Mermaid Lagoon?

[SparklinDiamond]

Does anyone know if this rumour is true?

Apparently, (so I heard), Disney are thinking of adding a bigger and better Mermaid Lagoon to the Magic Kingdom. It is meant to be based on the Mermaid Lagoon in Tokyo Disneysea. This would be fantastic from what I have seen on youtube!

What are your thoughts on it happening and has anyone heard the latest?

[disneyfanatic101]

The latest rumor going around is that WDW is going to add a Little Mermaid dark ride for MK's 40th anniversary.

[doconeill]

Yes, there are the two competing rumors, but the one considered most likely is the dark ride similar to the one going in in California, going where what is left of the old 20k lagoon is.

[SparklinDiamond]

A little mermaid dark ride would be cool!

Thanks for helping

[goofntink]

I can say Little Mremaid is a go even though it has not been officially announced yet.

[MJMcb]

now if we can get that Snow White Mine car coaster.....

[NDM#1]

I thought the 20K lagoon was covered up by Pooh's Playful Spot (a sight which depressed me this past June).

[doconeill]

I thought the 20K lagoon was covered up by Pooh's Playful Spot (a sight which depressed me this past June).

Pooh's Playful Spot covered a portion of the old lagoon. The rest is hidden from view, but I believe it has been filled in anyways so there is no sign of it.

Frankly, looking at that lagoon sitting unused for 10 years was depressing...

[CaptainFiz13]

Has a Mermaid dark ride ever been oficially announced for WDW yet? If so, I wonder if they are following the design Tony Baxter presented years ago that was shown virtually on the Little Mermaid DVD bonus disc. I thought it looked pretty cool, except I didn't like the way they changed the sequences and ended with Kiss the Girl. If anything, end with Under the Sea and send the audience out with a grin and tapping their fins . . . err, feet. I mean, if you're going to break continuity anyway.

[doconeill]

Has a Mermaid dark ride ever been oficially announced for WDW yet? If so, I wonder if they are following the design Tony Baxter presented years ago that was shown virtually on the Little Mermaid DVD bonus disc. I thought it looked pretty cool, except I didn't like the way they changed the sequences and ended with Kiss the Girl. If anything, end with Under the Sea and send the audience out with a grin and tapping their fins . . . err, feet. I mean, if you're going to break continuity anyway.

I don't remember it being officially announced, but there was at least a strong rumor that based on the response to the virtual version of the ride, a real version is at least being considered for the grotto/lagoon area...

[coasterfreak516]

I don't remember it being officially announced, but there was at least a strong rumor that based on the response to the virtual version of the ride, a real version is at least being considered for the grotto/lagoon area...

Yeah but if I am not mistaken that is entirely intended for Disney's California Adventure and maybe Hong Kong's Disneyland park. But yes, it was a strong rumor before the talks of bailing out wall street to be on for 2011(the 40th of Magic Kingdom and Disney World globally.) Now, who knows as the only things announced are the new shows for the "What Will You Celebrate?" promotion, American Idol and also the balloon ride in Downtown Disney.

[BamaJenn]

The area behind Pooh's Playful Spot (where the lagoon actually was - PPS is technically just sitting where the queue/loading area was) is completely cleared and basically just a huge plot of flat grassy area. Unfortunately it's also relatively well hidden from view from anywhere in the park that touches it (including back in Toontown Fair) so it'd be awfully easy to hide construction equipment back there until something large was being erected that required a crane. There is one of those lovely "construction" walls pretty much all the way around it as well so even if you could peek through the trees, you'd see nothing.

That said however... the last time I went on one of my "behind the scenes" drives down World Drive (May 2008), we were redirected to turn right onto Center Drive and were not allowed to make the left onto Floridian Way (off which is the road back to the former lagoon). So who knows... maybe they have been doing something back there for awhile and that "road block" with the traffic cop was their way of continuing to keep it a secret. That's wishful thinking though because the WDW train comes even closer to that area (it runs directly beneath the bridge over to the lagoon area) and it's still running.

Still - it's a very large empty plot of land and those don't exist for long in a Disney park.

[doconeill]

Still - it's a very large empty plot of land and those don't exist for long in a Disney park.

Well, the lagoon did...

[BamaJenn]

Well, the lagoon did...

Yeah but they were "reusing" the lagoon as part of Ariel's little themed area too. They added the waterfall and King Tritan and the fountain etc. So it wasn't truly "unused" at that time... just temporarily rethemed until they were ready to clear it (which I'm sure cost a fortune).