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Atlantis Submarine Voyage, Legoland Windsor

Ian

Ian

From CoasterForce
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I went along today to give it the once over.

My photos and a description of the ride can be found here: http://www.coasterforce.com/news/park-n ... -submarine

If you can't be arsed with reading about it, just watch the video...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJn5C5Jm8Us[/youtube]
 
It looks really nice and everything, its just a shame that it is a bit of a complete rip off of the Sumbarine Voyage that Disney (California) opened more then 50 years ago, even down to the idea of having bubbles giving the impression the sub is diving! (Granted it was closed between 98 and 2007 - when it then reopened as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage).

It certainly isn't an original idea thats for sure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Voyage
 
So it's another Sealife? Just that you go round a track rather than walk. :p

It does look better than I thought it'd be though and suits Legoland well. Sure the younger guests will enjoy it. :)
 
I've was looking forward to visiting Atlantis after seeing construction of the impressive exterior, and the inside was even better! The jolly yellow subs have been made to look exactly as you'd expect them to (if you were 5 years old) complete with pretend fans to power them along and hydraulic lifting hatches. The tanks contained an interesting range of fish, and the ride had just the right amount of info and interactiveness for kids. I loved the lego additions to each tank as well. There were divers and statues, a giant squid and lots of little fish and pots and things to try and spot. All in all, I was quite impressed. From what I saw, it was going down pretty well with the kids (and the adults too - who wouldn't giggle at Dr. Sam Rhodes getting ready for a 'fishy adventure' or indeed, the 'fish scanner'.? OK just me then...).

My only real concern is the speed of the non-stopping subs as they go through the station - there was only just enough time for us to board, let alone a family with fussing children. I saw at least one sub lost to faff and be sent round empty and it was a quiet weekday. I was also expecting more normal sea life walkthoughs at the end of the ride, although the fish tank bubble idea that you can stand up in (see photo!) was quite cool.

That's it really, I'm off now....always scanning for fish
 
Mark said:
It looks really nice and everything, its just a shame that it is a bit of a complete rip off of the Sumbarine Voyage that Disney (California) opened more then 50 years ago, even down to the idea of having bubbles giving the impression the sub is diving! (Granted it was closed between 98 and 2007 - when it then reopened as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage).

It certainly isn't an original idea thats for sure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Voyage
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's where my mind went straight to as well. Submarine Voyage <3

This looks pretty cool though. If you're into fish. They're not really my thing.
 
Right, the subs are not fully underwater, just half submerged.

The subs are suspended under the track (like an inverted coaster) and only the bottom half is under water. The top half remains above water. The windows in the sub are only on the bottom half of the sub. Bubbles and a slight decline in the track give the impression of diving.

If you look at this photo mid-ride, you can just about make out the water surface.
9llsmvodf%20_800x600_.jpg


I will stress though that the illusion of diving towards the seabed is quite good.
 
Mark said:
It looks really nice and everything, its just a shame that it is a bit of a complete rip off of the Sumbarine Voyage that Disney (California) opened more then 50 years ago, even down to the idea of having bubbles giving the impression the sub is diving! (Granted it was closed between 98 and 2007 - when it then reopened as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage).

It certainly isn't an original idea thats for sure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Voyage
Click to expand...
Well, perhaps not totally unique, but it does overcome the main failing of Submarine Voyage, in that it has live sea life (and tonnes of it) in the tank alongside the ride vehicles. So in that way at least, I'd say it's superior.

As for the bubbles, I completely missed the fact that they simulate diving! Their main purpose is actually practical, as opposed to theming - they split the tank into separate sections (station, Coral Reef, Atlantis, Coral Cove), as apparently the fish/sharks/rays don't swim through the bubble streams. They do certainly add to the overall effect, though...
 
Islander said:
As for the bubbles, I completely missed the fact that they simulate diving! Their main purpose is actually practical, as opposed to theming - they split the tank into separate sections (station, Coral Reef, Atlantis, Coral Cove), as apparently the fish/sharks/rays don't swim through the bubble streams. They do certainly add to the overall effect, though...
Click to expand...

I knew it!! Ian, Peep and I were having a big discussion weather or not the bubbles kept the fish in their correct tank. There's also yellow brushes that come up against the subs as they travel through the 'doorway' between each section, and I guess they are to stop the fish hitching a ride!
 
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