When Walt Disney first came up with the idea for DISNEYLAND, he saw it as a place that could be promoted by his motion pictures and promote them as well. One of the first attractions that was primarily meant as a promotional tie-in was “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”. The picture had actually been released a year before DISNEYLAND opened, though it was still in theaters at the time its props were put on display in Tomorrowland.
Since the film was already a bonafide success, the attraction probably helped DISNEYLAND more than DISNEYLAND helped it. Tomorrowland was in desperate need of attractions and the detailed, elaborate sets of the film were a wonderful addition to the least developed land in the park.
Today, the exhibit is long gone. Located roughly where the Star Trader shop exists today, the attraction closed up shop in 1966 to make way for Tomorrowland 1967. One of the larger props previously on display, however, can still be seen in the park. The ghostly organ from the Haunted Mansion ballroom is the same organ from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea film and attraction.
