Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid
Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid is an attraction in New Fantasyland at Disney World. More commonly known as The Little Mermaid ride, this attraction allows guests to plunge under the sea, entering a whole new world of aquatic life.
In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid. This is a beloved attraction that fans of The Little Mermaid won’t want to miss.
Expect to hear classic tunes and see favorite characters, including King Triton, toward the end! Just don’t make any deals with Ursula along the way. She’s the type that likes to trick unsuspecting mermaids!
This article was updated on November 25, 2022.
Here’s a quick reference chart for the Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom.
| Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid | Magic Kingdom |
Location: | New Fantasyland |
Height Requirement: | None |
Eligible for Disney Genie+ | Yes |
Ride Type: | Slow-Moving Clam Shell Omni-mover |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Up to three |
Rider Switch: | None |
Good For: | Little Mermaid Fans Small Children |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Medium |
Perfect For: | All ages |
Special Mention: | Sebastian makes several appearances. |
Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid was part of the New Fantasyland expansion nearly a decade ago. This is the only attraction representing The Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom.
Journey of the Little Mermaid has an exceptionally long queue, so it’s difficult to gauge the length of the line in advance. However, posted wait times tend to be pretty accurate.
Both standby and Lightning Lane queues are available for this attraction. However, in most instances, you won’t need to use a Lightning Lane for this ride.
Under the Sea is an Omni-mover attraction like Haunted Mansion and Space Ranger Spin. You’ll have to step onto a slow-moving platform to board your clamshell.
After securing a seat in your clamshell, you’ll pull a lap bar over you. A few minutes later, your clamshell rotates, and you’ll find yourself diving backward under the sea.
First, you’ll encounter Ariel in her thingamabob place with Flounder. They are admiring Ariel’s treasures.
Then you’ll enter a large room full of sea life as Under the Sea plays in the background.
Ariel makes another appearance here as she dances along with the band.
Before long, you’ll enter Ursula’s lair. But, as always, she’s up to no good.
Unfortunately, Ariel made a terrible deal with Ursula, and you see her transform into a human. She apparently didn’t know the human world was a mess!
Before long, the mood is set, and everyone’s waiting on Prince Eric to…you know…kiss the girl. Sha-la-la-la-la!
Things work out as most happy endings go, and the evil villain is left fuming in the background.
King Triton even throws in a few fireworks with his trident to celebrate.
And Ariel and Prince Eric live happily ever after.
Journey of the Little Mermaid is an excellent option to ride during the late afternoon or evening hours when wait times in this area are at their lowest.
However, it’s not a great escape from the rain. There’s no shelter near the entrance or the exit. So if you were to exit in a downpour, you’ve got a decent walk to get to the next covered location.
Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid Photos
Here are a few photos from the attraction.
For more attractions, the following are located nearby:
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Review
- Walt Disney World’s Dumbo, the Flying Elephant
- Magic Kingdom’s The Barnstormer
Or you might enjoy the complete list of rides at Magic Kingdom.
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Have you ridden Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid? It’s one of my favorites, leave a comment and let me know yours!
