Phantom Boat Questions

[hbwriter]

I have some questions about the Phantom Boats that occupied the Tomorrowland Lagoon for the first 2 years of the park:
How many boats were there?
What colors were the boats?
Were the Phantom Boats there on opening day, or was there another boat ride?
Was there really another boat ride scheduled to open after the Phantom Boats closed?

Thanks in advance, and any other information on them would be greatly appreciated.

[yoyoflamingo]

Re: Phantom Boat Questions

From Disneyland The Nickel Tour:

They were the Tomorrowland Boats from July 20, 1955 until August 16, 1955 when they were renamed the Phantom Boats. They lasted until the Christmas season of 1955, when they were to be replaced by the Airboats, the flatbottom boats used in the Everglades, in a river surrounding Autopia. Of course, safety at Disneyland was concerned about the propeller being so close to the guests, so the idea was scrapped, and the Phantom Boats returned for the summer of 1956.

There were 14 boats painted either pink or turquoise.

[hbwriter]

Re: Phantom Boat Questions

Thanks alot--so I take it that the Tomorrowland Boats were the same as the Speedboats listed in a 1955 guide?

[yoyoflamingo]

Re: Phantom Boat Questions

Thanks alot--so I take it that the Tomorrowland Boats were the same as the Speedboats listed in a 1955 guide?

That would be my guess.