Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

This ride is a modern update on the classic submarines that first showed up at Disneyland in 1959 but disappeared for more than a decade for before in 2007. Once you descend into one of the 52-foot-long submarines you'll embark on a tour of underwater scenes that blend real sets with a high-tech projection system that allows characters from the movie Finding Nemo to interact with the real props viewed through submarine portholes.

Disneyland Resort > Disneyland Park > Tomorrowland

General Information

Location: The far back left side of Tomorrowland when entering from Main Street. Between Autopia and the Matterhorn.

Date Opened: 6/11/2007

# of Ride Units: 8 electric-powered submarines.

Ride Capacity: 40 seats with up to 45 people with lap sitting by young children.

Restraint Method: None

Ticket Rating: E Ticket

Ride Photo: No

Time Commitment

Open/Close: Opens and closes with the park. Open during Magic Mornings.

Wait Times: This ride is still relatively new which causes its own increased wait time. Also the hourly capacity is low. Unless you sneak in early in the morning or near park closing, expect to wait 30 minutes even during the slowest periods and more than an hour during peak periods.

Length of Ride: 15 minutes

FastPass: No

Single Rider: No

Queue Description: Though it is essentially just a switchback queue, it is themed to the Australian harbor seen in the Finding Nemo movie.

Access Information

Health Restriction: None, though guests with strong feelings of claustrophobia may want to give some thought to the relatively tight spaces inside the submarine.

Ride Access: The submarines can not accommodate wheelchairs or anybody who would need to transfer. To ride inside a submarine guests must be able to walk up and down a short flight of steps. For guests with mobility limitations, including those in wheelchairs or ECVs, there is an alternate presentation available. The voyage has been filmed in high definition and can be viewed on a 61-inch plasma screen at a nearby theater. The view is the same as would be seen through a porthole on one of the submarines. Anybody wishing to use the separate viewing room still needs to wait in the standard queue.

Wheelchair Transfer: No transfer allowed, guests in wheelchairs or ECVs will need to use view the theater presentation.

Service Animals: No

Audio: There are audio elements to the presentation inside the submarines though the high tech visuals can still be enjoyed.

Weight and Size Issues: Space inside the submarines is tight and pretty much everybody has to duck, but even the extremely tall should be able to squeeze in. It may not be comfortable but large-sized guests should fit as well, for added spaced try to be first, tenth, eleventh, or twentieth in line to get a seat at a row end and only have another ride on one side.

Parenting Information

Height Restriction: None, small children can sit on an adults lap up to a capacity of 45 passengers in the submarine.

Child Swap: No

Other Issues: The lighting is dim on this ride and while the submarines don't actually submerge completely the illusion is created. Also, some of the creatures presented might frighten young children. If you are concerned about the reaction of your child, consider requesting the non-submarine presentation of the ride, which will allow for a quick exit if there's a bad reaction.

History and Trivia

At this location: The submarine lagoon was built in the first major expansion of Tomorrowland in 1959 (the Matterhorn also opened and was considered part of Tomorrowland back then). Inspired by the movie-adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea the 8 gray, diesel-powered submarines toured guests through an undersea wonderland for more than 40 years. In the 1980s the submarines were repainted to what would become their iconic bright yellow (a color mostly continued into the current Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage). The end of the submarines came unexpectedly when the ride suddenly closed on September 9, 1998, with a promise that the ride would be remade based on the then-upcoming animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

Unfortunately that film did not perform well and the promised revision never actually appeared and eventually the idea that they might never return began to settle in (a similar series of events happened at Walt Disney World and eventually their sub lagoon was filled in and converted into a Winnie the Pooh themed playground).
The Attraction's History: Just when fans began to accept that the subs were gone for good and would be nothing better than decoration in the lagoon that served only as a photo opportunity, something unexpected happened. During the build up to the park's 50th anniversary in 2005 signs of activity were seen and rumors quickly spread that the submarines came back. As part of the official 50th anniversary ceremonies it was officially announced that the submarines would indeed return in 2007 with a Finding Nemo theme.

Other Trivia
The subs: Each submarine has its own name and number. They are: Nautilus (107), Scout (207), Voyager (307), Mariner (407), Seafarer (507), Explorer (607), Neptune (707), and Argonaut (807).