Get Ready to See a Whole New Ariel at Disney's Theme Parks

April 27, 2023, 8:03 PM · The new Ariel is planning her Disney Parks debut.

Next month Disney is releasing a "live action" reimagining of the 1989 animated film that revived kicked off one of the most successful runs in Disney Animation history. The new version of "The Little Mermaid" hits theaters on May 26. To celebrate, this summer Ariel "as she appears in the all-new live-action story," according to Disney, will be appearing in three Disney theme parks around the world.

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the new film and announced the in-park character appearances in a video released today by Disney.

So I guess this is the other side of the story we posted earlier this week about Sulley moving from Walt Disney Presents to the returning The Edna Mode Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Sulley's exit clears the way for Ariel 2.0 (which is really 3.0 if you are counting the Hans Christian Andersen story) to begin greeting guests inside Walt Disney Presents later this summer.

At Disneyland in California, Ariel's meet and greet will be on the It's a Small World promenade. And at the Disneyland Paris Resort, Ariel will appear in a new, limited-time "musical moment" at Walt Disney Studios Park.

No dates yet for the start of these appearances, so stay tuned.

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Replies (9)

April 27, 2023 at 8:48 PM

Fantastic, thank you Disney. I truly appreciate their efforts toward inclusivity, especially in these times of loud and proud bigotry.

April 27, 2023 at 10:52 PM

Kind of weird to have two versions of the same character at a resort. But I guess it worked (or maybe it didn't?) last year with two incarnations of Buzz at Disneyland.

April 28, 2023 at 5:22 AM

On the Wonder I saw Kristoff of different races on Freeze the Night Away and the Frozen show

April 28, 2023 at 9:13 AM

So does this mean the version meeting in Ariel's Grotto at MK will still be more like the animated depiction of the character seen at the adjacent attraction?

April 28, 2023 at 3:14 PM

Welcome to the Disney theme park character multiverse of madness.

Remember, recycling (characters) is green (as in cash).

April 28, 2023 at 4:02 PM

Fingers crossed we get to eventually meet Alligator Goofy!!!

April 29, 2023 at 2:07 PM

Ready for another live-action remake by Disney that bombs.

April 29, 2023 at 8:37 PM

@Keith, I think this one will do pretty well. Interestingly, enough, even though they don’t do fantastic critically, general audiences seem to love them. They keep getting made because they make money.

Most of the live action versions that don’t do well are the straight to Disney+ movies (Pinocchio, Lady & The Tramp, etc)

Most of the theatrical releases do very well at the box office. Both Aladdin and the Lion king crossed 1 billion. Little Mermaid is one of the top tier Renaissance IPs (Along with Beauty, Aladdin, & Lion King).

If this were a Disney+ premiere, eh…but the fact that it’s theatrical with a Memorial Day releases, sets it up to do well.

April 30, 2023 at 3:53 PM

@Keith. Gosh Keith, a lot of the other live action remakes have actually don’t quite well.

I wonder what it is about this film that is making you have such a dark view that it won’t make enough money to be in the black………Oh well, I guess the mystery of the motivations for feelings will have to continue to be shrouded in darkness until you enlighten us.

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