Kevin Burger introduces another edition of Defunctland, discussing the history of Disneyland's Submarine Voyage and Walt Disney World's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attractions. He mentions starting a Patreon to support his video production and VR projects. The episode delves into the origins of the Submarine Voyage, inspired by the 1954 film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and its success at Disneyland since 1959. The attraction's design, experience, and impact on theme park storytelling are highlighted, along with plans to discuss its Florida counterpart in the next episode.
1. Kevin Burger hosts a series called "Defunct Land".
2. Burger created a Patreon account after reaching 10,000 subscribers.
3. Donations to the Patreon account help Burger continue to produce content.
4. The film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was released on December 23, 1954.
5. The film was based on the 1870 Jules Verne novel.
6. The film was a commercial and critical success, winning two Academy Awards.
7. Disneyland opened to the public seven months after the film's release.
8. Tomorrowland was the last land to be constructed in Disneyland.
9. The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit debuted in Tomorrowland on August 3, 1955.
10. The exhibit took guests through the Nautilus submarine from the film.
11. Disneyland's first large expansion came in 1959.
12. The first three e-ticket attractions opened in Tomorrowland in 1959.
13. The e-ticket attractions were the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Monorail, and Submarine Voyage.
14. Submarine Voyage opened on June 14, 1959.
15. The attraction was a hit and lasted until 1966.
16. Walt Disney envisioned guests being underwater, looking out of portholes in their own submarine.
17. The submarines were modeled after those used in the Cold War.
18. Eight submarines were used in the attraction, each holding 38 guests.
19. The fleet cost over $600,000 to make in 1959.
20. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the United States in 1959 and was denied a trip to Disneyland.
21. The attraction had a 1,365-foot tunnel that guided guests through underwater life.
22. Guests would climb down into their submarine and experience the underwater world.
23. Prerecorded captain narrations played throughout the attraction.
24. The submarines were not actually underwater but had a level below the waterline.
25. The attraction had a large amount of bubbles produced at an angle to make it appear as though the submarine was diving.
26. The lagoon required 9 million gallons of water to be filled.
27. Every night, divers would swim to the bottom of the lagoon to pick up debris and repair the animatronics.
28. From 1965 to 1967, live mermaids inhabited the attraction along with on-ride mermaid animatronics.
29. Disney paid female cast members $1.65 per hour to sunbathe and swim in mermaid costumes for four hours a day.
30. The live mermaid feature ended due to health issues and traffic congestion.
31. Walt Disney World Resort opened to the public in 1971.
32. Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland was unfinished and barren on opening day.
33. The Imagineers wanted to bring Submarine Voyage to the Florida park but the theming would not allow it.
34. The Imagineers reimagined Submarine Voyage as a fantasy adventure and placed it in Fantasyland instead of Tomorrowland.