journey of the little mermaid ride

Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid

A song-filled shell-abration.

Revisit the classic “tail” of how one lucky little mermaid found true love… and legs.

Your underwater adventure takes you below the waves on a tour of Ariel’s gadget-filled grotto. Immersive special effects and hand-drawn animation sequences recreate each unforgettable scene. Watch Sebastian the crab conduct every singing, dancing fish in the sea. Skulk past a sinister eel-infested lair, and then cheer as Prince Eric kisses the girl.

Spot Ariel’s friends Flounder and Scuttle, her father King Triton—and Ursula the sea witch, who looms 7.5 feet tall and 12 feet wide!

Emerge from the ocean’s depths in time to celebrate Ariel’s happily ever after in a spectacular fairytale finale.

Know Before You Go

Related Activities

Meet ariel at her grotto, even more magic – as you wish, guests also viewed, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for under the sea - journey of the little mermaid.

Complete Guide to Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom

Take a trip under the sea to revisit one of Disney’s most beloved animated classics, The Little Mermaid at Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid.

Your underwater adventure takes you “down where it’s wetter” on a tour of Ariel’s gadget-filled grotto. See Sebastian the Crab, Flounder, even the sea witch, Ursula, before watching Ariel and Prince Eric fall in love.

Just a note: while this kid-friendly adventure takes you “under the sea,” there is no actual water involved so you won’t get wet!

Keep reading for our complete guide to Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid .

Before we get too far into it, make sure you check out our guide on the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for information on every attraction and show at Magic Kingdom.

In this article

Journey of The Little Mermaid Quick Facts

• Location: Fantasyland , Magic Kingdom
• Height req : None
• Suitable for: Anybody
• Attraction length: About 7 minutes
• Do we recommend? For little ones
• When to visit: First 3 or last 3 hours, Early Theme Park Entry, anytime with Genie+
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): Ariel’s Grotto, which is where you can meet Ariel with her tail, is nearby but it has a separate entrance and line.

Journey of The Little Mermaid is located in Fantasyland to the right of Gaston’s Tavern and to the left of Ariel’s Grotto.

Here is the location on the map:

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How to Ride Journey of The Little Mermaid

Journey of The Little Mermaid has a Standby Line and a Lightning Lane. There is no Single Rider Line .

Eligible guests can also ride the attraction during  Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Theme Park Hours .

Do I need to use Genie+ at Journey of The Little Mermaid?

Genie+ is available at Journey of The Little Mermaid, but it wouldn’t be a priority since Genie+ availability rarely runs out and waits here are typically never that long.

If you really want to make sure you ride Journey of The Little Mermaid, you can always grab your Genie+ reservations later in the day.

Be sure to check out our  touring strategies for Magic Kingdom  for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

As there is no height requirement for Journey of The Little Mermaid, this attraction does not offer Rider Switch.

Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

Learn more about Rider Switch .

What to Expect When You Ride

Right away, you step inside Ariel’s world when you enter the queue at Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid.

This is one queue at Magic Kingdom that’s perfectly themed and makes you feel as if you’re part of the movie we all know so well.

At first sight, you’ll stroll through stunning cavern views and pass by a beautiful waterfall outside.

Once you enter the covered part of the queue, there’s an interactive game with crabs that sort Ariel’s thingamabobs. All you have to do is point out the items on the screens that don’t belong and the crabs will take them away!

Then you’ll enter a grotto, where you’ll see Scuttle, the friendly seagull, who tells stories and jokes. Finally, you’ll step onto a moving sidewalk before boarding your clamshell.

Fun fact: there is a Hidden Mickey you can see in the queue, but only for a select amount of time on a specific day each year. At exactly 12 p.m. ET on November 18 (Mickey’s birthday), some of the rock formations in the queue line up with the position of the sun to project a Hidden Mickey on the wall .

Ride Vehicles

The ride vehicles at Journey of The Little Mermaid are large colorful clamshells that can seat up to 2 adults and a small child.

A safety bar is lowered over guests’ laps to keep them secure within their shells.

Accessibility Information

Wheelchairs and ECVs are permitted in the queue. For those in ECVs, you must transfer to a wheelchair in order to ride.

There is a wheelchair-equipped clamshell, so those in wheelchairs may remain in them.

Make sure to ask a Cast Member for assistance if you need them to slow down the moving sidewalk or stop completely in order to board.

Handheld captioning is available for those who need it.

On the Ride

If you prefer to experience Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid without any spoilers, you may want to skip this part.

Journey under the sea with the Little Mermaid and all of her friends!

The ride begins as you sneak through a hole in Prince Eric’s ship where Scuttle is recounting the story of Ariel.

Then you’ll descend “underwater,” as your clamshell ride vehicle slowly moves backward. But don’t worry, even though you’ll see the illusion of water, you will not get wet!

As the clamshells travel through a rocky passage, guests can see Ariel and Flounder performing “Part of Your World.”

Enter into Ariel’s grotto where she displays her collection of treasures from the human world, before joining in with Sebastian and dozens of underwater creatures for “Under the Sea.”

As the underwater jamboree ends, the ride’s tone changes as you find yourself in a foreboding cavern with Flotsam and Jetsam, the pet eels of the sea witch Ursula, who can be seen performing “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Surrounded by her collection of lost souls, she agrees to turn Ariel into a human in exchange for her voice.

As you witness Ariel transform, you’ll make your way above the waves into a romantic lagoon where Sebastian serenades Prince Eric and Ariel with “Kiss the Girl.”

Pass by Prince Eric’s castle where silhouettes show that Ariel and Eric have finally kissed, breaking the spell and returning Ariel’s voice to her. In the distance, you’ll spot a smoking silhouette of a defeated Ursula.

Then you become part of the finale, where Sebastian, Flounder, King Triton and all of their friends celebrate the marriage of Ariel and Prince Eric. From a gazebo, the newlyweds wave, as fireworks go off overhead.

Is Journey of The Little Mermaid Kid-Friendly?

While there are some darker moments on Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid involving Ursula, overall, it’s a fun attraction that is perfect for all ages.

Strollers are not allowed in most queues at Walt Disney World, including for Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid. They can be left at the designated stroller parking area across from the entrance to the queue.

Imagineers wanted to create a Little Mermaid ride in the ’90s following the success of the 1989 animated film, but it would take another three decades to have those dreams realized.

However, Ariel’s presence in the parks has been a constant thanks to parades, meet and greets, and character meals, as well as the Voyage of The Little Mermaid show at Hollywood Studios (which closed in 2020).

That all changed in 2007 when Disney announced that a Little Mermaid -themed ride would be included as part of the refurbishment of Paradise Pier in Disney’s California Adventure. The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure opened in 2011.

In 2009 at the D23 Expo, Disney unveiled plans to include a nearly identical Little Mermaid attraction as part of the expansion of Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid opened on December 6, 2012.

In 2015, the ride closed for a month for refurbishment. Amongst the changes made were the addition of several more animatronic fish, Ariel and Prince Eric’s hair was upgraded from plastic to a more realistic-looking material for the land scenes, and many of the show’s scenes had their lighting dimmed.

Other Fun Details

• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid is based on the Disney animated classic, The Little Mermaid (1989).
• The ride is housed inside of Prince Eric’s castle which looks just like it did in the movie.
• There are 183 characters found within the attraction. Of these, 128 of them are found in the “Under the Sea” scene. There are also over 20,000 live and artificial plants.

• The Ursula audio animatronic stands at 7 1/2 feet tall and 12 feet wide!
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid has a few unique connections to one of the Magic Kingdom’s former attractions. Before the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride was dismantled in 1994, Imagineers saved some of the attraction’s water. At a dedication ceremony for Journey of the Little Mermaid, this water was dumped into the new attraction. Also in the queue, guests can find the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea carved into the rock work.
• Imagineers applied a new special skin technology to the Ariel, Ursula, and King Triton animatronics featured in the attraction due to the amount of skin that they showed.

Other Attractions in Fantasyland

Old Fantasyland

• Cinderella Castle
• “it’s a small world”
• Mad Tea Party
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

New Fantasyland

• Ariel’s Grotto
• Enchanted Tales With Belle
• Princess Fairytale Hall
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

Storybook Circus

• Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• The Barnstormer
• Pete’s Silly Sideshow
• Walt Disney World Railroad — Fantasyland Station

Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid

Magic Kingdom Park

Fantasyland

Guests Can Be

Age interest, thrill level.

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• Must Transfer to Wheelchair
• Audio Description
• Handheld Captioning
• Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

Interactive, Disney Princesses, Indoor

Board a clamshell and become part of Ariel’s world on a musical adventure awash with scenes from the animated classic.

A Song-Filled Shell-abration

Your underwater adventure takes you below the waves on a tour of Ariel’s gadget-filled grotto. Immersive special effects and hand-drawn animation sequences recreate each unforgettable scene. Watch Sebastian the crab conduct every singing, dancing fish in the sea. Skulk past a sinister eel-infested lair, and then cheer as Prince Eric kisses the girl.

Spot Ariel’s friends Flounder and Scuttle, her father King Triton—and Ursula the sea witch, who looms 7.5 feet tall and 12 feet wide!

Emerge from the ocean’s depths in time to celebrate Ariel’s happily ever after in a spectacular fairytale finale.

Know Before You Go

While this delightful adventure takes you under the sea, there is no actual water and you will not get wet.

Meet Ariel at Her Grotto

Visit Ariel’s Grotto and greet your favorite mermaid in her former undersea home.

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Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid

A song-filled shell-abration.

Revisit the classic “tail” of how one lucky little mermaid found true love… and legs.

Your underwater adventure takes you below the waves on a tour of Ariel’s gadget-filled grotto. Immersive special effects and hand-drawn animation sequences recreate each unforgettable scene. Watch Sebastian the crab conduct every singing, dancing fish in the sea. Skulk past a sinister eel-infested lair, and then cheer as Prince Eric kisses the girl.

Spot Ariel’s friends Flounder and Scuttle, her father King Triton—and Ursula the sea witch, who looms 7.5 feet tall and 12 feet wide!

Emerge from the ocean’s depths in time to celebrate Ariel’s happily ever after in a spectacular fairytale finale.

Know Before You Go

Related Activities

Meet ariel at her grotto, even more magic – as you wish, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for under the sea - journey of the little mermaid.

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The Little Mermaid Ride at Disney World: Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid Guide

Welcome to the magical world of Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom, where dreams come true and fairytales come to life. One of the most popular attractions in this land is the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid. This ride takes you on an enchanted journey through the world of Ariel, the Little Mermaid, and her underwater kingdom. In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at the Little Mermaid ride at Disney World, its history, what to expect, and tips for making the most out of your visit.

The History of the Little Mermaid Attraction

The Little Mermaid is a classic fairytale that has been beloved by generations. Disney first brought Ariel to the big screen in 1989, and since then, she has become one of the most recognizable Disney characters. The Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction made its debut in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland in 2012. The ride was created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Disney film and has been a staple of the park ever since.

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• Disney World Dark Rides
• Water Rides at Disney World
• Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway

What to Expect on the Journey of the Little Mermaid

The journey begins as you make your way through the winding queue, surrounded by underwater scenes and colorful sea creatures. As you approach the loading area, you will board a clamshell that takes you on a musical journey through the world of Ariel and her friends. 

During the ride, you will see some of the most memorable scenes from the movie, including the iconic “Under the Sea” number, as well as some new, exclusive scenes created just for the attraction.

One of the highlights of the ride is the use of Audio-Animatronics, which bring the characters to life in a way that is both lifelike and enchanting. You will also be treated to a stunning display of special effects, including shimmering lights, mist effects, and projections that transport you to the underwater kingdom.

The Queue Adventure

Visitors have the opportunity to admire breathtaking waterfalls and seashells while engaging in a fun and interactive game with the crabs! When the crabs appear on the screens, they will pause, displaying any treasures they may have found. Be sure to take note of anything valuable they may be holding. Once you enter the grotto, you will be greeted by Scuttle, who will entertain you with his captivating tales and humorous jokes.

The Little Mermaid Ride Experience

“Under the Sea” is a unique and immersive ride experience that utilizes an omnimover system. Before boarding the ride vehicles, guests will step onto a moving sidewalk similar to the one in attractions like “Peter Pan’s Flight” or “Haunted Mansion.” Passengers will be seated in clamshells , each accommodating two to three guests.

The clamshells will take you on a journey beneath the sea, slowly rotating to reveal various stunning scenes. At one point, the clamshell will tip backwards slightly, allowing you to go under the water.

You will be mesmerized by Ariel’s performance of “Part of Your World” in her treasure trove, an array of fish dancing to “Under the Sea,” an up-close encounter with the villainous Ursula as she sings “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” a serene boat ride with Eric and Ariel under the moonlight accompanied by Sebastian’s performance of “Kiss the Girl,” and finally, the happy couple, Eric and Ariel, bidding farewell to King Triton on their wedding day.

Ride Accessibility For The Little Mermaid Ride at Disney World

This gentle and leisurely ride, which lasts approximately seven minutes, does not have any height restrictions.

Guests with special needs must transfer to a standard wheelchair in order to board the ride. If you require the moving sidewalk to slow down or stop in order to board, simply inform a Cast Member.

For visually impaired guests, an audio description is available, and guests with hearing loss can use handheld captioning devices.

The clamshells can accommodate up to three guests, depending on size and configuration (for example, two adults and a small child).

Wait Times For The Little Mermaid Ride at Disney World

Wait times for the ride are usually quite reasonable depending on how busy Magic Kingdom is. With a continuous loading system even when it is busy the line moves pretty quickly compared to most Disney World ride.

I have rarely used a FastPass/Lightning Lane for this ride over the years as I have never really struggled to get on to the ride.

Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid Facts

• The “Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid” attraction features 183 characters, with over 70% appearing in the iconic “Under the Sea” scene.
• The Audio-Animatronics figure of Ursula the sea witch is 7 and a half feet tall and 12 feet wide.
• The grand mural in the loading area is so large that if turned on its side, it would reach a depth of more than 14 fathoms.
• Over 20,000 live and artificial plants decorate the interior and exterior of the attraction, enhancing its beauty and charm.
• For those who have visited Disney California Adventure, you will quickly recognize that Walt Disney World’s adaptation of “The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure”.

Experience a Magical Encounter with the Little Mermaid

After you embark on the thrilling ride, you will be delighted to find Ariel’s Grotto, the perfect spot for a meet and greet, conveniently located just to the left of the exit. Prepare to be enchanted as you have the opportunity to meet the beloved character in person. However, it’s best to be aware that due to its popularity, there may be a queue as everyone who has just experienced the ride will be eager to meet Ariel.

Discover all the locations to see Ariel at Disney World here.

Meet Ariel at the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast

Find Out About King Triton

The Little Mermaid Ride at Disney World

I have always enjoyed Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid. The Little Mermaid ride at Disney World is a great dark ride telling the story of the animated movie really well. With it usually being an easy ride to get on it is a must see attraction for your time at Magic Kingdom during your next Disney World vacation. A wonderful ride for all ages.

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About the Author

Darren Cater

I’m Darren, the editor of nextstopwdw.com. With years of Disney World adventures and countless memories made, I’ve mastered the art of planning a Disney World vacation. My articles are fueled by experience and a love for Disney World, aiming to turn your dream trip into a magical reality.

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The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure

• View history
• Disney California Adventure
• Magic Kingdom

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure (known as Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid in Walt Disney World) is a dark ride attraction based on the film The Little Mermaid , located in Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure and Fantasyland at Walt Disney World 's Magic Kingdom . The ride opened on June 3 , 2011 at Disney California Adventure with the Magic Kingdom version having its first soft openings on October 12 , 2012 , and officially opening on December 6 .

• 2.1 Queue area
• 3 Voice Cast
• 7 References

History [ ]

A dark ride based on The Little Mermaid was supposed to open at the Disneyland Paris and Magic Kingdom parks in the early to mid 1990s, which would have utilized a suspended ride system similar to Peter Pan's Flight to allow for the guests to physically "dive" under the sea. Early plans for Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland also included this ride. The ride was scrapped, but a virtual recreation was included on the Platinum Edition DVD of The Little Mermaid in 2006.

A different version opened on June 3, 2011 at Disney California Adventure . The ride building is located on the site that was previously occupied by the theater that played host to the Golden Dreams movie hosted by Whoopi Goldberg . The theater itself was torn down. The restrooms nearby were relocated across the way to the San Francisco buildings, due to their previous location being torn down to make room for the ride's show building.

In September 2009, Disney officials announced that Mickey's Toontown Fair at the Magic Kingdom would be demolished to make way for a huge expansion of Fantasyland, which was planned to include a copy of this ride. This expansion would also fill the space left behind when 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage was demolished. WDW's Little Mermaid attraction has been built in the space that the show building for the submarines previously occupied, even incorporating some of the walls left behind from the demolition.

The Magic Kingdom incarnation features two nods to the previous attraction, with the Nautilus being included amongst the rockwork in the exterior queue and the song " A Whale of a Tale " being included in the queue's music loop. Additionally, when the attraction opened, a ceremony was held to symbolically link the two attractions by pouring water saved from the Submarine Lagoon into the waters of the new attraction's exterior queue.

Since the attraction opened in California, several modifications took place. These included changing the projection screen scenes from CGI to hand-drawn animated segments. The hair for the Ariel animatronic in the Under the Sea sequence was also redone after various criticisms compared it to "an ice cream swirl" or "Dole Whip hair" (named for the confectionery sold outside Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room across the way) and instead her hair is now down and swaying in the current. These changes were completed on May 4, 2012.

On March 20, 2014, the attraction in California closed for an extended refurbishment. It reopened May 10, 2014 with several new enhancements. New sea creature figures were added throughout the ride, a view of King Triton's castle was added, the " Under the Sea " scene was converted to a blacklight scene, and the Ariel and Prince Eric figures in the " Kiss the Girl " and "Finale" scenes were given real hair.

Summary [ ]

Queue area [ ].

At Disney California Adventure, the building is modeled after a 20th-century aquarium. The Palace of Fine Arts replica from Golden Dreams was retained and redecorated.

In the Magic Kingdom, the building is featured in a recreation of Prince Eric's castle. Guests walk across a bridge over a pond that resembles a beach with the castle on it. A shipwrecked ship featuring Ariel as a figurehead serves as the entrance to the queue, which weaves through waterfalls and caves below the castle.

One roof within the castle features murals depicting four kinds of sea-monsters feared by Eric's people with poems inscribed below them. These read as: " Upon the rocks the siren 's call has shattered vessels numerous, but bringing sailors to their doom the sirens find quite humorous ", " Come fierce and cruel Leviathan ! Our noble king commands; But when he keenly scans the sea, the fish makes other plans ", " Oh sing to me of mighty kings with hearts so brave and true, who fiercely faced rampaging beasts and sternly whispers shoo " and " A monstrous beast has risen up to rule the waters wide, what say you sailors shall we fight or run away and hide ". The last of the listed poems depicting what appears to be a Kraken-esque depiction of Ursula from the climax of the film.

In the queue is the interactive game " Scuttle 's Scavenger Hunt", where guests assist him and a group of crabs in cleaning up Ariel's collection of human stuff after a storm had thrown things out of order. Adjacent to the attraction is the new Ariel's Grotto Meet-and-Greet. Scuttle himself appears as an animatronic in the queue, interacting with guests as they pass by.

The attraction is a dark ride, similar to Peter Pan's Flight , Snow White's Scary Adventures , and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh . However, it features an Omnimover ride system like the ones used at The Haunted Mansion and The Seas with Nemo & Friends . The ride transports guests under the sea and focuses on many of the major musical numbers from the movie. Guests ride in cars themed to resemble large seashells; one car designed for use by guests in wheelchairs is themed to resemble King Triton's chariot.

Characters that appear throughout the ride include Ariel , Prince Eric , King Triton , Sebastian , Flounder , Ursula , and Flotsam and Jetsam , with Scuttle narrating the story. The music has been composed by the original film's composer, Alan Menken . Jodi Benson confirmed in an interview in June 2010 that her voice would be included in the ride.

In California Adventure,the indoor queue of the attraction features a mural along the back wall of the loading area, featuring Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, and many of the other characters from the film on the edge of the palace with the ocean behind them. In the Magic Kingdom, this mural only features Sebastian on a beach with palm trees on both sides and instead of broad daylight, it is set at dusk and King Triton in the ocean. At the loading area, guests board an Omnimover-style vehicle in the shape of a clamshell (in California Adventure, each clamshell is a different bright and shining color while in the Magic Kingdom, they are all rough and pink). After leaving the loading area in the Magic Kingdom, the clamshells proceed through a large opening of the broken hull of Prince Eric's ship.

The vehicles enter a shipwreck cove. A large opening in the wooden structure reveals Scuttle perched atop a set of rocks, the sun setting along the shoreline behind him. Scuttle, who is surrounded by some of the shipwreck's lost cargo, plays an accordion while greeting the guests and beginning to tell them the story of Ariel and her dreams of becoming a human, or rather, muddle things up with his inability to decide where to start (even deciding to start at the day he was born). The clamshells begin to rotate backward as they make their way out of the shipwreck's hull. The clamshells briefly travel along the shorelines of a beach, strewn with lost artifacts from the shipwreck.

With a splash, the clamshells proceed to travel underwater, utilizing an effect of a projected ocean wave passing over the clamshell in front of the rider to simulate the feeling of traveling under the ocean. While the clamshells travel along the curve of the underwater passage, they take a slight descent to further simulate the illusion of traveling under the sea. After passing under the ocean wave, projected bubbles and waves cover the rocky walls of the underwater passage, as seaweed and coral come into view (in Disney California Adventure, fish, clams, seahorses, and starfish can also be seen in the passage) The "Main Titles" score from the movie is heard as the descent continues. The clamshells pass under an opening in the passage, revealing an image of Ariel and Flounder staring at the ocean's surface.

The underwater passage opens to reveal Ariel in her grotto, surrounded by all of the treasures that she has collected from the human world. Throughout the scene, Ariel sings " Part of Your World " while holding a chest filled with many of her gadgets and gizmos. The scene features a completely animated Audio-Animatronic of Ariel that has animated fins, hair, and facial expressions. Next to Ariel, Flounder floats along the walls of the grotto. A statue of Prince Eric is located in the corner of the grotto, implying that the scene takes place after Ariel had saved Eric from the wreckage of his ship. Throughout the scene, Sebastian occasionally appears, secretly spying on Ariel by popping up behind a treasure box or by appearing behind a magnifying glass or in a knight's helmet in some instances. To create the illusion of Ariel's hair flowing in water Imagineers created a brand-new material.

The clamshells leave the grotto and proceed through an underwater passage, where Sebastian tells Ariel about the wonders of being under the sea, while a view of King Triton's castle can be seen in the distance. The scene opens up to a large undersea garden, where the undersea life joins in singing " Under the Sea ". Sebastian conducts the number from a clamshell overlooking the garden. Many of the creatures seen in the attraction are also found in the film, such as a spinning octopus, a dancing turtle, a group of lobsters, twirling starfish, and a huge blowfish, amongst many other sea creatures playing instruments and singing and dancing along. The vehicles encircle the scene, passing by Ariel as she dances to the music.

The celebration fades as the clamshells pass into a dark canyon, filled with smoking geysers. The canyon leads into the mouth of a giant sea dragon skeleton, the entrance into Ursula's Lair. Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula's pet eels, welcome the clamshells into the sea witch's lair, exclaiming that they told Ariel that Ursula would help her in reaching her dreams of becoming a human. The clamshells enter the lair as the sea witch stands before her cauldron, singing " Poor, Unfortunate Souls ". The Ursula Audio-Animatronic is one of the largest ever created (second only to the dragon used in the Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea versions of Fantasmic! ) and was built in a way to allow squash and stretch motions similar to the film. In a misty orb floating above the cauldron, images of Ariel nurturing Eric and signing Ursula's contract appear from within, as Ursula continues to sing. Ariel has made her agreement to give her voice to Ursula in exchange for legs. The clamshells proceed past the sea witch and encounter walls adorned with many of the lost souls that Ursula had collected. The bright yellow eyes of the lost souls glow brightly in the passage. The clamshells proceed through a cavernous passage adorned with lost souls, leading past an image of Ariel with a swirling vortex around her, revealing her new legs.

The clamshells slightly ascend through a rocky chamber as projected bubbles cover the walls, simulating the illusion of rising above the ocean's surface. The clamshells then proceed to enter a tranquil, romantic lagoon, as a human Ariel and Eric are seen floating in a boat along the lagoon's surface. Sebastian sings " Kiss the Girl " as Flounder and other fishes encircle the boat, fountains of water rising out of their mouths. Low, dangling moss is suspended over the lagoon. Fireflies twinkle throughout the scene as the moon brightly shines on the scene in the distance. Throughout the scene, Eric and Ariel lean in to kiss each other, only to have Eric back away sheepishly, leaving Ariel disappointed.

After leaving the lagoon, the clamshells pass before the silhouette of a giant Ursula, who is seen in the distant ocean. Smoke arises around the sea witch as her plans to rule the ocean went askew and she has been defeated. Next, to the silhouette of the sea witch, the clamshells pass in front of a doorway to Prince Eric's castle. Seen within the doorway of the castle, a silhouette of Ariel and Eric are seen kissing. A golden orb glows from within Ariel's neck, signifying that she has now regained her voice. The orb proceeds to encircle the two, creating a heart shape as Ariel and Eric kiss.

The clamshells proceed into the final scene of the attraction, where the kingdom celebrates the wedding of Ariel and Eric. Several sea creatures, King Triton, Sebastian, and Flounder are seen in the ocean celebrating, as the now-married Ariel and Eric wave goodbye from a gazebo on the ocean's edge. Prince Eric's castle lies just in the distance. Fireworks explode in the sky above the scene. As the clamshells proceed back into the load/unload area, Scuttle closes off the attraction by exclaiming that Ariel had received her dream and everything worked out in the end. The clamshells arrive back in the load/unload area where the guests exit the clamshells and proceed out of the attraction building.

Voice Cast [ ]

• Jodi Benson - Ariel
• Philip Lawrence - Sebastian
• Pat Carroll - Ursula
• Chris Edgerly - Scuttle
• Corey Burton - Flotsam and Jetsam

Non-speaking characters who appear in the ride include Prince Eric , King Triton , and Flounder .

Gallery [ ]

See also [ ]

• Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
• After it was removed from the attraction, one of the "dole whip" hair pieces was repurposed for Mickey Avenue at Shanghai Disneyland for a barber shop window display.

References [ ]

• 2 Inside Out 2

Accommodations

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• Disney Genie+ Attraction
• Slow moving attraction that takes you through scenes from The Little Mermaid
• Impressive animatronics and iconic soundtrack make this a wonderful family attraction!

Introduction | Attraction | Ride Logistics | Kids and Characters |

| dining | interesting facts, introdu ction.

Under the Sea — Journey of The Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom allows visitors to dive beneath the waves to relive the 1989 Disney classic animated story of “The Little Mermaid.” 

It is located in Fantasyland, between Gaston’s Tavern are and Ariel’s Grotto.

QUEUE —  Guests can view beautiful waterfalls and shells, and play a interactive game with the crabs! When you see them on the screens, they will stop with thingamabobs they find. Point at them if they are holding something valuable. As you enter a grotto, you’ll see  Scuttle  who tells stories and jokes.

ATTRACTION —. Under the Sea is an omnimover attraction, meaning guests step onto a moving sidewalk prior to boarding the ride vehicles (Like Peter Pan’s Flight or Haunted Mansion). Guests board the ride in  clamshells  that seat two to three guests. 

The clamshells take you under the sea — slowly turning to show you various scenes. At one point, you tip backwards slightly to go under the water.

You’ll see Ariel in her treasure trove singing “Part of Your World,” a cornocopia of fish dancing to “Under the Sea,” a close encounter with Ursula as she sings “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” a moonlit boat ride with Eric and Ariel as Sebastian sings “Kiss the Girl,” and finally, Eric and Ariel waving goodbye to King Triton on their wedding day.

It’s a fun and bright attraction, that will delight anyone who’s a fan of the film!

RIDE LOGISTICS

Lighning Lane access for Under the Sea — Journey of The Little Mermaid is available with the purchase of Genie+ . However, the standby queue is usually shorter than most attractions in Magic Kingdom.

There are no height requirements for this gentle ride, which lasts about seven minutes.

Guests with special needs must transfer to a standard wheelchair to board this ride. If you need the moving sidewalk to slow or be stopped to board, speak to a Cast Member.

An audio description is available for visually impaired guests, and those with hearing loss can use handheld captioning devices.

The Clamshells can sit up to three guests, depending on size. (For example, two adults and a small child.)

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

The Little Mermaid is waiting for her friends in Ariel’s Grotto , to the right of the attraction. In this location, Ariel is wearing her mermaid tail and top, and guests will notice some treasures surrounding her.

Character Meet and Greet FAQ! Magic Kingdom Characters At A Glance

Across from the attraction entrance, you’ll find Prince Eric’s Village Market . This small snack stand offers a few treats, such as a Mermaid Donut, Slushes, Fruit, and a Jumbo Pretzel.

They also sell a small selection of The Little Mermaid merchandise, such as dolls and toys.

INTERESTING FACTS

There are 183 characters in Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid. More than 70 percent of them are featured in the “Under the Sea” scene.

The Audio-Animatronics figure of the sea witch Ursula is 7 1/2-feet tall and 12 feet wide.

If the grand mural in the load-in area were turned on its side, it would reach a depth of more than 14 fathoms.

More than 20,000 live and artificial plants decorate the attraction, inside and out.

Those who have been to Disney California Adventure quickly will realize that Walt Disney World has adapted The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure , which opened in June 2011 and has been popular ever since.

How long is Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid?

The ride takes 7 Minutes Find all the attractions by their length

Will Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid make me motion sick?

The motion level is Low. Gentle ride Details on handling motion sensitivity on your visit

Is Individual Attraction Selection available for Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid?

No Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is not eligible for Individual Attraction Selection Find Individual Attraction Selection attractions

Is Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid included in Genie+?

Yes Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is included in Genie+ Find more Genie+ attractions using our search

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8 Facts and Secrets about Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Dark rides are an experience that Disney excels at. Then when you combine dark rides with a beloved classic like The Little Mermaid, it is definitely sure to be a huge success! This attraction is beautifully done, has a really great queue for the attraction, and captures all of the climactic moments of the feature animation. Here are eight facts and secrets about Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid: Dark rides are an experience that Disney excels at. Then when you combine dark rides with a beloved classic like The Little Mermaid, it is definitely sure to be a huge success! This attraction is beautifully done, has a really great queue for the attraction, and captures all of the climactic moments of the feature animation. Here are eight facts and secrets about Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid:

8 – Try to count the characters on the attraction.

If you counted each and every character on the entirety of the ride, you would find that there are 183 total characters. You will have to keep your eyes peeled during the “Under the Sea” section of the attraction, as that is where you will find the majority of the different characters that you count.

7 – Ursula is a large animatronic.

The Ursula animatronic is a major part of the attraction, as that is a pivotal and iconic part of the movie. The “Poor Unfortunate Souls” song is definitely one of my favorites and one of the most popular villain songs. Guests would expect Ursula to be close to scale and have an overwhelming presence on the attraction. Her animatronic is 7.5 feet tall and 12 feet wide. She is also perched a little higher than the main floor, so the animatronic delivers on meeting the expectations that we have for Ursula. She was also equipped with a “squash-and-stretch” function in the torso of the figure so that she can move effortlessly as her character does to the music.

6 – Skin technology had to be created.

The Ariel, Ursula, and King Triton animatronics, by default, have a lot of skin exposed. Because of this, Imagineers had to create and utilize skin technology to make their movements and appearance look more realistic. Most other animatronics that have been created have either had fur or clothes on them, so the skin for the high movement areas wasn’t as much of an issue. I don’t know about you, but now I am going to pay even closer attention to their skin the next time I am on the attraction!

5 – The ride was built in models first.

Before the Imagineers kicked off construction on the actual attraction, models were built first. The first was a one-quarter inch model so that the Imagineers could visualize each scene of the attraction before it was built. After they used this model, a one-inch scale model was created, and more details considered for the actual attraction. After this, the construction was able to begin.

4 – One of the coolest hidden Mickey’s ever!

If you are a hidden Mickey stalker, then you are going to love this one. The Imagineers outdid themselves this time and created a hidden Mickey that you can only see at noon on Mickey Mouse’s birthday. At this moment, the sun is in just the right position for the light to create a hidden Mickey on the path in the ride queue for the attraction. Mickey’s birthday is November 18th, and you have to look for it right at noon. The location is hard to describe, but start looking for some of the boat wreckage, especially the area with a figure with its hand its chest. Once you pass that, you should be able to look up and see the rock formations that appear to form part of a Mickey head at the top. Then on November 18th at noon, you should see the hidden Mickey on the path! This is one of my absolute favorite fun facts in Walt Disney World!

3 – The ride was designed for various Disney parks in the mid-1990s.

It is surprising that it took until 2011 for us to have a dark ride for the Little Mermaid. This has been a long-rumored and planned attraction for theme parks all over the world. It was first a concept for Disney World and Disneyland Paris. Then it was rumored that Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland would each have the attraction upon their opening, which didn’t end up happening. These rumored versions were never built, but a simulated version was created and included as bonus features on the Platinum Edition release of The Little Mermaid on DVD. It may have taken many years, but we finally have the ride that we had heard so much about.

2 – Really awesome nods to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea used to be where the Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction resides today. The Imagineers are notorious for paying homage to past attractions so that we can remember them as we enjoy the new experiences that have taken their place. They did some really cool things this time. The first nod is an imprint of the Nautilus submarine in one of the rock formations. You have to look for this one in the ride queue as you wind through to board the attraction. The next thing they did was one of the coolest and carefully planned ways to pay homage. When 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was shut down. The team bottled water from the attraction before it was drained, labeled it, and kept it safely stored for 18 years. At the opening ceremony for the attraction, the water was then poured into the water at the attraction. Amazingly, cool!

1 – Ariel’s Grotto location.

This attraction is one of the few attractions to also have a perfectly themed character meeting spot connected to the attraction. Ariel’s Grotto is connected to the attraction so that you have a perfectly themed place to meet her before or after your ride. This is starting to become more of the trend as new attractions are created, and we love it! It is the perfect way to meet your favorites in their own “environment.”

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Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid

An Attraction in Magic Kingdom

Last updated: March 30, 2024

At a Glance

Under the Sea takes riders through almost a dozen scenes retelling the story of The Little Mermaid , with animatronics, video effects, and a vibrant 3-D set the size of a small theater.

Guests board a clamshell-shaped ride vehicle running along a continuously moving track (similar to Haunted Mansion 's). Then the ride “descends” under water, past Ariel’s grotto and on to King Triton’s undersea kingdom. The most detailed animatronic is of Ursula, the octopus, and she’s a beauty. Other scenes hit the film’s highlights, including Ariel meeting Prince Eric, her deal with Ursula to become human, and, of course, the couple’s happy ending.

The attraction’s exterior is attractive, with detailed rock work, water, and story elements. (Our favorite effect is a “hidden Mickey”—the shape of Mickey’s head and ears—that is created through a special alignment of the sun’s shadow and the rock work, and only at noon on November 18, Mickey’s birthday.)

The ride isn’t Disney’s most ambitious: Most of the effects throughout the ride are simple and unimaginative, such as starfish that only spin or lobsters that simply turn left and right. Also, virtually the entire second half of the story is condensed into a handful of small scenes crammed together at the end, as if the budget ran out before the ride could be finished properly.

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Disney Junior's Ariel Reinvents Ursula as the Little Mermaid's Magical Mentor - Watch Trailer

I n celebration of International Mermaid Day (it's a thing!), Disney Junior has released the first official teaser for Ariel , its upcoming series based on The Little Mermaid - and it features an iconic Disney villain like you've never seen her before.

Ursula, typically presented as a fabulously menacing sea witch, is now (gasp!) a mentor to young Ariel. The teaser includes a shot of Ariel and her friends taking part in Ursula's "magic camp," where she will presumably school them in witchcraft. Watching Ariel greet her as "Tantie Ursula!" with a big smile on her face will surely throw longtime fans of the characters for a loop.

Ariel and Ursula's familial connection is nothing new, though their history is a bit murky. "Fathoms Below," the opening song in 1989's The Little Mermaid , originally contained a verse that established Ursula as King Triton's sister, but the song was ultimately cut down for time. It wasn't until The Little Mermaid came to Broadway in 2007 that Ursula was formally acknowledged as Ariel's aunt, a connection that was also present in the 2023 live-action film. Still, Ursula has always been presented a capital-V villain… until now.

"Set in the fantastical Caribbean-inspired underwater kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows young mermaid princess Ariel as she embarks on fun-filled, action-packed mermaid adventures with her friends," reads Disney Junior's official synopsis. "It features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel's two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures."

Ariel' s voice cast includes Mykal-Michelle Harris ( Raven's Home ) as the titular mermaid, Taye Diggs ( All American ) as King Triton and Amber Riley ( Glee ) as Ursula.

Ariel premieres this summer on Disney Junior. Hit PLAY on the video above for your first look, then drop a comment with your thoughts on Ursula's good-girl makeover below.

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Daily Disney News

Disney Junior Releases Trailer For ‘The Little Mermaid’ Prequel Series ‘Ariel’

Disney Junior has released the first teaser for the animated series Ariel . The Little Mermaid prequel will debut on the network this Summer.

Set in the fantastical Caribbean-inspired underwater kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows an 8 year old Ariel as she embarks on fun-filled, action-packed mermaid adventures with her friends. Driven by a deep and unending curiosity about the world around her, Ariel discovers land treasures, like a big floppy hat, squeaky rubber ducky, and whisk, that she collects and keeps safe in her crystal cavern. Sometimes, Ariel uses the treasures to help solve problems.

With each discovery, Ariel is filled with joy, and her mermaid tail, which changes colors depending on her emotions, lights up and shimmers. Full of charm, big ideas and a powerful voice, Disney Junior’s Ariel is coming into her own, learning how to discover and appreciate the world around her and use her voice to inspire others.

Mykal-Michelle Harris stars in the title role, along with Taye Diggs and Amber Riley as King Triton and Ursula. Disney Junior’s Ariel  is executive produced by Lynne Southerland ( Mulan II, Happily Ever After) .

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Skyler Shuler

In 2013, Skyler Shuler wanted to share his knowledge of Disney films and the magic behind the scenes. So, he created the Instagram account Disney Film Facts and the page quickly garnered a following. Soon after a Twitter was created, and not long after that DisneyFilmFacts.com was born. The page has been lucky enough to garner a wonderful following of such amazing Disney and movie fans, as well as been sourced in some of the biggest entertainment sites in the world. In 2018, the page was rebranded to The DisInsider, and the rest was history!

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