Lost: the Submarine Voyage in the Tomorrowland Lagoon.
Found: Nemo (with a few of his friends).
The result? The new-and-improved Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, now open at the Disneyland Resort.
This redone submarine ride is a great mixture of the old and new, offering something for everyone. Disneyland guests who rode the original Submarine Voyage, which opened in 1959 and closed in 1998, will get nostalgic during the first section of the ride, as this half features new underwater 3D models just like the original and a spiel from the narrator that’s similar, too.
However, once going into the second half, Disney shows off some new tricks that are likely to leave many wondering how exactly they made it all work. Instead of watching dated and rather stagnant artificial models (aspects that made the original ride feel dated and in need of an update), viewers will watch submerged digital screens of “Nemo” characters that flawlessly interact with the 3D underwater sets, making the experience almost like watching the “Finding Nemo” movie live.
The submarines themselves are the originals but are slightly refurbished with new sound technology and two extra seats. Still, even with the extra seats, this ride’s low capacity to handle big crowds will make it a long wait this summer. The subs also run off of electricity instead of diesel engines, making them more environmentally friendly for the 21st century.
The underwater sets were also made using recycled glass, thus preventing them from being susceptible to fading like the old attraction.
All in all, this new Disney attraction is sure to impress most. Too bad the long lines to be impressed for it will not be as magical.
