Disneyland is “re-commissioning�? its fleet of eight submarines to take guests on an all-new voyage to the site of an erupting underwater volcano. Along the way they will meet up with all the characters from the Disney/Pixar hit film Finding Nemo.

The original Disneyland Submarine Voyage debuted in 1959 along with the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Monorail attractions. It was one of the first 'E-ticket' attractions, and continued to operate until 1998. The subs have undergone extensive upgrades with all new environmentally –friendly, electric engines and state-of-the-art audio and visual effects.

The journey showcases a stunning new animation technology that brings to life the personality-filled characters from Finding Nemo in a three-dimensional underwater setting with all the incredible movement and action guests have come to expect from Pixar films. Original Pixar animators provided the animation of Nemo and his friends for this attraction.

Guests will see and hear a slightly different show, depending on where they sit on the submarine. Each seat on the submarine has an equal view, but some guests may spot Nemo at certain times when other guests cannot see him. However, all guests will be able to see Nemo and friends the same total number of times throughout the journey.

With the use of the subs’ vintage "sonar hydrophones," guests will hear the fish talk with the same personalities and humor established in the feature film. With the enhanced synchronized sound, guests will hear the fish go by as they “swim�? past the submarine.

Two additional seats as well as two new portholes were added to each of the eight submarines.

The vibrant underwater rockwork and coral is “painted�? with recycled glass, a new technique developed by Disney Imagineers to enhance the undersea environment. More than 30 tons of recycled glass was used in the creation of the lagoon.

Imagineers created more than 40 unique colors for the lagoon area including such whimsical names as Yamber (a cross between yam and amber), Mango Mud, Toast, Blue Feint (barely blue), Aqua Jazz, Swamp (dark green/amber), Danger Red, Burning Coal, Split Pea, Earth, Phantom and Peritwinkle.

The soundtrack in the attraction features many of the original voices from the film including Alexander Gould (Nemo), Andrew Stanton (Crush) and Barry Humphries (Bruce). An original soundtrack for this attraction, inspired by the film score, was composed by film & television composer Ed Kalnins.

-- Posted March 27, 2007