There will be a new Little Mermaid attraction as part of the Fantasyland expansion at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction debuted last month at Disneyland and it looks as though the Magic Kingdom version will be very similar. This new video from Walt Disney Imagineering shows us how a new ride progresses from concept to reality. If you want to see the complete version of the video this will make it’s debut in the One Man’s Dream attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The inside of the ride looks as though it will be exactly the same as the Little Mermaid ride in Disney’s California Adventure park. One very welcome additional feature is an interactive element to the line. The art work released by Disney shows that the line will feature Scuttle’s Scavanger Hunt.
I have to confess that I am not a huge fan of the Ariel ride in Disney’s California Adventure Park. The concept is excellent but the ride does have it’s flaws. The first disappointment was in the line. Although the hand painted mural on the wall at the ride’s entry is beautiful, there really is not much evidence of Ariel and her friends in the early part of the line. There are of course more restrictions on space and context in Disney’s California Adventure park as it it placed on the edge of the Paradise Pier section which up to now has been distinctly lacking any true sense that you are in a Disney park. Changes have been made, but still Disney World has the huge advantage that the ride is set in Fantasyland. You can’t get much more of a sense of being in a Disney park than that! So from the very start it seems that the Magic Kingdom version will seem much more, well, magical!
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.