Finding Nemo ride

[Jynxed]

Is this a popular ride? I just bought a planning book and they classify it as a high priority first if the morning ride? I don't recall anyone here putting that much importance on it. The book says it is a 2011 addition, but i know books can be off too. Just curious about your thoughts?

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

The book I read through also listed this as one of the rides to head right to or plan to spend a large amount of time waiting in line. However, on another website, I read where someone had two children who were totally freaked out by this ride. That it was way dark and extremely loud inside. I would love to know what people here think about it and if it would be worth the wait for a 3 year old. Just how scary did they make it?

 

[sonnyjane]

It's not a huge draw for me, I'll go on once a year or so (and I go to the parks once a month if that's any indication to you ) Obviously if you have kids that like Nemo, it's a bigger hit.

The reason they say to go there early is because it is a long ride (about 20 minutes) and a slow-loader (it takes a long time to get everyone down the spiral stairs onto the subs). The line is consistently between 30-45 minutes, so if it's not a huge priority for you, you can go on it at night when the line is shorter (20 minutes or so). I wouldn't waste valuable morning time on it unless the line is less than 20 minutes.

As far as being scary, you are underwater in "dark caverns" and there are loud sound effects that make the sub shake, but it's not terrifying. Have them watch it on YouTube if you have doubts

 

[Liat]

Its a great ride for small kids who have seen the movie. My 3yo loves it. He loves the submarine and the ride is pretty cool. They did a good job of adding in the Nemo characters and there is some neat animation. The lines are horrible for it though and it gets busy right away. Its a very slow loading ride. Go during a parade or fireworks or something to ride it. Don't go on a MM, because it is a fairly long ride and you'll waste a good chunk of time on it.

 

[ironband]

I'm lukewarm toward the ride. My 2.5 year old enjoyed it, though.

Fortunately, it isn't as popular as it was when it first opened. Unfortunately, it is a terribly slow loader and just can't move people through very fast, so the line does back up.

For me, it's skippable. People sometimes freak out because it is close quarters and you are sitting below the water level. This is not a ride for claustrophobes! I didn't find it particularly loud, though. Other than the enviroment (which does get dark at times), it really isn't all that scary...IMO. Mr. Toads or Snow White is much scarier (Claustrophobia notwithstanding).

We were at DLR the week after Easter, and it had a 40+ minute wait most of the time we were there. We finally rode it on Friday when we headed straight for it after rope drop, and found ourselves very close to the front of the line. Unfortunately, it started the day 101 (out of order), so we still wound up waiting 15 minutes to ride

 

[skiingfast]

I'm a proponent of the subs.

Loved them as a kid. Sad When they closed. Excited when they reopened with a new theme and that it was Nemo.

For every scared kid I'm willing to bet there were 1,000 kids of the same age that enjoyed it.

Mostly it is a ride to do early because the line builds to a 30 minute wait very fast. Then gets longer as crowds arrive in the morning, and then late at night goes down, but not back under 30 minutes until the park is closing.

This is due to it being a slow loader. Line backs up quickly. People decided to ride other things. Line get longer elsewhere and then the Nemo Subs line gets longer. Because it loads slow it is hard for it to quickly shorten the line, even when people pause from rides for lunch, or the parade.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Is this a popular ride? I just bought a planning book and they classify it as a high priority first if the morning ride? I don't recall anyone here putting that much importance on it. The book says it is a 2011 addition, but i know books can be off too. Just curious about your thoughts?

Surprised that it is listed as a "2011 addition." Nemo opened in 2007. And is still popular.

- Dreams

 

[Dizneydaz]

There is also an "Observation Lab" for those who can't, or don't, want to ride in the (unairconditioned and slightly claustrophobic for some) subs.

Since we go quite often I won't wait in long lines so the first few times we did Nemo we did the "Lab" It's a nice room with plenty of room for your entire party. 2 benches and space for strollers and wheelchairs.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is this a popular ride? I just bought a planning book and they classify it as a high priority first if the morning ride? I don't recall anyone here putting that much importance on it. The book says it is a 2011 addition, but i know books can be off too. Just curious about your thoughts?

Well, guide books have their place. But also their limitations.

See The Perils of Printed Guidebooks: Outdated Info in the Unofficial Guide to DLR

In 2007 and 2008 FNSV was new and had really long lines. The last few years the lines have really died dwon and seem to max out at 30-60 minutes. Often in the evening you can ride with a 10-20 minute wait.

 

[Mugglemama]

We waited 3 years after opening to ride this, because the lines were always so crazy.

Last Summer, we were in the park on a Friday morning and there was nobody in line, so our wait was 5 minutes. My kids (who all LOVE the Finding Nemo movie, btw) were ages 5, 9, 12, and 18. Nobody "hated" it, but none of them particularly liked it, either. It was long and boring, IMHO. We love everything else at DLR - this is seriously the first ride any of my kids have ever walked off of with an attitude kind of like, "Hmm, that was lame". I liked the sub ride when I was very little, but I had to agree with them on this. We'll likely never take time out to go on it again.

 

[DisSarahK]

We skipped it on our 2008 trip because the lines were looooong. Last fall (Sept of 2010) we went on it (I think the line was maybe 15-20 minutes) and riding on it once was plenty for me. I don't ever plan on riding the subs again unless one of my children forces me on it--which is unlikely because they thought the ride was way too long and uncomfortable...which pretty much was my opinion too. I didn't find the quarters too cramped, I just didn't like having to lean forward to peer out the porthole in order to get the full effect of the ride.

 

[stubby]

We went during Halloween of last year. I am claustrophobic and sat on the very last seat and was ok. With that said, definately ride it first thing in the AM because as PP's have said the lines just grow and grow. I would also suggest NOT riding it first on a MM day because when we went it didn't open right away...and because the ride is pretty long. HTH.

 

[CandyMouse]

My Family and I just went on the Nemo ride for the first time last month. I wasn't too sure because I'm a little Claustrophobic, but I thought it was a cute ride and it didn't seem too long. We did it right at the end of our MM morning and waited maybe 10 min., so I think it's a fun ride to do at least once. I have to admit last time we were in Disneyland "08" I was afraid to do it, but my family and I enjoyed it!

 

[Jynxed]

Well, guide books have their place. But also their limitations.

See The Perils of Printed Guidebooks: Outdated Info in the Unofficial Guide to DLR

In 2007 and 2008 FNSV was new and had really long lines. The last few years the lines have really died dwon and seem to max out at 30-60 minutes. Often in the evening you can ride with a 10-20 minute wait.

Thanks i've seen your stickies. I do prefer to get as much information A's possible and take bits and praises from every source not just one. Plus, differing view points and all that. everyone knows a little something

 

[farmfresh]

Nemo for us was a one time only ride. (having said that, we have done it more than once, generally with first time friends... ) Its fun, but as others have said, has line issues! If you have more than one MM, use one for Fl, then the next time, go direct to Nemo. It is a long ride without the queue, so it does eat in to MM time otherwise.

 

[groovygirl927]

I love Nemo ride. I did not go on the ride when it first opened because of long lines then one evening we were walking by and there was no line I was the only one interested in going but I had the hotel key so everyone was going to have to wait for me as I was determined to go and I had a great time. (I was always sad to see that area with no submarine ride-maybe I like it because of that oh and I do love Nemo)

I don't go everytime I go but I have always gone late in the evening. Last time I went during the fireworks and walked strait to the waiting area. Even though I love the ride I only go when the line is short. I think people should go on at least once to experience it.

 

[ksdisneyfan]

It's one of my 4yo DD's favorite rides. We usually do it first thing after rope drop on a non-MM day to get it out of the way. I think it's cute, but it is quite long and eats up valuable time, so I wouldn't do it on an MM morning.

 

[KTR]

I went on it once. My son was 16 months at the time and absolutely flipped out. He was terrified of the dark sub and spent the entire ride (and it felt insanely long) screaming at the top of his lungs. I did everything I could to quiet him, but nothing worked. I felt really bad for everyone else on the sub because the wait had been a long one and then my son ruined it for everyone. Needless to say, I don't think it's a ride my family will ever do again.

 

[rbbs]

Most overrated ride in the park imo. I would rather skip it if the line is 45 minutes or more...

 

[HydroGuy]

Most overrated ride in the park imo. I would rather skip it if the line is 45 minutes or more...

Since FNSV is not rated highly by just about anyone it is hard to see how it could be "overrated". I think most agree that it is not worth a 45 minute wait.

I got a chance to ride FNSV a few more times last summer and feel like the pendulum has swung too far against FNSV. It has gotten a bad rap because expectations were so high in 2007. FNSV is unique and much better than its predecessor. IMO it is worth doing. Does it "wow" people? No. But it is cute.