begin firing at the jetpacks, but you are able to turn and dodge them. However, just as you are approaching the Griffith Observatory, the zeppelin rises again, without enough time to avoid it, the vehicle goes right through it, crashing down into the Hollywoodland sign, once again taking out the "Land" part of the sign.
The jetpack uses what little life it has left to wheel guests to the exit dock in the Griffith Observatory, and out into the Rocketeer's Workshop gift shop that sells Rocketeer and Tomorrowland merchandise.
