The basics of The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure are similar to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion: a continuously loading ride system transports you through a series of elaborately themed, darkened scenes with sophisticated special effects. In this case, The Little Mermaid attraction takes you to the bottom of the ocean in clam shell cars, where the ride recaps Ariel’s journey from her father’s undersea kingdom to marrying Prince Eric. After Scuttle the seagull recaps the backstory for you, your vehicle descends backward beneath the simulated sea surface with a spritz of cool air. Assuming that you haven’t drowned, you’ll then meet a cutting-edge animatronic Ariel (featuring “floating” hair); party down “Under the Sea” with Sebastian the crab; and be menaced by a 12-foot-wide, 71⁄2-foot-tall undulating figure of Ursula, the evil sea witch. The adventure is all set to newly orchestrated versions of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s classic songs, and original animator Glen Keane and actress Jodi Benson both returned to lend their talents.

Though the ride is colorful and kinetic, it still suffers from shortchanged storytelling, especially in the unsatisfyingly abrupt finale. While it’s a welcome addition to DCA’s short roster of kid-friendly indoor rides, anyone expecting a modern-day classic to compete with Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean may come away somewhat disappointed. But this family from Arvada, Colorado, thinks the ride serves its supporting role well:

Head for The Little Mermaid ride when you need a break. It’s well done, it’s air-conditioned, and there’s never a wait.