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Disneyland submarines already rusting badly after yearlong refurbishment

Highly-visible rust stains drip down the sides of the yellow submarines from the fins and hatches — leaving embarrassing blemishes on a fleet that was once the pride of Walt Disney himself.

Rust runs down the sides of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride vehicles at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register)
Rust runs down the sides of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride vehicles at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register)
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Disneyland’s fleet of submarines are rusting badly just a few months after a yearlong refurbishment that saw the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage lagoon get an extensive makeover and the subs receive a fresh yellow and blue paint job.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage reopened in July after an extended refurbishment that kept the popular Tomorrowland attraction closed when the Anaheim theme park returned from a yearlong pandemic closure.

Rust runs down the sides of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride vehicles at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register)
Rust runs down the sides of the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride vehicles at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register) 

Highly visible rust stains drip down the sides of the yellow submarines from the fins and hatches — leaving embarrassing blemishes on a fleet that was once the pride of Walt Disney himself.

Walt Disney described the underwater attraction through “liquid space” as the eighth largest fleet in the world when the submarine ride was christened in 1959.

For a theme park that prides itself on perfection, the rust stains on such a high-profile attraction represent the height of what Disneyland calls “bad show.”

The rusty fleet of Disneyland subs is driving MiceChat nuts.

“After the lengthy refurbishment to completely repaint and repair the entire lagoon and every submarine, rust is already showing up on the subs in various places,” according to the Disney fan website.

A rusty fin (below) and the apparent fix (above) on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register)
A rusty fin (below) and the apparent fix (above) on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland. (Brady MacDonald / Orange County Register) 

Disneyland appears to have come up with a fix to the rusty stains: Installing replacement fins that are bolted on rather than welded.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland doesn’t plan to close its gates as holiday crowds fill the park

The disappointing but necessary rust-proofing fix takes away from the sleek aesthetic of the Disneyland subs, according to MiceChat.—

“Looking closely at the new fins, you can see that they are well-sealed and easy to replace,” according to MiceChat.

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