Summer Shows: Little Mermaid and Villains Open May 27 at Hollywood Studios

The attraction lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is preparing to grow by two shows on one day. Both ‘The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure’ and ‘Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After’ have been in the works for a while, but Disney World has now announced that both shows will be opening on May 27, 2025. Here’s a quick once-over of everything you need to know about each show.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

Animation Courtyard Theater has hosted The Little Mermaid for a long time. The previous ‘Voyage of the Little Mermaid’ show ran from January 1992 until March 2020. When the parks reopened after the pandemic shutdown, the show didn’t return, and in December 2023, Disney announced that a new Little Mermaid show would be taking its place. As you might expect, the new show is a retelling of Ariel’s tale, but it’s been fully reimagined from the previous show. ‘The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure’ opens on May 27, 2025 at the Animation Courtyard Theater.

Look for new digital puppetry alongside state-of-the-art special effects. Plus, new-to-the-show songs, and of course, everything is built on a foundation of talented performances by the cast, looking their best in redesigned costumes. One of the highlights of the new show will be a “visit to Ariel’s treasure trove,” per Disney. And in addition to the returning ‘Under the Sea’ (you knew they couldn’t leave it out), musical numbers set to ‘Kiss the Girl’ and ‘Daughters of ‘Triton’ have been added to the show.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After

Ready to cheer on your favorite Disney Villains? ‘Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy’ closed just six months ago, and in that time Sunset Showcase has undergone a wild transformation. It’s preparing to open its doors again as ‘Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After’ debuts on May 27, 2025.

In this brand new show, the Magic Mirror summons you (that’s you, the audience) to assist with a burning question. Which Disney Villain has been the most unfairly treated? You’ll hear from Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, along with perhaps a few upstarts, as they make their case for simply being … well … misunderstood. To put you in the proper forgiving mood, you’ll find that Sunset Showcase Theater now has comfortable theater seating. And the theater also has a brand-new stage with the latest technology to assist the Villains in their pleas.

Are you heading to Hollywood Studios this summer? Are you looking forward to these shows? Let us know in the comments!