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"Our TouringPlans subscription was a lifesaver on our trip. One of the busiest days of the year, and we never waited longer than 20 minutes!"
- Smith Family, KY
Description And Comments
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.
Touring Tips
- This attraction offers Lightning Lane via Genie+.
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Open for Early Theme Park Entry.
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Open for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours.
Expect moderate waits most of the day. If you can, ride early in the morning or late at night.
Ride Through Video
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid Wait Times
This chart shows you roughly how long you'll wait for Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid when you visit on a day with a given Magic Kingdom Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average "peak" wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it's the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid Wait Times.
Attraction Photos
Special Comments
- This attraction is climate-controlled (has air conditioning and heat).
Special Needs
Other Attractions in Fantasyland
- The Barnstormer
- Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- "it's a small world"
- Mad Tea Party
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Meet Ariel at Her Grotto
- Meet Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Meet Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Walt Disney World Railroad - Fantasyland