Nautilus

**The Nautilus** is a fictional vehicle from Jules Verne's *Vingt mille lieues sous les mers* (French: *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas*) and its 1954 Disney adaptation.

## Description

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## History

### Background

The Nautilus was a nuclear submarine created in the 19th century by one Captain Nemo. The submarine was crewed by many of Nemo's compatriots who had escaped with him from the British-run penal-colony of *Rura Penthe*. The harbour of the Nautilus was the island of Vulcania in the Pacific Ocean.

Nemo would pilot the Nautilus with his crew in relative peace but they would also use it to destroy British ships and the vessels of colonists due to their hatred of imperialism, colonialism and the British. In 1869, they sank a whaling-ship called *The Abraham Lincoln* which attacked the submarine, believing it to be a sea-monster. From the wreckage, Nemo saved Canadian harpooner Ned Land, French natural scientist Professor Pierre Aronnax, and Aronnax's servant Conseil.

Nemo would befriend these stowaways, going on adventures with them such as fighting a Giant Squid. When the crew returned to Vulcania however, they found it occupied by a European military. Not wishing to let the imperialists use his inventions for themselves, he planted a bomb (possibly of nuclear origin) and blew up the island. In the conflict, Nemo was shot in the spine by a soldier and the Nautilus was badly damaged causing it to sink as Nemo died.

## Jungle Cruise appearances

### Skipper Canteen

Within the Skipper Canteen is a map of, "Legendary Beasts of the Mediterranean" by Captain Mary Oceaneer which depicts the Nautilus being attacked by the Giant Squid. In the library of the Skipper Canteen is a book titled *The Polar Voyage* by Captain Nemo. The name of this book alludes to the defunct Fantasyland attraction *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage* where the Nautilus found Atlantean ruins under the North Pole in a voyage tributing the passage of the *USS Nautilus*.

### Trader Sam's

Both Trader Sam's bars feature a drink called, "The Nautilus" which is served in a mug resembling the Nautilus submarine.

#### Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

The Nautilus is indirectly referenced by Trader Sam owning a copy of Jules Verne's *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea* and a photograph of Ned Land along with a harpoon gifted to Sam by Land with a message saying, "*Sam, This comes with a whale of a tale! -Ned*".

#### Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

The menu descriptions by Skip Dockmonkey mention Trader Sam having travelled to Vulcania in pursuit of his drink recipes. Framed on the wall is a portrait of the Nautilus XIII on Vulcania and the mounted arm of the squid which sank the Nautilus. The diving helmet of one of Nemo's crew-members appears behind the bar-counter.

### Other connections

#### Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

The menu descriptions for the Trader Sam's Nautilus state the submarine used to frequent the titular village's waters.

#### The Great Movie Ride

A model of the Nautilus appeared in the Chinese Theatre.

#### Jungle Cruise

The original Jungle Cruise was largely created by Harper Goff and Bob Mattey, both of whom also worked on the film version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In development, it was planned for the Giant Squid to appear as a creature on the Jungle Cruise. In Walt Disney World's Jungle Cruise is a piece of luggage from *Castaway Cay*, a real-life resort which features a sunken *Nautilus XIII*.

#### Tropical Hideaway

Referenced in the Tropical Hideaway is Jason Chandler who would have salvaged the Nautilus in the unbuilt Disneyland expansion *Discovery Bay*.

## Other appearances

### 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (walk-through attraction)

In this defunct attraction, guests were taken on a tour of the Nautilus.

### 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage

This attraction had guests embark on the Nautilus XIII from Vulcania with Nemo as their captain.

### The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

There is a carving of the Nautilus inside of Winnie the Pooh's tree home.

### Les Mystères du Nautilus

Nemo's ghost appears in this attraction, playing pipe-organ.

### Mysterious Island

This area of Tokyo DisneySea is themed to Vulcania. The Nautilus appears in the central lagoon.

### Tomorrowland

There used to be a mural of Tomorrowland features including the Nautilus in Tomorrowland.

### Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

There is a rock formation shaped like the Nautilus outside of Eric's palace.

## Trivia

* Prince Joachim's submarine in the Jungle Cruise film might be a tribute to *Submarine Voyage*.
* Nemo's inclusion in the Jungle Cruise franchise is somewhat ironic as due to his well documented hatred for colonialism and British imperialism, he would likely hate most major Jungle Cruise characters such as those of the *Jungle Navigation Company* or *Society of Explorers and Adventurers* if not outright attempt to kill them.

## References

1. ↑ https://insidethemagic.net/2015/03/d-tales-11-hidden-disney-history-at-winnie-the-pooh-brings-back-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-mr-toad/
2. ↑ http://voyagesextraordinaires.blogspot.com/2020/07/disneylands-tomorrowland-98.html
3. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/s6\_mkeastereggs/