20,000 Leauges Under the Sea: Voyage of the Nautilus

I remember going to Disney World for the first time, one of the attractions that I missed was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride which was based on both Jules Verne's novel and the movie of the same name. My idea was to revamp the attraction as a motion simulator ride, which guests will be in a seated area in front of a screen. 

We enter the Natuilus submarine down the hatchway through a spiral staircase, there we navigate our way through the halls and bowls of the Nautilus. 

We then pass through Captain Nemo's luxurious quarters, furnished with antique furniture, nautical artifacts, and captain's log book on drawing of sea life never seen by man.

We wait for a couple of minuets near a set of doors, where it automatically opens by itself as a cast member in naval uniform ushers us into the Grand Salon. 

Inside the Grand Saloon, it is furnished with velvet cushions and fine works of art. Including a grand pie organ. Here guests will take their seats on the cushions that faces a large porthole. Once guests have taken their seats, the organ begins to play by it self and as the voice of Captain Nemo speaks. 

"Welcome to the Nautlis, I am Captain Nemo. We are proceeding on a course that will take us on a voyage 20,000 leagues under the sea.  En route, we will pass beneath the Coral Reefs, the Arctic Sea, and then probe depths seldom seen by man.  So make yourselves comfortable, and please, remain seated at all times."

Nemo then gives orders to his crewmen. 

"Stand by to dive. Take them her to ten fathoms."

"Aye, aye. Dive, dive, dive."

The porthole revels a majestic coral reefs. Here the fish sea turtles glide beneath the waves and coral formations,  while a group of dolphins play. 

"Here among the reefs, you will see many familiar inhabitants of the undersea world.  The great green sea turtles for instance, are the reptilian patriarchs of the deep.  These amphibious descendants of the dinosaur have changed little in the past 200 million years."

We continue on as the scene now becomes dark as the "surface" light no longer penetrates our field of vision. The crumbling wreckage of mostly 18th and 19th century sailing ships now come into view. The skeletal remains of a crew member can be seen steering the wheel of the ship, a reference to Pirates of the Caribbean. Sharks circle around the wrecks, guarding what appears to be treasure. 

"The Nautilus can dive safely below the violence of ocean storms. Surface vessels, however, are not so fortunate. Witness the evidence of their fate. The graveyard of lost ships.  For ages, these rotting holds have kept their secret treasures, safeguarded by silent sentinels of the deep.  Man-eating sharks.  Nature's most unpredictable predators of the sea. 

The Nautilus then takes guests through the Arctic sea, where marine mammals swim through the ice caps as the Northern lights dace beneath the waves. 

"Steady as she goes. In this region of the Polar Ice Cap, you are witnessing a rare visual phenomenon. The aurora borealis above us.The fish world has always been considered a silent habitat, but through our sonar hydro phones, we've discovered that fish actually talk!  Listen."

We hear voices from the seals and whales as they serenade guests with harmonic songs.   

"Take her deep."

"Aye, aye sir."

The Nautilus takes us deeper than we expected. The entire scene is completely consumed in darkness. Only a little light is provided by translucent looking fish. 

"We are now descending into that region in deeper water where the sun has never penetrated.  Here, in this realm of eternal darkness, nature has provided her creatures with their own....eerie luminescence. Take her back up to 80 fathoms!"

Our sub slowly ascends upwards, however we seem to have stopped. Gigantic tentacle start to wrap around the porthole, while the alarm bell rings and lights flicker red. 

"What's happening?"

"Sir, we're being under attack by a giant squid."

"Increase voltage, and attack it."

 "Repellent charge, aye, aye.  Maximum voltage."

Our seats begin to vibrate around us to indicate the use of the electrical charge against the giant squid, as it zap the poor sucker and retreats back to the depths.

"We need to return to the surface now."

With the threat our of the way, we stumble upon what appears to be crumbling structures of Mediterian temples and buildings. It appears to be uninhabited, or so we think. 

"By Neptune's flippers!I believe we've made a startling discovery!  These classic ruins could very well be the legendary lost continent of Atlantis. Legend tell's that the city was destroyed a volcano."  

"Captain, we better return to the surface sir." 

"Proceed on course.  All ahead."

What's even more amazing, is that the city isn't abandoned after all. A race of humanoid looking fish inhabit the ruins of the once island metropolis. Could they be the surviving decedents of the inhabitants of Atlantis or a hidden race that existed in the dawn of time?       

 "Surface!  Surface!  Surface!  We've reached Vulcania, sir." 

"Ladies and gentlemen, in just a few moments we will be docking at Vulcania, our home port.  It has been a pleasure having you aboard the Nautilus, on this memorable voyage that has taken us 20,000 leagues under the sea." 

We then depart from the salon to a moving platform that lead us back to the surface.

Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood: Reflections of Fear

Icon: Bloody Mary

Backstory: Over 122 years ago, the foundation of Universal's Backlot was once a small village. The townsfolk were honest and hardworking, one of the inhabitants was a spinster woman named Mary Worth. Her occupation was a healer, who dabbled in the mythical arts. There were many rumors about her that she was a descended of one of the Salem Witches. Things went well until an epidemic spread through the community, targeting the children. The townsfolk took the blame on Mary of the cause of the children's death. On October 1st, 1896 an angry mob burned the cabin with Mary inside it. The next morning, police investigated the charred remains of the house, but they never found Mary's corpse, only an ornate mirror. The mirror traveled to various antique stores until it was picked up a prop master and put into the Universal Studios prop department. Now Mary as returned bring her vengeance on the world of the living, by conjuring the world's most frightening fables, urban legends and superstitions at Universal Studios. 

Houses

Step into the looking glass and into mad psychedelic world that is Wonderland, the nightmare that Alice couldn't escape.  Try not to loose you're head and you're sanity as brave through this waste land of optical delusions, we're all mad here.

The ancient traditions of Samhain or All Hallows have survived years into what is now known as Halloween, but after years of commercialization have left these traditions to the history books but there's a reason these rules were meant to never be broken, now you will see why humans used to fear this time of year as Zombies, Vampires, Witches, Ghosts, Werewolves, psychos and the spirit of Halloween himself descends upon the small town of Waren Valley, Ohio. So put on your costume, light your jack-o-lanterns and remember check your candy! Or you'll never live for another year.

The small english town of Crythin Gifford is rumored to be cursed, when sighting of a woman in a black dress foreshadows the death of a child. Venture through the darkened corridors of the decrepit Eel Marsh House, as the vindictive soul of The Woman in Black haunts you through the house. 

Step into the pages of Edger Allen Poe's works, as he weaves his tales of lost love, insanity and death. From The Tell Tale Heart, Fall of the House of Uhser, Masquerade of the Red Death, The Black Cat, Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Raven. Each chapter will lead you to the brink of madness.  

You were learned not to step on a crack, never break a mirror, or let a black cat cross you're path. Those weren't silly old superstitions, they were warning. You may scoff at these old wives tale, but you will learn that truth is frightening than fiction. 

In 1994, three student film makers went further in the woods of Burkittsville Maryland to film a documentary of the legend of The Blair Witch. What they got was more than they bargained for, as you relive through the trauma and madness of the film that brought life to a new meaning of the horror genera.   

Scare Zones

 Rediscover classic fairy tales with a dark twist, a you brave through the dark forest and an accursed kingdom inhabited by trolls, warlocks, big bad wolves, goblins, wicked stepsisters, and evil faeries.

 In the backwoods of Louisiana, a legendary race creatures half man and half beast have been hiding from the presence of man. With their resources diminishing, these creatures will do what ever it takes to protect their beloved homelands from the invaders. 

Walk back in time to the streets of London's east end where The Ripper murders took place. But the past never dies as Jack the Ripper is now looking for a fresh victim. 

By day, you are lured by the song of the sirens to gaze on their beauty. At night, these temptress of the deep will revel their true form and drag you into the abyss. 

 Bloody Mary and other creatures of urban legends wreaking havoc on the modern day world. 

Harvest of Souls: In the farming community of Ravens Hollow, scarecrows protect their precious fields for the harvest. But as night descends these sentinels leave their posts and reaper the blood of intruders for their harvest. 

Terror Tram

The Legendary Truth are broadcasting live at The Universal Backlot, when alleged sightings of a ghostly apparition of the infamous Bloody Mary and other supernatural entities of urban legends. You have become apart of the investigation, as you travel through the sets of Universal Backlot and discover that some urban legends are real.