Disney confirms Nemo opening on June 11th

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Disnyeland Resort Press Release

Underwater Adventure Returns to Disneyland Park In Time for ‘The Year of a Million Dreams’!


ALL NEW “FINDING NEMO SUBMARINE VOYAGE†TO “SURFACE†IN TOMORROWLAND JUNE 2007



ANAHEIM, Calif. – In preparation for a brand-new “E-Ticket†attraction at Disneyland, the Tomorrowland Submarine Lagoon is being transformed into the underwater habitat of Nemo, Marlin, Dory and friends for the “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.â€



The new attraction, opening June 11, 2007 as part of “The Year of a Million Dreams†at Disneyland, will feature extensively enhanced versions of the eight original submarines from the fondly remembered “Submarine Voyage†attraction, which explored the “liquid space†of the lagoon from 1959 through 1998. “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage†is inspired by the Disney/Pixar film, Finding Nemo.



“From the very beginning, we’ve combined new innovations with favorite stories to create magical new worlds,†declared Jay Rasulo, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, when he unveiled plans for the attraction. “In ‘Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage,’ our guests will experience Nemo’s world in a way that has never been done before.â€



As a member of the sub crew, guests will embark on an expedition to the site of an erupting undersea volcano. Soon after departure, they will be delighted to discover their favorite fish friends getting into the swim of things right alongside their submarine! Nemo and company are able to go along for the ride thanks to a stunning new animation technology developed exclusively by Walt Disney Imagineering. The Finding Nemo characters will appear exactly as they do in the film, but in a real, three-dimensional underwater setting.



Along with the improved unique underwater technology, the “Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage†will feature fully sculpted Audio-Animatronics characters, including scuba divers and the scavenging seagulls (“Mine, Mineâ€) from Finding Nemo.



“We are literally bringing the undersea world of Finding Nemo off the screen and into the submarine lagoon of Tomorrowland!†says Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, creative arm for all Disney parks and resorts. “We are going to immerse our guests into an adventure that will leave them in disbelief - - they will want to experience this new attraction over and over to find out – ‘How did they do that?’â€



The Finding Nemo submarine vehicles are being enhanced in a number of ways, including the addition of two extra seats and portal windows in anticipation of expanded guest interest. In a first-of-its-kind development, the submarines are being converted from the diesel power of the 1950s to a new, environmentally friendly fully electric power. With new on-board audio, guests will get to hear the sounds and voices of the underwater characters as they move alongside the submarine. These sounds are synchronized to travel along with the figures under water using a four-channel stereophonic sound system. Guests will get to eavesdrop on the exploits of Dory (Blue Tang fish), Marlin (Clown fish), Crush (Turtle), Bruce (Great White Shark) and the members of the “tank gang,†and most importantly, take part in an ever changing adventure of trying to “find†Nemo throughout the voyage.



Along the way guests will travel through colorful undersea environments created using yet another original Imagineering-developed technology. The underwater scenes will be more eye-popping than ever before thanks to custom colors created from recycled glass, providing deeper, richer hues that last longer under water. After surviving a sub-shaking volcanic eruption, the subs will dive alongside a breathtakingly beautiful coral reef where Marlin, Nemo and all their friends gather to celebrate finding Nemo at last!



Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is one of the new immersive experiences at Disneyland during the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, which began on October 1 at Disney Parks in the United States. For 15 months, the Resort will celebrate dreams coming true, making literally millions of dreams, large and small, come true for eligible guests. Many money-can't-buy experiences—from exclusive Dream FASTPASSES for popular Disney attractions to around-the-world vacations or a stay in the special Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Hotel—will be awarded at random. There are other "Dreams Come True" opportunities for guests to meet and play with Disney Princesses at Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, duel with Darth Vader at Jedi Training Academy or join in the fun of the High School Musical Pep Rally. "The Year of a Million Dreams" continues throughout 2007.



More information about the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, TheYear of a Million Dreams, and vacations at Disneyland Resort is available at www.disneyland.com, by calling (866) 60-DISNEY, or by visiting local travel agents.



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*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to enter or win in the Disney Dreams Giveaway. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Open only to legal residents of 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico & U.K. Void elsewhere and where prohibited. Giveaway runs October 1, 2006 – December 31, 2007 (mail-in entries postmarked starting September 18, 2006 & received by January 14, 2008 on a 3.5x5 postcard with complete name, address, daytime phone#, birth date and proper postage sent to PO Box 8629, Elmhurst, IL 60126 USA). UK residents only mail to 483 Green Lanes, London N13 4BS. Penthouse stay will be awarded most days starting December 1, 2006, will likely be awarded early in the day and will be for a stay that night. Approximate retail value of Mickey Mouse Penthouse Stay US $572. Prizes range in value from US $3.83 to US $83,701. All prize awards are subject to verification. Odds of winning on a given day depend on the number of eligible participants at a selected location or within the mail-in entry pool for the time or date (as applicable) selected. Subject to official rules at www.DisneyParks.com/rules. Sponsor: Magic Kingdom Productions, Inc., PO Box 10000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.

For residents of Canada, a mathematical skill-testing question must be correctly answered to win any prize.

 

Originally Posted By DlandJB

Which means soft openings can be expected when?

 

Originally Posted By bobiascastle

hey that is my bday. happy birthday to me, i will take that gift. )

 

Originally Posted By mrichmondj

I seem to remember reading a popular Disney web site last week that almost gleefully proclaimed the 11 June opening was impossible to make due to some improperly installed plumbing for the ride. I guess that person's insider sources were wrong. Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read on the internet. ;-)

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

But there was a major plumbing problem, and they had to place some temporary piping to access the filtering system.

And of course, getting back on schedule required a bunch of overtime and other expenses.

Plus, I have seen parks announce an official date, and then have to cancel them.

The Laugh Floor Comedy Club at WDW was the latest example, they announced previews and media events, and cancelled them all after a few weeks of "issues".

And I was involved with the opening of Xcelerator, and the event was pushed back 2 different times.

The Discovery Channel recent special on building Tatsu also talks about construction related delayed that pushed back the opening 2 months.

Just beacuse they say June 11th today, does not mean that it will open on that date. I think DOSH has a lot to sign off on still, so there is no guarantee.

 

Originally Posted By ArchtMig

Regardless of when this will open, I'm very excited about it and super eager to see and experience what they've done.

 

Originally Posted By leemac

<<The Laugh Floor Comedy Club at WDW was the latest example, they announced previews and media events, and cancelled them all after a few weeks of "issues".>>

Wrong info entirely. The attraction has been running playtest previews all day today for the press.

 

Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt

Sub-shaking? Will the subs actually shake?

 

Originally Posted By Sara Tonin

Gosh, sounds like I should postpone my "End of chemo celebration trip" a month...

 

Originally Posted By gadzuux

Interesting that an official disney press release would use the term "E-Ticket". It certainly qualifies, and I'm glad that disney is still taking ownership of the term that's fast losing it's place in the american lexicon.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

No fair! I'm leaving SoCal for the summer on May 9th, and I won't be able to get back to DL until at least the middle of August. Hopefully by that point, the crowds will have at least died down a little bit, and all the kinks will be worked out of it. I can always hope for a soft opening or AP preview in early May, right?

 

Originally Posted By Elderp

^ It is the year of a million dreams.

 

Originally Posted By ArchtMig

>>>Sub-shaking? Will the subs actually shake?<<<

I do believe I heard that they were considering some sort of apparatus that would move the subs around a bit when they were blue-skying concepts for a possible "Atlantis" retheming of the subs. Since good ideas never truly are forgotten in WDI, it wouldn't surprise me that they brought that idea back to adapt to the Nemo storyline.

I really can't envision a violent "shaking" like what happens to the trams during the earthquake scene at Universal Studios. But imagine perhaps hidden baffles on either side of the subs during one scene... baffles like the kind that produce the wave action at Paradise Bay at DCA. They could push enough water back and forth that it could conceivably move the subs side to side? Only a few inches of back and forth movement would be necessary... the riders definately would feel that. Perhaps they have something like that in store?

 

Originally Posted By darkangel4evr2u

I only wish I was going in June or maybe July bu alas in April to miss he opening. I remeber he old version and I was errfied of it lol (don't like being under water). I oly went on it once and was like this has got to be the longest ride ever lol. But i really did enjoy it very much and look forward to when I can come back and enjoy it with the new version.

 

Originally Posted By nemopoppins

I have two trips planned before our AP's expire. May 25-30th and June 27th to July 6th. I am so happy. One trip holds possibilities of soft openings, and the other is insurance in case there is a delay in the official opening date!

 

Originally Posted By CindyH

How exciting! I'm glad they'll have a chance to work out all the bugs before our November trip.

 

Originally Posted By Dave

Someone is pulling the plug again.

Get ready for another draining of the lagoon.

 

Originally Posted By familyguy

man...I'm so excited for this one! The wife and I will have to try to get over there again this year after our family trip in May. Maybe we'll finally get a chance to go around the holidays so I can experience Nemo and the HHM for the first time.

 

Originally Posted By Mr Snappy

Although I am also excited about seeing this ride, it won't be for a LONG time. I remember when this ride was old and decrepid...and still had an HOUR-LONG wait.

Hate to be a negative-nelly, but I can already see the Town Hall complaints. 3-hour waits in the summer sun ! OH BOY !

I am glad it won't happen until after my trip in May. Can you imagine all of the 1. Summer Customers, 2. AP Holders, 3. Locals, and 4. Out of Towners who are going to time their trip to be there for this opening month???? OH MY GOD !!!

Look for CHAOS ! Especially for an understaffed DisneyLand going into the summer season.

Hopefully, the craziness will have subsided in 2008 when we make our annual trip.

 

Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt

Town Hall?
DisneyLand?

You are about to have your Disney Fan Card revoked!

(just kidding)