A little disappointed with new Little Mermaid ride....

[Planogirl]

I think that it's possible to use nice effects and still appeal to everyone in the family. Yes, Snow White did scare children but I hardly think that good effects had anything to do with that.

I haven't seen it yet so I'll reserve judgment. It's interesting to see what people think though.

 

[smileymomof3]

We rode it today and thought it was ok. We enjoyed a lot of other rides much more. Kids are 9, 7 and 4. The new area is very nicely themed though

 

[DISHoppy]

I thought it could have been better done but it was never intended to be that area's Eticket. That will be Seven Dwarfs. Would have liked a bit more detail but I suspect the kids will love it. The queue is one of the best they've done.

Actually that's incorrect. Jay Rasulo billed it as an E-Ticket ride when the FLE was announced @ D23 back in 9/09. The mine ride/coaster wasn't planned then. Instead they had plans for a Pixie Hollow attraction. They bagged Pixie Hollow after a management shakeup in 2010, and Tom Staggs took over Rasulo's role. The mine ride was announced about a year later (late 2010, IIRC).

-Kevin

 

[adamshalliwell]

I had read a lot of negative reviews about the ride prior to visiting New Fantasyland. The first time we went on it was a MVMCP and there was no wait. I was blown away by the queue and the extraordinary level of detail that went into the castle.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ride. We actually loved it, and we agree that the animatronic Ursula is the best thing. However, I did dislike that I noticed things that seemed out of place, especially on a first ride through. The first thing was the ceiling in the Under the Sea scene... the lighting equipment isn't hidden. I got over it, but it's ugly and pulled my focus because I don't notice the ceiling in other attractions (Pirates feels like a sky).

And that rod connecting to Ariel in the same scene is terrible. It's like the turtles in Splash and the chickens in Pirates. Have they not figured out how to cover these up yet??

But I disagree with some reviews saying it's a ride to visit only once. I've ridden it several times, and I still enjoy it. I'm sure my little sisters would love it even more.

 

[DISHoppy]

There's nothing wrong with the ride, it's just not an E-ticket ride as advertised. It's on the level of Nemo @ Epcot.

-Kevin

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I was very pleased with the ride from the queue area to the ride itself. Going back on Sunday. Yesterday at 10:30 only a 20 minute wait.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I don't know. DH and I really enjoyed it. DH doesn't like the Nemo ride so I was surprised he liked this. DD2 seemed pretty fascinated as well. We will definitely continue to go on it, but we'd never wait more than 20 minutes.

 

[TDC Nala]

Uses actual animatronics and not screens like Nemo. That's an improvement. But it's really nothing more different than a typical Disney dark ride of the past. It's very pretty though.

 

[shyeyes]

Ha! Some people just like to complain, I think. It's what makes them happy.

It's not like Disney gives a rat's patootie if the OP likes the ride.

well, this IS a place where opinions/reviews are expressed. i don't see anything wrong with what the OP posted. regardless if he/she complains a lot or not. the important thing is that there were reasons behind the ride review.

it's not like the OP simply stated, 'it sucked' with no explanation, right?

i've never been on the ride but will in a couple of months. for me, so long as my kid likes it, i'll be content. but i'm actually glad to hear some honest opinions (from both sides of the camp) about this ride (or any new ride).

at the end of the day, i'll form my own thoughts - but it's nice to get a little heads up on what to possibly expect.

at least that is my opinion.

 

[shyeyes]

i remember being really excited about the 'finding nemo ride' but was actually a little disappointed when i realized how much they took away from 'the living seas' (back in the retro days where horizons was also around still).

the technology they added to that ride was great! but there was something about the classics that makes disney... well, disney. it's like when phantom menace came out. being raised in the original star wars trilogy era (yes, i'm totally dating myself here), i was like, 'hmm... great effect. crappy everything else!" adv technology, to me, doesn't always make something great.

so who knows. maybe i will like this mermaid ride, maybe not. i'll definitely check it out when i'm there, though! thanks for the heads up on what people thought, though. i liked reading the different opinions for sure!

 

[interstate70s]

Haven't been on the on in WDW yet but have been on the LM in DCA many times, and it looks almost identical (besides the line) to the one in California in the videos. I think people vote with there feet, and that one has been walk on from the beginning in California Adventure, it really didn't take any pressure of TSMM, even though its close to it. I like it , my kids like it, but its more a time filler really. I disagree that its as good as the other classic Fantasy dark rides, for reasons mentioned by pps, ei the ceiling,too much light, how weird Ariel looks, not very creative movement of the fish in the Under the Sea scene. Even the old dark rides, without the great technology have lots of clever little touches, Mr Toads, flashes of light when you crash, the heat when you go to the "other side", The evil Queen in Snow Whites Adventure magically changes from her mirrow image and turns around as the old hag, LM doesn't have those kinds of things. The only thing thats really impressive is the detail and movement of Ursula.

 

[DLR29]

Haven't been on the on in WDW yet but have been on the LM in DCA many times, and it looks almost identical (besides the line) to the one in California in the videos. I think people vote with there feet, and that one has been walk on from the beginning in California Adventure, it really didn't take any pressure of TSMM, even though its close to it. I like it , my kids like it, but its more a time filler really. I disagree that its as good as the other classic Fantasy dark rides, for reasons mentioned above, ei the ceiling,too much light, how weird Ariel looks, not very creative movement of the fish in the Under the Sea scene. Even the old dark rides, without the great technology have lots of clever little touches, Mr Toads, flashes of light when you crash, the heat when you go to the "other side", The evil Queen in Snow Whites Adventure magically changes from her mirrow image and turns around as the old hag, LM doesn't have those kinds of things. The only thing thats really impressive is the detail and movement of Ursula.

The reason why Ariel's Undersea Adventure at DCA always has a short line is not because of a lack of popularity...it's the high capacity. During its first summer it would handle about 22,000 riders per day, as opposed to a ride like Star Tours which had 2 hour long lines and a capacity of about 18,000 riders (and DL at that time was open up to 5 more hours). Source: http://miceage.micechat.com/allutz/al081611a.htm

The lines right now for MK's LM are high (compared to DCA) because it's new, there's a big hype, and at DCA the new big popular thing is Cars Land. Based on capacity, MK's LM should have similar lines (15 minutes max.) in the future years.

However, to those who are unsatisfied with the new ride, I ask...What did you expect? This ride has been around DCA for almost 1 1/2 years. It's not anything new. You could have watched a youtube video of the DCA ride last year and known exactly what you were getting. It's not like it was supposed to be a new, ground-breaking attraction. It was originally designed for DCA...and then they decided to put it also into MK. It's a good people-eater and family attraction. It will be a classic for many years to come.

 

[bigAWL]

I rode the Little mermaid when it first opened in California Adventure. My younger girls loved it, but older daughter and I were a bit underwhelmed, as well. I enjoyed it because I like the music and I did think the audio animatronics (a few of them) were pretty impressive. I just had imagined some more "wow" for a ride dedicated to the film that is often credited for having saved Walt Disney Animation Studios.

After seeing the youtube video of Disneyland Tokyo's Pooh ride that someone else mentioned (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU88Bw_ivT8) I do find myself wondering why they didn't make TLM more like it. That looks like it would be fantastic, especially if they turned the Heffalumps and Woozles scene into an Under the Sea dance party.

I'm guessing the problem (besides the cost) would be the guest capacity. Let's face it, as it is TLM ride moves a lot of people. By the looks of it, I doubt Tokyo's Pooh ride can touch it in that area.

 

[ttintagel]

I'm not saying it wouldn't benefit from the ghost of Claude Coats coming around and tinkering with the scenery, but what modern dark ride couldn't?

 

[ghtx]

I liked it. The animatronics were great, a lot better than older rides like Peter Pan. You guys are all being too picky.

 

[WedgieSock]

Thank goodness you pointed this out. I was unaware I had a choice.

Thank you

Well, we just got back and I have to say we enjoyed the Little Mermaid.

No, it certainly isn't "WOW" but, I appreciated how far animatronics has come over the years. The way in which Ariels body moved was just amazing, it was kinda surreal.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

You guys are all being too picky.

This is just a ride...haven't heard about the beverages and paper?

 

[disneyphilip]

Highly underwhelming for adults. No innovative technology apparent. The grade school kids will love it, though.

Hey! I'm an adult and I love the Little Mermaid ride!


P.S.: No offense to anyone, but why is it that on some forums like this, people create thread titles expressing disappointment in an attraction, yet I never see thread titles saying positive things about an attraction? It's like the negative ones become more frequent just because it's easy to be negative and hard to praise the positives?

 

[Rhongepooh]

You mean you don't actually HAVE to ride every ride? Why the heck didn't someone tell me this before I got on IASW???

 

[mad madam mim78]

well, this IS a place where opinions/reviews are expressed. i don't see anything wrong with what the OP posted. regardless if he/she complains a lot or not. the important thing is that there were reasons behind the ride review.

it's not like the OP simply stated, 'it sucked' with no explanation, right?

i've never been on the ride but will in a couple of months. for me, so long as my kid likes it, i'll be content. but i'm actually glad to hear some honest opinions (from both sides of the camp) about this ride (or any new ride).

at the end of the day, i'll form my own thoughts - but it's nice to get a little heads up on what to possibly expect.

at least that is my opinion.

thanks homie