The Search for 12 Lost Submarines from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Maybe it's the Indiana Jones in me, but I just love a good mystery. Know what one of my greatest burning questions has always been? What happened to the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarines?

To know what I'm referring to, you have to go back somewhat in time. Between 1971 and 1994, Walt Disney World in Florida ran a most unique attraction. Park visitors were treated with an opportunity to climb aboard a scary looking metal submarine and 'dive' to the depths of an eleven and a half million gallon lagoon. The ride was situated in what Disney called Fantasyland and occupied an astounding 25% of that area. As a wee lad (and even a teenager) I loved this sometimes cheesy ride. Walking across the shifting gang plank, descending the stairs into the 61-ft boat -- with its 38 seats, each with a porthole -- was like stepping into another dimension. The deck trembled through your feet from a rear mounted diesel engine, Captain Nemo would talk eerily over the intercom, bubbles would swirl in the water outside the portholes... and as if to totally add to the realism, the occasional drip of water onto the back of your neck (most likely from condensation) brought all kinds of fears to the surface. To a youngster like me it was akin to saying, "Are we approaching crush depth? I sure hope the seals hold! What do we do if water comes rushing in?"

It would have been wonderful if my children (and now grandchild) could have gone aboard this most claustrophobic of rides, but alas, in September 1994, Disney, without any warning or fanfare, abruptly shut the attraction down. It would sit unused for around ten years. During that time, when I took my young children to Disney World, I'd often look over at that empty lagoon and wonder if one of those greenish, dragon-like monsters would come hauntingly out of the caverns and prowl around once more.

The entire area and ride would eventually be demolished, and a new play area would take its place... which still saddens me ... but what happened to those subs?!

Let the Sub Hunt Begin!

While surfing the Internet, searching for clues to the submarines whereabouts, I stumbled onto a site featuring aerial photography of theme parks and attractions. I was scrolling down when suddenly, there they were. Twelve landlocked submarines all lined up in some back storage area of Disney's property. I clicked some more, found other photos and more websites. I learned that at least ten of the twelve subs had been stripped of anything valuable, their pieces and parts going to places like eBay. What a sad demise. Apparently due to lead found in the paint, the main hulls were then crushed or shredded, placed into containers and buried somewhere. Click Here for a link to that picture (or just wait till the end of the article where I'll list each link in a concise list.)

Ok, so ten submarines are accounted for. What of the other two? Where did they go?

Two submarines spotted .... in the Caribbean?

Several Internet sites gave clues that possibly the two missing subs had been transported to Castaway Cay, a Disney run island property in the Caribbean. So, I kept surfing, kept digging for info.

When I stumbled onto this photo showing the Disney Wonder cruise ship in the background with two, authentic looking Nemo Nautilus submarines tied up at a dock, I kid you not... I got goose bumps. Their black, eye-like dome windows stared with ghost-like menace -- almost like each was preparing to plunder the seas once more.

Strangely, one of the subs was painted a reddish color, while the other retained its original green. Why would it be red? A little more digging, and yet more pictures. This time the red sub was being put into a snorkeling area of Castaway Cay. The text on the site explained that when the sub was viewed underwater, the painted red color -- viewed through the green/blue water -- would allow it to be seen as green. I guess that makes sense. But I needed some confirmation. Was the sub still there?

"Hello. May I please speak to Captain Nemo? I'm looking for some of his lost subs."

I decided to put some of my sleuthing vocal skills to work so I placed a call to Disney's Cruise Reservation desk. As I waited on hold, I wondered if I'd be taken seriously when I made my inquiry. When the friendly Disney associate came on the line I asked if she knew of any sunken submarines in Castaway Cay. There was a moment of silence. Would she hang up on me? Report me as a prank caller?

"You know," she started, her voice carrying a far away quality, "I just stumbled across something about an underwater submarine... just last week..."

"Really?" I tried to contain my excitement. Indiana Jones would be so proud.

A long pause kicked in. So long, in fact, that I almost wondered if we'd been disconnected.

"Are you still there?" I asked hesitantly, my pen poised over a piece of paper to capture any forthcoming details.

"Yes," she said. I heard some keys tapping. "I'm trying to find that page... wait...uhh... Here it is. Our page says there is a submarine from the old 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ride at Castaway Cay. Visit the Snorkel Lagoon Equipment Rental and take the Explorer Trail. The water is up to 17' deep and is recommended for advanced snorkelers. You can also see Minnie, Mickey and a tug boat. Does that help you?"

It sure does.

An Underwater Video Materializes

When I found this video (Click here to view it), I was convinced. The YouTube video features a snorkeler swimming from bow to stern of the submerged submarine. Apparently the sail has been removed and cargo netting placed over the openings. The netting is likely to keep anyone from swimming inside, but I wonder why the sail was taken off? One thought that kept crossing my mind, perhaps it was removed to keep visitors from having heart failure when they swam up to this greenish monster. These subs are scary looking... and seeing them materialize through the water would certainly have sent a few chills through this land lubber. Without the sail (which looks like eyes to me) it's much less menacing. (Yeah, right.)

One Submarine Still Missing

So, eleven of the twelve seem to be accounted for (unless you count the smaller model sub -- #13 - that attraction riders saw the giant squid squeezing). But what of the last full-sized one? Was it secretly transferred to a subterranean fortress and retrofitted by Captain Nemo sympathizers? Will the whine of powerful turbines be heard across the water as Nemo prowls the oceans once more? Will sailors live in fear of the crunch of timber as another ship goes to the bottom?

Keep your eyes peeled, mate. Keep your eyes peeled.

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Photo Links:

- Aerial View of the Twelve Ghostly Subs Landlocked on Disney's Property by GLB

- Disney's Cruise Ship Wonder with Two Spooky Nautilus Submarines - very creepy photo

Video Link:

- A Snorkler at Castaway Cay Explores Nemo's Sunken Nautilus

Site Links:

- 20K Ride -- Amazing Back lot Photos Of Both The Subs And The Ride's Eventual Destruction

- Widen Your World - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea -- Nicely Detailed Site

- 20K Ride - Behind The Scenes Photos Page -- This page features the Tampa Shipyard, builders of the 20K subs. There's even actual blueprints. Don't miss the picture of the submarine being driven through Florida traffic. Amazing.