One of the most innovative attractions ever created for the Disney theme parks was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A Walt Disney World "E-Ticket" attraction since its opening day on October 14, 1971 (back when WDW used individual coupons instead of pay-one-price tickets), this Fantasyland ride closed exactly 23 years to the day after it opened, making it the only E-Ticket attraction to ever be removed from the park.
The 38 passenger (39 with the Cast Member "Captain") subs used in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction based on the Disney film of the same name were distinguished by their Roman numeral markings on the outside. They were built in a shipyard in nearby Tampa, and then brought over on flatbed trucks to Walt Disney World. In fact, when "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was open, the 24 subs that operated at Walt Disney World and Disneyland gave the Walt Disney Company the 5th largest naval fleet in the world!
Guests boarded Captain Nemo's submarine and traveled under the sea through coral reefs, dark caverns, and into unexpected danger below deadly ice caps. Sadly, the ride closed in 1994 with almost no notice to guests, not due to lack of popularity, but because of constant ride breakdowns, loading difficulties (the subs were not handicapped-accessible), long lines, and the difficulty and high costs of maintenance (including keeping 11.5 million gallons of water clear enough for guests to see through).
For some time after the attraction had closed, the subs remained "docked" in the lagoon, leaving futile hope that the ride would be refurbished and reopened. However, the subs were soon removed and the lagoon drained. They were later stored for some time in backstage maintenance areas, but have long since been removed to whereabouts unknown… well, for the most part, anyway. While rumors persist that many of the old subs have been either dismantled or buried on the property somewhere, two of the subs were brought to Castaway Cay, Disney's private island, for exploration by Disney Cruise Line passengers.
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