100th Post!

This marks the 100th post in Disneyland Report history. Thank you to the thousands of readers who have been viewing the blog and sending us messages! We appreciate every one of you.

If anyone out there has any suggestions, things they'd like to see us write or even improve upon, don't hesitate. Let us know how we can make the next hundred posts even better.

Josh

Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy

Every year around Halloween time, Disneyland makes some pretty big changes. One noteworthy makeover takes place in Space Mountain. Each fall, the ride portion of the beloved attraction becomes spookier than usual.

Riders enter a dark tunnel -- pitch black -- and are greeted by a fiery skeletal ghost. You're followed the whole time by these demons that chase you around the galaxy. At the end, riders get a startling surprise.

Unlike the Haunted Mansion's Halloween decorations which make it a fun and cheerful experience, Space Mountain becomes scary at this time of year. So if you're looking forward to some Halloween thrills with the kids, or if you like quality amusement park entertainment, check out Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy before it's too late.

Market House Starbucks Review

Finally, after much ado, I've made some time to visit the park during this busy school semester. The first thing I wanted to visit was the brand new Starbucks that just opened on Main Street, USA.

As expected, they've gone with a vintage look, just like the location on Buena Vista Street. But the quaint, old-town exterior doesn't quite reflect the cafeteria-like setting indoors.

As you can probably tell, the Starbucks is much more popular than the coffee shop that used to be here, with a queue set up that snakes around the entire building. There are several cash registers and only one pickup counter, which is a total nightmare. While waiting for our drinks I saw at least four people return their orders. I was amazed at how friendly the staff was amid so much heavy traffic.

Although I didn't expect much at all, I was pretty underwhelmed by how poorly the place was set up. If you really need coffee in the morning (which many of us do), I recommend that you pick some up outside the park. I personally detest Starbucks coffee, but it's convenient enough that I'll get some once in a while from the DCA location. Go there instead if you have an annual pass or parkhopper. On the other hand, the coffee cart outside Frontierland makes fantastic coffee. All I know is, I'll probably stay away from this Starbucks at least until the hype dies down.

Disabled Guests Will No Longer Enjoy Shorter Wait Times

This is why we can't have nice things.

Disneyland announced recently that guests suffering from disabilities will not have the privilege to cut lines anymore. A longstanding rule once allowed guests with a handicap pass to skip long wait times, so that they might not have to endure pain or an aggravated condition.

Unfortunately, it was rather easy to obtain these passes. It became common practice for parents without disabled children to hire kids with obvious physical limitations as a child or playdate friend, so that their kids could abuse the system. Even more common was the exercise of lying about an internal disability, that might prevent one from standing around for extended periods of time. As no medical papers or tests were required, it was easy for kids to obtain these passes, forcing actually handicapped guests to wait even longer than necessary.

Maybe they'll bring the handicap pass back, but for now it seems that those suffering from diseases or disabilities will have to wait in line with the rest of us.

Update: Thunder Mountain Reopening Pushed Back

In what's been a slow couple of weeks, (even with Mickey's Halloween Party going on), we finally have an interesting story. The much-anticipated grand reopening of Thunder Mountain Railroad has been delayed. For reasons that aren't yet fully clear, the nearly year-long refurbishment will take another few months.

For those unaware, Big Thunder is undergoing a massive overhaul that had it closed even during the entire duration of summer, the park's biggest season. It was scheduled to reopen in mid-October. But things have changed, and we won't be seeing this ride until the Winter of next year, which could even mean as late as March 2014.

Big Changes to Club 33

Disneyland's secret club, known as Club 33, is about to undergo major refurbishments.

Club 33 is located in a discreet New Orleans Square building adjacent to Pirates of the Caribbean. Members pay a whopping $25,000 initiation fee, on top of a $10,000 annual admission fee. That does not include admission to Disneyland, or the meals served in Club 33. Reservations must be booked months in advance, and a meal alone typically costs around $150.

So with all that extra cash, it's quite expected that Disneyland should update the famous club. Members can expect to see a completely new atrium, kitchen, lounge, new furniture. The menu is also to be updated, but no specific changes have been announced. The club is scheduled to close for half the year beginning in January, so hang tight, 33ers.

Of course, if you're not one of the few members of Club 33, you will not experience any changes whatsoever. But don't worry, Disneyland has probably got something in store for all of us.

Coming Soon: Mickey's Halloween Party

In just two weeks, prepare for Halloween at Anaheim, California. Every year around late September, Disneyland dresses up for Halloween, in a spectacular month-long event known as Mickey's Halloween Party. The party is complete with Halloween-themed decorations, parades, and countless activities.

Basically, the park will close at early hours (6-7:00 PM), and guests with a Halloween Party pass will be allowed to stay until midnight. Those times are when the activities begin. Below is a pricing guide for the events.

This year for the first time, guests will get to experience the Monsters U dance party at the Tomorrowland Terrace, as well as two new locations on the trick-or-treat tour. Many rides will even receive Halloween makeovers. Jack Skellington and the rest of the beloved characters from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas will grace the halls of the Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain riders will get to experience my personal favorite addition, Ghost Galaxy (review to come).

Don't be afraid to dress up in your costume (as long as it doesn't frighten too many children) and show up to the park from September 27th until Halloween, because this even lasts all month long.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix Launch Party

In 1999, video game developer Square Enix's producer Shinji Hasimoto stepped onto an elevator where a Disney executive happened to be waiting. Some creative ideas were bounced around and thus was the birth of Kingdom Hearts, an epic video game crossover between the world of Final Fantasy, and the universe of Disney. The player follows a young protagonist named Sora, as he battles his way through a dark fantasy world where Disney characters ranging from Mickey Mouse to Jack Sparrow live together.

This Tuesday, the world of Kingdom Hearts will come alive once more, and to celebrate the re-release of these fantastic games, Square Enix held a launch party at the Anaheim Convention Center today, a short walk from Disneyland.

Having played these games in my childhood, I decided to swing by and pick up an early copy of the game, and perhaps some more giveaways. The event began at 12, and people were handing out t-shirts, posters, and exclusive Disneyland pins. Included with the video game was a limited edition art book of concept drawings from the game.

This event turned out to be one of the most poorly organized catastrophes I have ever attended. Prospective attendees were able to RSVP through Facebook, seemingly so that the organizers could get an idea of how many people would show up. Over 3,000 RSVP'd and an additional 1,500 put down "maybe". How many copies of the game did they hand out? A thousand. Not to mention that t-shirts and pins were gone within the hour. By the time most people were inside, only posters were left.

I really wish I could have anything at all pleasant to say about this experience, but it was mostly torture. I was lucky enough to acquire a copy of the game and some artwork, but it wasn't worth waiting in line and I wish I had stayed home instead. All-in-all, I learned my lesson and will not be attending one of these again. However, I urge you to check out this game if you enjoy RPG's or Disney characters, because it is a true classic.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix for PS3 hits the shelves on Tuesday, September 10th.

Segway Update

Back in late July, we reported that progress was being made in the lawsuit related to Segway access in Disneyland. Well, the court has made their ruling, and it's no surprise. Disneyland will not have to accommodate segways as a form of transportation. They are simply too fast and hard to control, to allow them to be in the presence of heavily crowded areas.

As it is right now, strollers cause daily accidents. Imagine a motorized deathtrap like a Segway tearing through the streets of Fantasyland. Good for the Appeals Court for standing their ground.

Barker Bird Changes

The Barker Bird from the Tiki Room is still in the lobby of the Opera House on Main Street, but now they've added a photograph so guests can see what he looked like in his heyday.

If you recall from the previous article, the Barker Bird greeted Disneyland-goers at the front entrance of Adventureland for a brief period, before he was removed. Though he no longer sits on his Tiki Room perch, you can see just where he was located in this vintage photograph. Maybe this means that Disneyland plans on leaving the historical Tiki Room exhibit for quite a while longer.

Closeup of the photo

UPDATE: Main Street Starbucks

The Starbucks location on Main Street, USA is finally starting to take shape. As you can see in this photograph, they decided to use the original retro logo to keep in line with the vintage feel of Main Street. A poster on the front door says that construction will be completed in Fall of 2013.

I like the decision to use the old Starbucks logo, to make Main Street's first chain-location seem less intrusive.

On another note, the neighboring Disneyana store is still operating next to the Opera House. No word yet on when it will return to its former location, though we can assume it will be when Starbucks opens.

California Adventure's Back Entrance Bars Regular Guests

A relatively unknown and never-crowded entrance to Disney California Adventure, located near the courtyard of the Grand Californian Hotel, has recently been changed to disallow regular guests before the hour of 11:00 AM.

This may seem like a minor setback, but it is entirely unfair. I'd love to stay at the Grand Californian, but I already drop $500 on myself alone each year for an annual pass. I live relatively close-by and have no reason to stay overnight on park grounds. So why should I be denied entry?

To be fair, the entrance has always been intended to allow hotel guests easier access to the park, but it has never excluded non-hotel guests. I guess maybe I'm getting a bit riled up over it, especially since the entrance is open to all guests after 11, but I still think this is another ploy to get more money out of us.

Now, if my entering the park in any way interfered with the hotel guests, or made it less convenient for them to get into the park, I would understand. But I tried to get into the park one morning with nobody else in line, and was told to turn around and go to the main entrance. Come on guys, let's be reasonable to the customer.

Mickey-Shaped Pretzel

We've previously covered the Mickey Mouse-shaped frozen desserts sold around the park, but a more filling snack would be the Mickey-shaped pretzels. They are classic salted pretzels, baked on location and delivered fresh out of the oven. Seriously, grab a wad of paper napkins unless you want your hand to be scorched.

The novelty of biting into Mickey's face is a nice touch, but the real selling point of these pretzels is how fresh they are. The jalapeño cheese and cream cheese pretzels aren't bad, but the standard Mickey pretzel is my personal favorite. Ask them to throw in a cup of cheese dipping sauce if you're looking for a richer flavor.

Price: $4.00 (+$1.00 for cheese sauce)
Location: Anywhere

We're Back!

It's good to be back in California. After a brief hiatus (visiting family on the east coast), I have finally returned to Disneyland. So now that we're getting back to business, expect the content to return to its normal pace as soon as possible.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Monorail History

One of the most quintessential features of the Disneyland Resort is its groundbreaking monorail system. The monorail itself was first introduced as far back as 1820 in Russia, and didn't find its way to the US until the 1950's. In 1959, the Disneyland ALWEG Monorail System was first constructed. It circled the Disneyland park perpetually, being the first daily-operating monorail in the Western Hemisphere.

The Mark I monorail system was initially a ride, having only one station and two three-car trains. By 1961, it was upgraded to four cars per train and a third train was added. In addition to being able to accommodate more guests, the track was expanded to meet a station at the Disneyland Hotel, and the monorail's primary function became transportation. This was the beginning of the Mark II.

The newly enlarged Tomorrowland Station was extended once again in 1968 to hold four, five-car trains. Known as the Mark III, this was the most drastically changed model to date, as it no longer had an observation bubble, glass windows were added, and the doors were pressurized. After the Mark III monorail, the quantity of cars became five-per-train, and it remains that way to this day. However, four trains appeared to be too many, and the number was shortened back to three in 1988, during the lifespan of the Mark V.

But it seems that the Monorail jumped from Mark III to Mark V. Was there ever a fourth model?

The Mark IV monorail was introduced at Walt Disney World in 1971, and only existed in that park. It held an astonishing 10 trains, half with five cars and the other half with six. It came to Disneyland in the form of the Mark V, a slightly improved Disney World monorail that was German-manufactured. In 1998, the Disneyland Hotel station was demolished, and the Downtown Disney station that stands today, was erected.

The Mark IV/V is perhaps the model that most guests will remember, as it boasted the longest lifespan of any Disneyland monorail. The white chassis and colored stripe were an icon of Disney Park culture, as the design (introduced in 1971) is still employed on the Disney World Mark VI monorail today.

However, in 2008, Disneyland adopted the Mark VII, the most advanced Disney monorail to date. Its sleek design is a throwback to the original Mark I monorail, with likenesses of the red and blue trains that debuted in 1959. It also added a third, orange monorail to the fleet more recently in 2009.

Today's monorails are a far cry from the ones that were introduced in the 1950's. They stand as a testament to both the longstanding technologies that Disneyland pursues with each passing decade, and to the space-age transportation that Walt Disney envisioned to be the defining path to the future.

Rides Closing This Fall

This fall, many attractions are scheduled to close for maintenance. Among the attractions that will face refurbishment are Space Mountain (9/9 - 9/12), Pirate's Lair (9/3 - 9/4), and Matterhorn Bobsleds, (first from 8/19 - 8/22, then from 9/3 - 9/5). If you plan on visiting the park in September, make sure you take note of these events.

However, these closures are routine, and should not be of concern. On the other hand, some rides are scheduled to undergo long refurbishment periods. The Haunted Mansion will be closed between the 26th of August until the 12th of September. Mickey's House in ToonTown will be closed from 9/3 to 9/26. And lastly, King Arthur's Carousel will not be operational from 9/3 to 10/10.

As of yet, it appears no plans have been announced to make much-needed repairs to Splash Mountain. Hopefully this winter, during Splash Mountain's slowest season, they will finally fix all of these flaws.

And finally, on a lighter note, Big Thunder Mountain will reopen the day before Halloween (10/30), bringing an end to a dreaded 296-day refurbishment. More info to come as the deadline approaches.

Additionally, Mad Tea Party will be closed from 8/19 to 8/22.

Old Characters Returning to Disneyland

In a rare occurrence, Disneyland fans will get to vote on which old costumed character will make a return to the park. Guests can vote on any of the previously retired characters from classic Disney films including Robin Hood, Hercules, and Lilo & Stitch.

So before the voting ends on Monday, make sure to cast your vote and bring your favorite Disney character back for "limited time magic", and you might get the photo op or autograph you've been missing.

You can vote on the official Disney blog here.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Liberty Street and Edison Square

There have been many planned attractions in Disneyland, to never see the light of day. Branching off of Main Street, USA, there were to be several other streets set in-line with the theme of grand, old-fashioned America that was represented by Main Street. Such streets included, Edison Square, Chinatown, International Street, and most notably, Liberty Street.

Liberty Street hearkened back to the days of Colonial America, inspired by New England storefronts and cobblestone streets with a harbor and stationary flagship. Walt Disney's fascination with history and progressive thinking, led him to envision many tributes to the early and pivotal days in America. While Main Street represents the "turn of the century", Liberty Street would showcase the setting for settlers of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as would have been seen in the 18th century.

Edison Square was a bit like Liberty Street, though based instead on the days of Thomas Edison. Edison was a genius inventor whose practices today wouldn't have been so well-received. He is credited with the invention of the phonograph, the lightbulb, and even movies. Edison Square was not only a tribute, complete with a statue of Edison, but again, an exhibit that replicated the everyday life of Americans as they discovered new technologies like the automobile, and electric lighting.

Guests readied for the grand opening of Liberty Street and others. Signs decorated the closed-off pathways to the future sites. The maps were marked and illustrated with what was to come.

But the years went by, and we still never saw any of these planned attractions. They were left to the imagination.

I believe that if these ideas had come to fruition, Disneyland would have gone in a completely different direction. Rather than having such a focus on Disney franchises and characters, it would have better kept alive the rational Walt Disney dream of creating a timeless universe where visitors can visit different timelines of the past, present, and future. Frontierland would perhaps have become more alive with the spirit of adventure akin to the worlds of Davy Crockett and Tom Sawyer. With Liberty Street, there would be little need for the maritime streets of the much later New Orleans Square, and perhaps the pirate theme would have been a less dominant feature of Frontierland. Whereas today's pirates in Frontierland have all but assimilated the original pioneer and American Indian themes (see Pirate's Lair).

But who knows? All we can do is look back on what could have been. But if they never built Liberty Street and Edison Square, then what took their place?

Perhaps the future isn't so bad after all.

Hidden Gems: Haunted Mansion Bullet Hole

I guess we'll keep this short, since Disney Parks officials have confirmed very little information on this subject to the public. That said, a rather disturbing truth stands that around the summer of 1974, a guest concealed a firearm within the park and fired off multiple rounds. The two confirmed gunshots struck both the ballroom wall in the Haunted Mansion, and a snowflake on Adventure Thru Inner Space, respectively. A third hole was found in the Primeval World diorama on the train, and is speculated to have been made by the same culprit.

Not an actual photograph

Many rumors have circulated that perhaps it was a kid causing trouble, or maybe a drunk that snuck into the park at night. All we know for certain (thanks to an Anaheim police investigation) is that it was indeed a .22 caliber round in both cases, due to bullet fragments matching at both scenes. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it still makes one question if park security has heightened since the event. It was 39 years ago, so I don't think we have to worry. Bag-checking customs and incognito security guards are everywhere.

So can you still see the bullet holes? Not exactly. But next time you ride the Haunted Mansion, when you leave the ballroom scene with dancing ghosts just before entering Madame Leota's room, look out for a spiderweb on the glass in front of you. That was Disney's solution to covering up the incident. Supposedly the pane of glass is so large, that replacing it would mean destroying the roof of the building.

The Golden Age of Disneyland

Disneyland is perhaps the most celebrated, and certainly the most iconic amusement park on planet earth. More than 16 million guests of all ages walk through those gates each year, to live the dream that Walt promised on opening day - that Disneyland would be "a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

Last week, Disneyland commemorated its 58th anniversary. It has enchanted guests for nearly 60 years. I decided that to celebrate the occasion, I would look back on all 58 years of park history and single out Disneyland's best year. Obviously I haven't been around to experience all 58 years of Disneyland, so this choice is subjective. I will be choosing the best year based on what attractions were present in the park, thus, what year was the most ideal to visit Disneyland. Let's begin.

In the 1960s, the park was just beginning to come into form. The cherished It's A Small World came in 1966. New Orleans Square and Pirates of the Caribbean appeared in 1967. The Haunted Mansion came in 1969. However, the only true thrill ride in the park was the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and by 1969 it had already been around for a decade. In addition to the Matterhorn, 1959 had also brought about my all-time favorite ride, the Submarine Voyage. Disneyland had only just begun pandering to its older guests by the end of the 60s.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, which opened in 1963

Well, the 1970's were probably the biggest decade in Disneyland history. Long-haired males were finally allowed into the park, following the lifting of the ban that tried to keep hippies out. To start things off in 1970, the "yippies" invaded Disneyland, forcing the riot squad to show up and close the park early. In 1972, a copy of Disney World's Country Bear Jamboree appeared in Bear Country. Though Splash Mountain wasn't to be seen for many years, Tom Sawyer's Island and Frontierland now offered more than just hayrides and live animals.

America Sings replaced the Carousel of Progress in 1974, so the Carousel Theater was being put to more use than ever. As we all know, Tomorrowland is currently in desperate need of renovation. But in the mid-1970s, Tomorrowland was in its prime. Following the moon landing in '69, the popularity of space age technology and culture was in full swing.

The Rocket Jets soared above Tomorrowland. The Peoplemover was as vibrant as ever. The awesome Adventure Thru Inner Space was still in operation, and would remain so until 1985. Tomorrowland was still relevant, and still futuristic. Imagine a time when Tomorrowland truly felt like an advanced world, and not a dilapidated remnant of what the 80's would consider futuristic. So we can easily say that Disneyland's prime was sometime after 1974.

Unfortunately, the beloved Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland disappeared in 1977. It was said to be one of the most popular rides in history, and Walt Disney's personal favorite ride. Being one of the most classic and inventive attractions in Disneyland's history, the day the Mine Train shut down was a dark day in Disneyland. So I suppose we can determine that Disneyland's best year was between 1974 and 1977. But how to narrow it down further?

It seems that yet again, Space Mountain is the game changer. Space Mountain debuted in 1977, between the short window of Mine Train's closing and the birth of the 1980's. With this, it stands to reason that 1977 was indeed, the best year in Disneyland history.

Let's recap:

Frontierland
•Tom Sawyer's Island
•Country Bear Jamboree
•Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland
•Mike Fink Keel Boats
•Rivers of America

Fantasyland
•Vonroll Skyway
•Motor Boat Cruise
•Storybook Land Canal Boats
•Dumbo
•King Arthur Carousel
•Captain Hook's Galley

Tomorrowland
•Submarine Voyage
•America Sings
•Rocket Jets
•Adventure Thru Inner Space
•Mission to Mars
•Space Mountain
•Peoplemover

Adventureland and New Orleans Square
•Swiss Family Treehouse
•Jungle Cruise
•Enchanted Tiki Room

•Pirates of the Caribbean

•Haunted Mansion

So there you have it folks! Whether it's 1977, or 2013, Disneyland will always be a special place. Let's hope the next 58 years are just as magical.

Segway Lawsuit..?

Time for a serious post. Back in 2007, a woman sued the Disney Parks company over its policy disallowing two-wheeled vehicles. This means that motorized scooters and wheelchairs are good to go, but Segways? Not on their watch.

If you don't know what a Segway is, it's a two-wheeled transport device that changes speed and direction depending on which way the user is leaning.

The woman in question suffers from muscular dystrophy, a muscle disease which limits mobility and causes severe pain. People with MD use wheelchairs and sometimes Segways as a means of travel. The lawsuit began when this patron was denied entry to Walt Disney World because of their policy that bars Segways, among other devices, from the park. This case has recently made attention after a legal review of the park was done in court.

Is it completely unreasonable that Disneyland would prohibit Segways from the park? My answer is no. It would simply cause too much trouble to make every ride and attraction Segway-accessible. Remember that the park was built in 1955, without Segways in mind.

Personally, I fully encourage disabled persons to visit Disneyland. It is a very handicap-friendly environment, both in cast member service and in facilities. Many rides are designed to accommodate people with disabilities, including Space Mountain and It's A Small World. Maps are available in both Braille, and wheelchair-specific annotation. Most rides will escort handicapped guests straight to the front of the line. Even the stage shows have private sign-language showings for deaf or hearing-impaired guests.

But it seems that just because a new technology has reached the market, the park shouldn't have to fix all of these already-existent advantages. Until such a technology becomes available that it is an absolute necessity to the physically impaired, I think Disneyland should stay the way it is for now.

Caramel Kettle Corn

If you've ever stepped outside the park and taken a stroll through Downtown Disney, it is likely that the sweet aroma of this delicious snack has permeated your nostrils. The little stand sells both regular and caramel popcorn in large portions. If you're a fan of kettle corn, then this is a must-try. For a large bag, you are given a ridiculous amount of fresh, hot popcorn that smells and tastes fantastic.

And, if the amount is just too much for you -which it likely will be- just seal the bag up and save it for later. I promise you it will still taste great.



Price: $7-$9

Location: Downtown Disney

Where Do Rides Go When They Die?

Where do the old Disneyland rides go after they die? This is a question I asked myself many times as a child. I remember watching many rides come and go. The Rocket Rods, the Mike Fink Keel Boats, and of course,  my all-time favorite ride: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Submarine Voyage (may it rest in peace).

The answer is more simple than most would imagine. They are dismantled, and the parts are sent back to the Disney boneyard, recycled for use in other attractions. Anything unusable becomes scrap, and is never seen by the public again. Many ride vehicles such as PeopleMover trains and Mr. Toad Cars are sold to collectors. Others remain in the park, re-painted and decorated for guests of newer generations to enjoy, and older generations to remember. Like this Rocket Jets pod and Midget Autopia car.

Others suffer a more tragic fate; they are silently discarded to rot in an empty lot where they will rust away for many years. The forgotten attractions of the past are sometimes truly forgotten.

Sometimes they are just placed arbitrarily in Disneyland for use as decoration, where guests can watch the decay firsthand.

Article here

But surely some rides can still be used after their run, right? Sadly, most of the time this is not the case. They are often rebuilt or replicated in other parks so that they can be enjoyed by others, in a fashion reminiscent of the old days at Disneyland, but not quite the same. The rides are hardly ever salvaged entirely for use in another park, the only example coming to mind being the Carousel of Progress which is now located at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The reason for this is that the rides simply wouldn't survive the cross-country journey. Take for example the tragic remains of the once beautiful Progress City. What used to be a gorgeous working model with moving parts and spectacular lights, is now a third of its original size with none of the functions that it had in Disneyland.

So you see, sometimes these attractions aren't always built to last. The problem with today's Disneyland is not that newer, more up-to-date attractions are taking over. It's that they are trying to fix what isn't broken. Timeless rides that aren't outdated shouldn't be scrapped. I have nothing against basing rides on Disney movies, but if you're going to do that make sure it's not something that will become stale in a few years. All but a few of Disney's oldest rides are not based on films, they're based on imagination. I couldn't see attractions based on Lilo & Stitch or Cars to last much more than a few years before they become antiquated.

Alas, there is one more fate of a beloved Disney ride that this article has not yet explored. Specifically, one from Walt Disney World in Florida. The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage.

When the ride closed in 1994, the submarines were first left in the boneyard along with the likes of many other old attractions. But a number of them found new homes. One was on temporary display in MGM Studios, in the queue for the backlot tour. But perhaps more interesting is one particular Nautilus, which has found its way out to sea. At the tropical Bahamian port for the Disney Cruise Line known as Castaway Cay, a Nautilus sub was painted red and submerged to the seafloor (for those unfamiliar with how light works underwater, red wavelengths are invisible below 30 feet, so red becomes green in deep water).

So there it is, sleeping peacefully on the ocean floor where it truly belongs. Maybe Captain Nemo finally hit that whirpool and met the watery grave he was destined to meet. I don't object to this display at all, as most of the other subs were shredded and destroyed. It was a long run, but it finally made the journey out to sea. Just another way that Disney has enchanted the aching hearts of 20kL fans once again.

But what happened to the submarines from Disneyland? I think that's a story better left untold...

*Shudder*