Ariel's Grotto - 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.?

[Jenny]

in the past, ariel's grotto was listed in MK's map as opening at 10 a.m. so that's when we went & there was always a line ahead of us (about 15 min).

i didn't think to check www.pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares last time for ariel but i just looked for this week & it says that it opens at 9 a.m. our trip is in nov. & i'll check w/ steve soares again but i was wondering if anyone has been to ariel's grotto between 9-10 a.m.? maybe they changed her opening time from 10 to 9? i hope so!

 

[catherines_mama]

bugger.. I'm trying to remember. We were in line for Dumbo, just getting on it when it opened in June. As soon as our ride was over we ran in, didnt wait long, 3rd family in line after her "break". hmmm I wanna say 10am because we went straight from there to Toontown and it was already open.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We were there at the end of September. The grotto opened at 10am. DD and I got there about 9:55am and we waited about 30 minutes.

 

[Jenny]

do you think steve soares' site is correct w/ 9 a.m. this week?

 

[smnornes]

last year, the park opened for us at 9am, but Ariel's Grotto didn't open until 10am.

 

[elizabethsmom]

We were there in September and it said 10 a.m. We got there right at 10:00 and there was a 25 minute wait. We didn't wait in line.

I believe that Ariel's autograph was the only princess my daughter didn't get. She wasn't that upset, but I was disappointed. We talked to a family who had gotten her autograph and they got it at the Asherkus breakfast. They said that Ariel is there and in a dress. Next year, we will definitely book Ahserkus

 

[Jenny]

i'm going w/ some ariel fans this time around & mentioned meeting her. it sounds like it still opens at 10 a.m. but people are getting in line ahead of time. we'll be in fantasyland anyway between 9-10 a.m. so i'll have to keep my eye on the line forming. thanks.

 

[blessedby3]

My DD7 was just talking (last night) about seeing Ariel. We have not seen her. Is she in her "fins" ? How does it work trying to see her? Is she there all day? I know we will have to do this in Dec. since DD wants to so bad. Thanks for any information

 

[dreamalittledream]

so when is the best time to see her? besides right at 10?

 

[Jenny]

so when is the best time to see her? besides right at 10?

good question. i'm wondering if late in the afternoon may be a better time.

 

[bjakmom]

At the Grotto she is in her 'fins'. She is sitting in a lovely setting inside a little 'cave'-like area and the little ones get to sit up next to her. Word of advice, if you don't want your little one looking like s/he just came out of the water themselves, don't let them play in the water area next to the line while you wait (guess who did that with her DGrD ). This trip we'll be getting a pic at the Princess meal, so DGrD will be dry!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Well for us it opened at 10. But keep an eye on the line starting at about 9:40. If you wait until 10:00 to even take a peak, it will be about a half hour. Ariel takes a long time with the kids and was really sweet. We waited about 15 minutes but half of that was before it opened.

I really can't tell you whether it's 9 or 10 next week. You'll have to see whether that's an error when you get there. If it's 9 and the park opens at 9, I wouldn't worry. the best place to head first anyway if you're going to ride it is Dumbo. and the grotto is right behind it. So head to dumbo, then take a peak at the grotto. You'll be able to tell if it's open. If it is, head over. If not, then, then you just do your fantasyland rides in order, keeping an eye on the grotto until it's open. 9:40 is the time you really need to keep an eye out. Depending upon crowds, it fills up between then and 9:55. 10:00 is too late. It's already about 1/2 hour by then.
The reason is ariel is slow. But she really is cute and interacts with the kids. W

 

[Jenny]

i'm guiding our group & we were trying to decide whether or not to be at toontown for rope drop at 10 a.m. or to get in line for ariel at 10 a.m. i was hoping that ariel would be open at 9 so that we could ride dumbo, see ariel & some other fantasyland rides then still get over to toontown at 10. we'll see. i'm overplanning as usual.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

At the Grotto she is in her 'fins'. She is sitting in a lovely setting inside a little 'cave'-like area and the little ones get to sit up next to her. Word of advice, if you don't want your little one looking like s/he just came out of the water themselves, don't let them play in the water area next to the line while you wait (guess who did that with her DGrD ). This trip we'll be getting a pic at the Princess meal, so DGrD will be dry!

Totally second that. DD(3) did get her pic taken with Ariel but looks like a drowned rat. Plus her face is red and splotchy because of course she bawled when I told her to get out of the water.

Live and Learn.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I had just checked out that site to check for Lightning McQueen times, when I glanced and saw the 9am time for Ariel. We had breakfast in the castle and were planning to meet dh and the boys at Dumbo. Since we got there early, I decided to check out the grotto to see if I had been imagining things. Sure enough, it was open at 9. The sign said a 10 minute wait, but we were the first ones in. We've never managed to see Ariel, since she's always had a wait when we were willing to break from the rides to see her.

 

[Vickie46]

Make sure your little one takes Ariel a fork.. she has a fit over it! She starts brushing her red hair with it.. its really neat how she makes over a dingle hopper as she calls it!

 

[Jenny]

I had just checked out that site to check for Lightning McQueen times, when I glanced and saw the 9am time for Ariel. We had breakfast in the castle and were planning to meet dh and the boys at Dumbo. Since we got there early, I decided to check out the grotto to see if I had been imagining things. Sure enough, it was open at 9. The sign said a 10 minute wait, but we were the first ones in. We've never managed to see Ariel, since she's always had a wait when we were willing to break from the rides to see her.

GREAT NEWS! i was waiting for someone like you to say that it really does open at 9 sometimes. we're going next week so i'll check steve soares' times again - hoping it'll still be 9 a.m. dumbo then ariel it is to start off our MK day! thanks.