Sub Lagoon Rehab, February 1964
Every few years, the submarine lagoon needs to be emptied, scrubbed out, repaired & repainted; and new seaweed, star fish, and other sea life is added to replace their chlorine-faded predecessors. (I still remember the scene in which a killer whale was battling a giant squid... the orca had faded until he was almost completely white). It looks like the subs could use a little rust removal and repainting themselves. The temporary walkway afforded convenient access for the guys doing the actual work.
I've only seen the lagoon completely empty one time, when I was a kid... I was disappointed that the ride was closed, but it was cool to be able to see what was normally mostly obscured by blue-green water. I'll bet there are a few kids on that Monorail who felt the same way I did!
9 comments:
The first image with the rockwork backdrop sort of reminds me of the Living Desert section in Nature's Wonderland.
I've seen all bodies of water drained at Disneyland at one time or another with the exception of the Rivers of America. It's amazing how the atmosphere and feel of an entire area can change because of the removal or lack of water. I always enjoy images of the drained Submarine lagoon. Thanks!
That must have been quite a view from the Monorail! It's hard to tell from this perspective: did it look like an alien landscape, or like just another Earthbound construction site?
They could have at least put some bathtubs around with mermaids in them, just to give the punters something to look at!
Melissa raises a good point...do we know where the Mermaids went when their cholorine-faded tails needed refurbishment?
I'm guessing Red Lobster?
Bill in Denver
K. Martinez, that rock work is not very convincing - even the Matterhorn looks more like real rock. Still, I'm not sure it matters that much - and it looked better with the water in place. Like you, I've never seen the River drained, though it would be interesting to see.
Melissa, I agree - as a kid I would have wanted to Monorail to stop. But it just keeps going. I guess the landscape did look a bit alien. It has a reddish "Mars" tint in these photos. The mermaids were probably on hiatus anyway, since these photos are from chilly February!
Bill, I thought maybe the mermaids used something like ArmorAll to keep their tales shiny and new.
Marineland was open back in those days. Maybe the merms went to Palos Verdes for a little R&R rest and (fin)refurb.
That's quite a buildup on the one sub. Gonna take some scrubbing to clean it off.
enjoying the Monorail Yellow sighting :-)
I find it sad to see these places empty, like having lights on in a haunted house...something just not right about seeing it "naked" for me. Once went thru Space Mountain at WDW on the Peoplemover when the lights were on :( I did take a picture but it just felt weird
For some reason a line from I Love Lucy comes to mind....."To scrape the barnacles off her hull!!!" I do remember riding the Skyway a few times over the years when the lagoon was drained. Unfortunately, I never took pics....I'm not sure why! Has the lagoon been drained yet for a rehab since Nemo moved in?
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