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Disneyland Submarines

The 1313 Disney Clubhttp://www.the1313club.com/Main_Page.html
 

Then-U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Lillian Disney
board Disneyland sub for inaugural voyage on June 14, 1959.

Mermaids

*In 1959, as Harriet Burns told the story that she helped in creating statue’s of mermaids, but a day before open day they were stolen and not able to be replaced in time for opening day.

*In 1965 young women in mermaid costumes would become part of the submarine exhibit in the waters of the attraction. Unfortunately this led to more problems as guests would attempt to swim out to the mermaids. Harriet Burns remembered sailors would dive out to visit the girls adding to the removal of the girls. Not to mention the chemicals in the water also made some of the mermaids blonde hair turning a greenish tinge.

*In 1967 the live mermaids were replaced fake rubber type mermaids.

*In 2009, The 1313 Disney Club & Ape Pen Publishing Celebrated 50 year Anniversary of Disneyland's Matterhorn, Submarine, & Monorail. With a “1959 Event” with Bob Gurr. This event  had recaptured the mermaid memory for one memorable night, old film footage and guest speakers: Garner Holt, Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Disney Legend Ron Dominquez, and 1955 Anaheim City Manager Keith Murdoch.


Submarines

*The hulls  were fabricated at Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, California, then transported to Disneyland in Anaheim for outfitting under the direction of retired Admiral Joseph Fowler. The vessels were painted in military gray.

*Submarines could transported forty-passenger

  1. *The submarines were each 52 feet long and weighed 94,000 pounds each.

  2. *They were be powered by Diesel-electric machinery.

  3. *traveled at a maximum speed of 1.7 miles per hour

  4. *In the mid-1980s,The submarines were repainted a oceanographer yellow. Six of the 6 submarines were given new names—Neptune, Sea Star, Explorer, Seeker, Argonaut, and Triton—while two kept their familiar names, Nautilus and Sea Wolf.

  5. *The Submarines cost Disneyland $80,000 each, in 1959.

Original Submarine names

(1959–1986)

▪301 Nautilus

▪302 Seawolf

▪303 Skate

▪304 Skipjack

▪305 Triton

▪306 George Washington

▪307 Patrick Henry

▪308 Ethan Allen

  1. *Dedication Day June 14, 1959 *

  2. *On June 14th, 1959 ; Disneyland made history in dedicating three attractions on the same day. Never again has any three attractions been dedicated on the same day. (Monorail, Matterhorn, Submarines)

Fun Facts:

  1. *In 1959 one of the most fantastic construction marvels of all time: the building of a 5 1/2 million, 11 acre addition of amazing attractions;  A 14 1/2 story matterhorn, a submarine voyage, the Nations first monorail, four new multi-level autopia, two new lakes, which guest will take motorboat cruises.

  2. *It took a E Ticket to ride the attraction.

  3. *The attraction underwent complete rehabilitation about every six years.

  4. *In 1980 the lagoon was drained , and a 35 foot long  by 12 feet wide by four feet hole was discovered and repaired. An estimated 40,000 gallons of water each day was lost from the Motor Boat Cruise and Submarine ride.

*The lagoon refill takes 6.5 million gallons of water, which takes 5 to 7 days to clean.~

*On Tuesday, September 8th, 1998 (9pm-11pm) Disneyland cast members took the final undersea voyage aboard the submarines.

* On June 11, 2007 the New Opening of Finding Nemo opens, 3 days shy for the Original Opening of June 14, 1959.