Opinion: The Subs at Disneyland Have GOT to Go
The submarines at Disneyland need to go.
A common sentiment heard from Disney adults across the board:
“Fake looking” “Dated” “Uncomfortable” “Disney can do better” are just a few samples what some people are saying about Find Nemo Submarine Voyage.
The History
Originally opened on June 14, 1959, as a major expansion of Tomorrowland, the 8 original Navy gray subs took guests on a journey along the bottom of the sea.
The original attraction was definitely dated by the late 90’s and closed July 29, 1998. It remained closed for 9 long years until it resurfaced on June 11, 2007 with its current, bright and playful Finding Nemo theme.
There’s a couple things to remember before we decide to go tearing it out for good.
The Magic
My first trip to Disneyland happened when I was 4 years old, and I've been going every year since. Making me a 45+ year veteran of visiting the Disney parks.
Aa child, the submarines were one of my absolute favorite rides.
It was completely magical and 100% real.
We dove deep down into the ocean and explored the starfish, the coral, and all kinds of treasure in the sea. It was incredible!
These days, about 29% of the guests who visit Disney parks are ages 12 and under.
Which means the vast majority of Disney guests are teens and adults.
Do many of them find the submarines less than real and magical? Absolutely.
But many guests, like me, first went when we were children.
The thing that we fell in love with was the magic living inside the stories and believing they were real.
The thing that keeps us coming back is the memories of those incredible moments and knowing that we’ll find new ones each time we go back.
The Vibe
The second thing to consider is the brilliance of kinetic movement.
If you look out across Disneyland, there is tons of motion - from the people bustling around to rides in action to balloons floating by.
One of my favorite spots is where you can see the Monorail, the Matterhorn and the submarines all moving and full of people experiencing joy.
There’s a vibrancy to it all.
I promise you, my friend, even if you never ride on the submarines again…
if they were taken out, there would be a hole in Disneyland. And there would be a hole in your heart where that visual movement and esthetic should be.
That’s why this Disney Adult is all in favor of the submarines keeping permanent residency in Disneyland:
To keep the vibe and the magic alive.
What about you? Share your kind and thoughtful comments below.
Cathy Weiss is a huge Disney fan and lover specializing in trips to Disneyland, Disney World, and Aulani - a Disney resort in Hawaii. She has the expert answers you need for a truly magical vacation.
Planning and booking your Disney trip with her is so much more than “when are you going” and “where do you want to stay”… And it’s easy!
Whether you’re booking your first Disney vacation or 100th, having Cathy on your side as your personal go-to - especially as new informaiton and exciting announcements come out all the time - means you’ll have an unforgettable experience! Get started today.