From Screamscape.com:

>>Submarine Voyage - Rumor - (4/12/04) The latest issue of Amusement Business backs up the rumor we heard a couple of months ago... that Disney is working on a plan to reopen the Submarine Voyage attraction with a Finding Nemo theme. It seems the pure sales power of Nemo at the box office makes it just too hard to ignore.<<

Anyone have more news?

i don't know if anyone else has said this in their posts, but they probably wouldn't use the same submarines. they were going to reopen the submarines when space mountain went down for rehab but because the subs weren't wheelchair accessable, disney would have to redo all of the subs. this would have cost a fortune and they scrapped the idea. so if they do a nemo ride, it wouldn't be in the same vehicles.

Ohana, where is that report from? I ask because it doesn't sound logical to me.

Not all of the cars are HAC for most of the older rides. There are rides like, say, Small World, which offer a small number of zero-entry boats that are easier for guests with limited mobility. If they were going to re-vamp the subs, they would not need to re-vamp all of them, only a few.

And, besides, there are many rides that are not particularly accessible to limited-mobility guests, like Mad Tea Party or Big Thunder, which require wheelchair transfer and stepping in or up. Since the subs are an already-established attraction, I don't see why it wouldn't fall under the same rules as other wheelchair-transfer rides despite a new overlay.

i'm sorry i didn't mean wheel chair accessable. i should have corrected that. the disabilities act said that the submarines were not properly equipped to handle all guests and that the submarines needed to be renovated. because the submarines were closed down, they are subject to more strict rules involving accessibility. that is why all of DCA is accessable, because all attractions fall into these laws. since the subs would be reopening, they are considered a new attraction (although i personally disagree with this). i can assure you this is legimate, but i can't tell you where to find this report. i actually heard it from a member of upper management directly, so i'm unsure if it's been printed anywhere.

While I am not a lawyer, I do deal with ADA issues at work all the time. In reviewing my source: ADA Accessability Guide (http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm), it would seem that the Subs would require modifications. I found this quote:

A15.1.2 Alterations to Amusement Rides. Routine maintenance, painting, and changing of theme boards are examples of activities that do not constitute an alteration subject to section 15.1.2. Where existing amusement rides are moved and not altered, section 15.1 does not apply unless the load and unload area of the amusement ride is newly designed and constructed. If a load or unload area is altered, the alteration provisions of ADAAG 4.1.6 must be applied to the altered area.

Because of the additions of the Monorail elevator and the Winner's Cirlce, Subs will now be required to be accessible.

Thanks for the info! I understand now why the subs fall under the rule.

If a load or unload area is altered, the alteration provisions of ADAAG 4.1.6 must be applied to the altered area.

It says if the load or unload areas is altered, then ADAAG must be applied to the altered area, not to the ride itself. An example would be if a new station was built for an old rollercoaster. They would have to provide a ramp or elevator for disabled guest to get to the platform, however, they would not have to alter the actual vehicle. Of course, there is no problem with the subs loading area being ADA compatible, it's the actual vehicles themselves that require climbing down stairs into them. If I understand, correctly, the actual sub vehicles would not be subject to changes.

Cris

Thanks for closing it down in the first place Mr. Pressler! If they are now subject to the new rules, where they would not have been if the ride had remained open, then it's time to say goodbye to the Subs for good. It would be stupid to spend a fortune making entirely new subs, just to accomodate the handicap rules. At the least, they should take the money out of Eisner's bonus, for letting the ride shutdown originally.

Up here in Portland there is an actual submarine attraction at the science museum. Entry into the attraction requires the ability to "walk" thru tight spaces....no way is a wheelchair going to fit down there. This Sub was opened to the public after most ada laws went into effect. Don't know if this helps any...but there it is.

Yeah, but that submarine at OMSI is an acutal, honest to goodness vessel. It's there out of technical and historical significance, not as a way to promote DVD sales at a theme park.

They wouldn't have to make 300 year old houses in Colonial Williamsburg wheelchair accesible because it would destroy the historical value of the structure, and they wouldn't have to retrofit a real USNavy submarine for the same reason. If you can't get your behind down the tiny stairs and through the narrow passages, then you are out of luck and should stick to buying a postcard at the OMSI gift shop.

I think the fact that the Submarine Voyage is just a ride at an amusement park means they have to make it accesible if it reopened. And since Disney shut it down so easily back in '98, they kind of destoryed any premise of the ride being "historically valuable".

The Sub at OMSI--USS Blueback--is a historical sub like you said. However, it was altered so guests could visit the sub without climbing down from the top. The entry was cut into the side of the sub....yet, the sub is still not assescible to those in wheelchairs( or even those who are not limber enough to climb thru small openings).

Very interesting sleepyjeff. I'd never checked out that Sub before, I've just seen it sitting next to OMSI.

So if they altered the entrance and cut holes in the side, but didn't make it wheelchair accesible...... then someone should be suing OMSI right about now! (I'm kidding, but I'm sure there's someone in a wheelchair who will eventually sue for discrimination.)

Since this has become a discussion about access, I'm moving it to the Theme Park Access forum.

I heard that the matterhorn is sinking into the ground because of the water in the lagoon and they were going to take the water out of the lagoon but doing this would make the matterhorn sink even more.I heard this from a friend of mine who is a CM, Does anyone know if this is true?

So if they altered the entrance and cut holes in the side, but didn't make it wheelchair accesible...... then someone should be suing OMSI right about now! (I'm kidding, but I'm sure there's someone in a wheelchair who will eventually sue for discrimination.)


Since OMSI is always begging for money, I doubt if any lawyer would take the case ;)

A15.1.2 Alterations to Amusement Rides
The section quoted in this post is not part of the law. As the "preamble" to the "A" section states:
This appendix contains materials of an advisory nature...Nothing in this appendix shall in any way obviate any obligation to comply with the requirements of the guidelines itself.

I heard that the matterhorn is sinking into the ground because of the water in the lagoon and they were going to take the water out of the lagoon but doing this would make the matterhorn sink even more.I heard this from a friend of mine who is a CM, Does anyone know if this is true?

I heard the same thing and I am a cast member but it can just be a Rumor.

I heard that the matterhorn is sinking into the ground because of the water in the lagoon and they were going to take the water out of the lagoon but doing this would make the matterhorn sink even more.I heard this from a friend of mine who is a CM, Does anyone know if this is true?

This is an urban legend.

-Jeff