[Question] Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

[InsertUsernameHere]

Hey guys, a bit of a weird Disneyland tidbit here - I was in Disneyland on Friday the 26th, and, while being squeezed through the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland walkway round the sub lagoon to get to the fireworks, I saw something weird happen to the Nemo ride. One sub departed, got about halfway round the lagoon, then STOPPED STILL for about 2 minutes (all other subs continued as normal into the cave), and then, stranger still, began REVERSING backwards, from halfway through the lagoon, all the way back up to the loading dock, much to the surprise of the sub behind it, which had to reverse as well to make way for it. I've never seen anything like this before, and it wasn't a breakdown as the other subs were running fine - unfortunately I didn't get a video of it - so, let me have it! What do you guys reckon happened? Technical issue? Or something more?

On a side note, is it true what they're saying about bulldozing the subs? Say it isn't so!

Oh, and I must be pretty lucky, because my wait to ride Nemo was only about 5 minutes earlier on!

[bkroz]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

I've seen it too. My initial thought was that that might be how one sub is taken out of commission and put in the zone with the empty ones, but you say it backed all the way up into the loading area? The other thing that crossed my mind was that something like that might happen if someone on board was feeling seasick, had gotten seasick, or was having an anxiety issue due to the tight conditions. I'm sure someone knows better.

[Santoanderson]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

Could've been a bathroom emergency too. The last time I rode it, I was with my niece. We stood in line for 45 minutes; she was fine. We boarded, and found our seats; she was fine. The ride started, the sub descended, bubbles filled the portholes, and at that moment, 20 seconds into the ride, she turns to me and whispers "I gotta pee." She spent the next 12 minutes dancing in her pants, while I prayed that she could hold it. She did, but it got me thinking that potty emergencies must be common on that ride.

[chesirecat]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

Hey guys, a bit of a weird Disneyland tidbit here - I was in Disneyland on Friday the 26th, and, while being squeezed through the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland walkway round the sub lagoon to get to the fireworks, I saw something weird happen to the Nemo ride. One sub departed, got about halfway round the lagoon, then STOPPED STILL for about 2 minutes (all other subs continued as normal into the cave), and then, stranger still, began REVERSING backwards, from halfway through the lagoon, all the way back up to the loading dock, much to the surprise of the sub behind it, which had to reverse as well to make way for it. I've never seen anything like this before, and it wasn't a breakdown as the other subs were running fine - unfortunately I didn't get a video of it - so, let me have it! What do you guys reckon happened? Technical issue? Or something more?

On a side note, is it true what they're saying about bulldozing the subs? Say it isn't so!

Oh, and I must be pretty lucky, because my wait to ride Nemo was only about 5 minutes earlier on!

Standard operating procedure for claustrophobic guests, and more often when little kids get very scared and can not calm down, IMHO.

Nemo Subs aren't gong anywhere anytime soon. Pixar is doing Nemo 2, a film I am personally looking forward to seeing in theaters. They spent something like $50 million to completely refurbish the ride, make new footage for the ride, record voices for the characters using the original character actors. It's a unique ride, and one that Disneyland is lucky to have as the subs were completely removed from Magic Kingdom.

Given that Finding Nemo is Pixar's biggest movie of all time when considering adjust box office gross, they get "free" advertising from keeping the ride open a while. Nemo 2 comes out in 2016/17, so they'll keep it open at least for 2-3 years after that film as you'll have the DVD sales and merchandise.

So, most likely, the subs are safe to 2020, at least. I like the ride, nice atmosphere, though I guess technically this version of the subs belongs in Fantasyland as opposed to Tomorrowland.

[Infernoman]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

Standard operating procedure for claustrophobic guests, and more often when little kids get very scared and can not calm down, IMHO.

Nemo Subs aren't gong anywhere anytime soon. Pixar is doing Nemo 2, a film I am personally looking forward to seeing in theaters. They spent something like $50 million to completely refurbish the ride, make new footage for the ride, record voices for the characters using the original character actors. It's a unique ride, and one that Disneyland is lucky to have as the subs were completely removed from Magic Kingdom.

Given that Finding Nemo is Pixar's biggest movie of all time when considering adjust box office gross, they get "free" advertising from keeping the ride open a while. Nemo 2 comes out in 2016/17, so they'll keep it open at least for 2-3 years after that film as you'll have the DVD sales and merchandise.

So, most likely, the subs are safe to 2020, at least. I like the ride, nice atmosphere, though I guess technically this version of the subs belongs in Fantasyland as opposed to Tomorrowland.

I dunno about them being "safe" as stranger things have happened...to play devil's advocate a bit, just because you spent the money to update something, doesn't guarantee that it'll stay as is and be immune to being changed or replaced. will it be sad to see the subs go? perhaps...but can it happen? It just might...

...as I see it

[Linus]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

They may have had a ride failure on the that sub. Like audio may have stopped and since they were towards the beginning of the ride, they just reversed.

[Bronco21]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

A couple weeks ago on the mark twaiin's last run of the day the driver wast paying attention and missed the dock so we had to back into the station... Weirdest experience on that ride ever.

[calsig31]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

Since it is so close to Captain Eo someone decided to have a sub do the Moonwalk.

[chesirecat]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

I dunno about them being "safe" as stranger things have happened...to play devil's advocate a bit, just because you spent the money to update something, doesn't guarantee that it'll stay as is and be immune to being changed or replaced. will it be sad to see the subs go? perhaps...but can it happen? It just might...

...as I see it

I added the "most likely" when discussing the subs being safe as some people on this forum think they should be removed, or perhaps even will be removed. Putting a number on it, I can comfortably say that the subs are "95%" safe for at least two years after Nemo 2 opens. I personally think they will stay open much longer. Here is why:

1. Major Investment of Funds

Disney did make a significant investment to upgrade the subs so that they can run for decades, maybe $50 million or more. It makes fiscal sense that next time the invest in Disneyland, or even Tomorrowland, they will address more obvious problems like Innoventions or the decaying People Mover track to nowhere. It is not like the ride is not popular, which brings me to number 2.

2. Nemo remains Popular with the Average Guest

Unlike Country Bear Jamboree before it was taken out, the Subs line stays packed, sometime having 45 minute waits. Even with slow loading, the long wait isn't that bad as you've got a view of the lagoon, and the ride is long enough for you to see a lot of different things. If the subs is cycling through a healthy number of people per day, then if it is removed after only five or so years of service, it most certainly won't be because it is unpopular with the average guest. Al Lutz made reference to the thousands of dollars of projector bulbs as one issue unrelated to guest interest . . . personally, I believe this amount of money, thouands per month, to be a drop in the bucket when you look at the free advertising the subs get for Nemo 2. Which brings me to number 3,

3. Nemo Subs are Free Promotion for Nemo 2

Finding Nemo 2. Nemo subs are free advertising, and they have kept the Nemo characters fresh in guest's mind. Should Disney decide to refurbish the Nemo subs and add new stuff related to the film, well, we all know how APers love to see anything new, as well as the general public, witness the new Star Tours. It would also be a potential media debacle should Disney removed the Nemo Subs, and then a short time later plug Nemo 2, which they hope will be a major hit, above Pixar's usual good numbers. Yeah, they took out Country Bears then had a film, though CBJ isn't nearly as popular as the subs, and Nemo 2 is expected to be a big hit, while the Country Bears movie was just a cheap way to try to make a little bit of money.

4. Finding Nemo 3-D is Coming Out

Disney is re-releasing some of their best animated features in 3-D, this includes, of course, Finding Nemo. After the movie hits theaters it will probably drive interest in the ride. If Disney pulls the Nemo Subs, the media will be running stories like, "Disneyland Removes Nemo Subs despite re-release of Finding Nemo and Nemo 2 to be released in 2017." Any article that covers the Nemo Sub removal will of course mention the film the ride was themed around. You can see that over the next four years, there will be a bit of Nemo frenzy, Nemo 3-D, no doubt a Nemo 3-D DVD, more Nemo toys being sold, the lead up to Nemo 2 in 2015/2016. Makes no sense commercially to plus Nemo in the media then remove the ride.

5. Not Everybody Who wants to Ride the Nemo Subs Has Gotten to Do So

Some guests come to Disneyland every five years, or even if they come every couple years, they may have avoided the Nemo Subs due to the long lines. In a way, Nemo is sort of an unopened present for some guests who ran out of time to see everything. If you could comfortably ride ALL the rides in Disneyland Resort in a weekend, or even a day, the idea of a multi-day, or three day resort, doesn't work as well. Some infrequent guests may want to ride Nemo again two years later as there is a lot to see. If they update Nemo with a lot of new stuff, then everybody has to start from square one and work Nemo into future trips.

6. Little Kids Love Nemo

I'm an adult who likes Nemo, but little kids really love the ride. They might not yet get the projection technology used in the ride, and for them the ride is a big mystery, but also a great way to connect with their characters. As I've said before on this site, there are several aquariums around the country that purposefully put the Nemo clown fish and the Dory Blue Tang fish in the same tank, kids yell "Nemo!" years after Finding Nemo came out. Oh, and some of these museums are selling generic clown fish dolls and Blue Tang dolls side by side, which are, of course with a wink and nod, supposed to be Nemo and friends.


We can debate the false rumor, IMHO, that the Nemo Subs are being removed, but proponents of ripping out Nemo will look a little unconnected to pop culture as Nemo 2's opening date approaches, and when Nemo 3-D hits theatres, IMHO. I don't think that "stranger things have happened" as if the Nemo Subs close right after Nemo 2, it would be a very bad business decision.

[1FoolishMortal]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

Very rarely two subs will be pulled off the main line at the same time. Nothing out of the ordinary. Anybody hanging out later in the evening after the fireworks will see at least one sub reversing.

[Infernoman]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

snip

how can you say you're that sure? I never said I was sure either though as it's just a rumor...and a false rumor doesn't make sense, the idea of a rumor is that the info of said rumor is neither true nor untrue. it's just talk, gossip pieced together from possibilities. but I digress, rationalizing why they should keep the subs still doesn't mean that it couldn't happen. Allow me to counteract some of your points. Again not saying you're right nor wrong, just providing my point of view:

Cost of operation - Nemo is an expensive attraction to operate as the subs maintenance, number of cast members to operate, maintaining the lagoon, the specialized divers needed to handle underwater effects just to name a few.

Popularity - this is something one can argue based on many things but I'll simplify. I could care less about peter pan but I love the attraction, Likewise I like Nemo but I dislike the attraction. you mention a few things about the projector bulbs believing you personally think they should be a drop in a bucket but each attraction can only have so much in its budget.

Nemo 2 - since we're talking about the average guest, how many of them actually KNOW that a 2nd Nemo movie is being made? and I thought many here disliked The Nemo overlay (many being APs) or am I wrong? they can still plug nemo 2 other ways...like with...maybe a newer better attraction?

Nemo 3D - that is months away and even if they announced tomorrow that the subs are to go away, it'll not be gone in a day. I seriously doubt that the re-release will bring in the 3+ hour waits the attraction once had.

A chance to experience the attraction - this is a stretch in terms of reasons to keep it as how many who want to see it haven't? I wanted to ride the rocket rods, never got a chance, I wanted to see Parade of Dreams, never got a chance to nor did I ever see how the park was during the 50th...

who doesn't like Nemo? - seriously...who actually DISLIKES it? I agree kids love it but kids love lots of things in Disneyland...

...As I see it

[bummerkit]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

The money spent on nemo is a sunk cost, and should not be considered in future plans of what would make that particular area of the park return the most for future investments.

[APJ1127]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

I get a bit claustrophobic in that can. I wonder if they had someone freak out.

[huskydawg]

Re: Mysterious Reversing Nemo Sub?!

I was on a sub once and it had to return to the loading station because someone was claiming to be getting sick in the sub. Some of this person's family members were getting angry that it was taking too long, and the cast member had to explain that he had to wait for the sub(s) behind us to back up.