After Months in Development, Disney Unveils New Version of ‘The Little Mermaid’

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A young guest hugs ariel from "The Little Mermaid" inside Under the Sea attraction

Credit: Disney

After two months of construction, Disneyland Resort has removed some of the barriers surrounding the Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure attraction in the Paradise Gardens Park area at Disney California Adventure Park. Here’s what to know before your next visit to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The Little Mermaid (1989) Ride Refurbishment

ariels undersea adventure
Credit: Bailee A., Inside the Magic

Back in August, plywood barriers appeared outside The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park. Their appearance was surprising, as Disneyland Resort hadn’t shared any plans to refurbish the ride.

Over the course of several weeks, it became clear that Disney cast members were repainting and performing general maintenance on the Little Mermaid (1989) ride facade. The construction barriers eventually surrounded almost the entire building besides the attraction entrance, and scrim fabric with a printed version of the facade surrounded the structure.

A red-haired girl in a blue dress and a dark-haired man in a white shirt with a red sash sit at the bow of a boat holding hands, illuminated by the moonlight. They are surrounded by glowing water fountains and dark, mysterious trees, reminiscent of enchanting Disneyland attractions.
Credit: Disney

For two months, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure has been functioning that way–completely covered on the outside, but unchanged on the inside. On Wednesday, though, Southern California Disney Park guests finally got their first look at the refreshed ride facade.

Themed Scrim Rolled Up, Revealing Refreshed Facade

ursula animatronic on little mermaid ride in disney theme park
Credit: Disney

On October 21, WDWNT reported that much of the themed scrim fabric surrounding The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure had been rolled up and tied to the top layers of scaffolding. Though scaffolding and plywood barriers still block much of the ride building, the rolled-up scrim reveals the refreshed facade:

Because the scaffolding remains in place and the fabric is simply tied to different layers of the metal framework, the themed scrim could come down again if Disneyland Resort determines that more maintenance is necessary. The Southern California Disney park hasn’t said when it expects this maintenance project to wrap up.

The little mermaid - ariel's undersea adventure ride in disney theme park
Credit: Disney

Despite the extensive construction outside, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure remains open and operational. Disneyland Resort hasn’t announced any upcoming refurbishment or closure for the attraction’s interior.

Has an attraction refurbishment ever impacted your visit to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park? Tell Inside the Magic about your experience in the comments! 

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