Picking up up where we left off yesterday …
… After being hauled out of Fantasyland Lagoon, all 10 of the “20K” subs were dumped in the Magic Kingdom’s boneyard.
Here’s a close-up of the exterior of one of the submarines. Do you see that bath-tub-shaped thing to the right?That’s actually one of the icebergs that you used to encounter once Nemo took you under the pole.
Mind you, a few of these subs eventually escaped the Magic Kingdom’s boneyard. One Nautilus actually made its way over to Disney-MGM. Where — for a few years, anyway — this particular sub was featured in the Water Tank Special Effects show section of the studio theme park’s Backstage Tram Tour attraction.
While another of the subs somehow got out to sea. Eventually reaching the Disney Cruise Line’s private island, Castaway Cay …
… Where that particular submarine eventually came to rest just off-shore of the public beach. Which then allowed DCL guests to dive on down and get one last look at the Nautilus.
Getting back to Fantasyland Lagoon now … For more than a decade after the 20K subs had been removed, this beautiful body of water stood empty. But eventually the bulldozers rolled in. First filling in the lagoon with tons of topsoil, then knocking down “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” ‘s enormous show building …
… to make room for Fantasyland’s latest toddler-friendly attraction, “Pooh’s Playful Spot.”
Mind you, given how fond many of the Imagineers were of “20K,” the guys at WDI just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sneak in a tribute to this old WDW attraction. So — the next time you’re in the Magic Kingdom — be sure and drop by Winnie the Pooh’s house.
If you can squeeze in through that kid-sized door, be sure and check out that beam directly over the door frame. Do you notice that oddly-shaped blue spot?
Yep. That’s a teeny-tiny Nautilus. Which is WDI’s way of paying tribute to the WDW attraction that used to sail through this very same spot.
Photos by Jeff Lange
Speaking of “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” Jeff Lange will be releasing a brand-new DVD next Tuesday that pays tribute to this WDW attraction as well as several other Fantasyland Classics. If you’d like to learn more about this upcoming release and/or any of the other entertaining recordings that Mr. Lange has produced, we suggest that you follow this link.