Unreleased 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Subs construction photos.

[lnsemsf]

My friend's father worked at the Tampa shipyards back in the 60s and 70s (and to this day) and back then he was involved in the construction of the 20K subs for WDW. My friend gave me these photos which I scanned and I've had these sitting on my computer forgotten for about 10 years now. Since these are his personal photos, they would be unseen by anybody but his family and date back to the original construction. I just thought I would share them here for anyone interested in seeing how what once was came to be.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Look at the size of those things!

They would still be spectacular 45 years on. A few updated show scenes, a queue through Nemo's quarters highlighting his story, a bit like in Paris, and this would've been an awesome E-ticket still, just like the Mansion. Mystery, adventure, and the thrill of actually being under water.

 

[TTiiMM]

Thank you for sharing these photos!

 

[P_Radden]

That is too Cool!!

 

[Schneewittchen]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Miss that ride so much.

 

[Tinkwings]

What a treat! Thanks so very much for sharing with us, I barely remember my one and only ride on it and so wish it was still there.

 

[aandmmagiccarpetride]

Very cool pictures! One of my favorite rides when I was a kid...thanks for sharing!

 

[James Norrie]

What an amazing find! Thanks for sharing, I really miss 20k!

 

[NutsForFlorida]

That's one ride I never went on.

 

[danyoung56]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I went on it a number of times. I was always enormously amused by it. It was, at least in it's time, very unique and I even was amused when I could clearly see the strings that held the fish in place. It was all part of the fun, none of us beyond the age of 13 really thought that we were sailing under the ice caps. However, my wife, who held two master degrees did believe that they actually did submerge until she saw them from the Skyway ride.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Riding 20k at night remains one of my fondest and most vivid early WDW memories. There's a happy childhood moment there somewhere near 20k and Toad that I don't recall as vividly, involving my younger brother, my parents, balloons and a kids' souvenir cup and plate (ok, maybe more vivid than I thought).

Whenever I look for the pure *magic* from WDW of the past, my mind always returns to that spot, that moment, 20K and Toad at night, my younger brother and those souvenirs. Thanks OP for the pics, they took me back there, even if only for an instant.

 

[Glasgow]

B-e-a-utiful

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

[StarshipDisney]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks again for posting. I remember this ride when I was a teenager and it was always neat.

 

[DuckTalesWooHoo1987]

Man that's really awesome. Looks like Captain Nemo could just hop right on. I miss that ride.

 

[MickeyMomV]

We didn't go on our first WDW trip till about 1999 and we completely missed out on the ride. I've seen different photos from far away without people in the photo. Seeing these photos with people right on the subs it puts their size into perspective. I had no idea how big they were!!

Thank you!!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Nice photos. Wouldnt it have been great if Disney had kept one of those in the park on display? Too bad that when an attraction is removed they want to wipe every glimmer of its existence away. Except for those few small imagineering nods to past attractions hidden around that is.

 

[Musicman20]

Fantastic. Look how much detail they have gone into! Hugeeee machines as well. I am sad to say I never got chance to ride this attraction. I am looking forward to the Finding Nemo 'version' next year when I visit Anaheim.

 

[lnsemsf]

I'm glad so many people appreciated the photos. My friend brought them out one night and let me borrow them to scan them in because he thought I would appreciate it. I'll let him know next time I see him that so many others enjoyed getting to see them as well.