A few years back, our little town of Passamaquoddy created quite a stir when it closed one of its classic attractions and replaced it with what amounted to be a variation on a Midway game of chance. People complained, not only because they lost an old friend, but also because the ‘theme’ of the new game was sort of gross. For those of you who have not seen the game yet, each contestant is armed with a big plastic ‘scooper’ and you race others to pick up the mess left behind by a big wood cutout of a dog named “Spot”. Over time, the new attraction has garnered some fans, but many of us older folk long for this week – Jules Verne week- because of one wonderful thing. On this week, the towns Quoddesigners pull away the “Spot’s Playful Pooh” game revealing the “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” Ride fully intact underneath… waiting to take riders on its wonderful sea voyage.

Last night, after a showing of the film that inspired the ride, they opened the submarines up and I was in line to experience it again. The line to the nautilus was long as usual and it is slow to board. But hearing “A Whale of a Tale” and other seafaring music in the queue line after such a long time made the wait ever so enjoyable. Finally we got to the submarine. How majestic they look coming into dock. And even though I did fall a bit on the stairs – they seem to get steeper as I get older – it was like old home week inside. I scurried down to my flip down seat, covered with a regal, mahogany pleather, and got my first view outside my porthole. Just out the window the wonderful detail of barnacle crusted metal dock work separated us from another Nautilus a few feet away.

When the ship was underway, Captain Nemo’s voice welcomed us aboard the Nautilus and he chimed in to inform us of what was going on during our long voyage. Starting with some fighting lobster, the creatures grow in size as the ride progresses. Highlights include the first appearance of sharks – which unfortunately involved the creatures being pulled along by a cable which had accidentally caught a lost t-shirt. So much for the magic in that case. As our subs descend deeper under water, you pass through a blanket of bubbles. The effect has been teased for years, but I find it enthralling… In addition to the bubble curtain, the Quoddesigners placed objects to block out the sun at these locations making each descent take you to a darker place. Sure, you can always see the actual water line just a few feet above but it is well hidden in this rider’s opinion.

Other highlights include going under the polar ice caps and viewing a surprisingly Disney looking Sea Serpent entertaining some mermaids. But the Peace Day Resistance (Verne was French after all), was the Giant Squid attack. The attack and electrocution of the squid is well executed and a fitting end to our voyage.

After it was over I saw many Passamaquoddians in line for their second or third ride.

In closing, the ride was not a perfect ride, but I have many, many fond memories of it. But, each person’s fond memories are unique to them and don’t always translate. I heard some guy say that hes had better sea journeys 134 yards west of the 20000 Leagues ride in the Atlantic Ocean. That same person won a golden pooper scooper on “Spot’s Playful Pooh”.