The Little Mermaid Ride

**disneylover87** · 10-24-2006, 07:54 AM

Hi All,

I was watching my new The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition DVD when I found a section about "the ride that almost was"! Apparently there was a whole Little Mermaid ride, similar to the Peter Pan's Flight ride which they developed and built models of but for some reason it got put on hold in 1992. Does anyone know anything more about this? The ride looked like it would have been built in FantasyLand in Disneyland California and it looked sooo cool! If anyone's seen the DVD, let me know what you think, do you think it should still be built?!

**disneyveteran** · 10-24-2006, 09:57 AM

I would love to see that ride. The kids and I watch that part of the dvd over and over. It looks so cool! I think it would fit perfectly in WDW in the old 20000 leagues.

**Benjo** · 10-24-2006, 10:54 AM

I thought this was the best part of the DVD. I really think the ride had some great potential, and I think they should have added this to Fantasyland instead of the Ariel's Grotto area. Having this amazing dark ride back in that area would help with traffice all over Fantasyland because that area has been very underused since 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea left.

I doubt they would build the attraction now since they have it on the DVD, but there are rumors that they are going to expand the Grotto area to be more like the DisneySea version, so who knows.

**Maestr034** · 10-24-2006, 11:22 AM

Wow I have the DVD and havent even checked out that section. Looking forward to getting home and putting that in.

**SaraHThunderRR** · 10-24-2006, 02:07 PM

I am a Little Mermaid fanatic,
so when I got my DVD i had to
watch "the ride that almost was" first.
That looks like it could've been a classic ride.
I wish they could still build it somewhere
in DW like where 20,000 used to be or
something? i don't know, but i love it.

**disneylover87** · 10-24-2006, 02:56 PM

I know, I watched it first too. I think they should definitely build it where 20,000 leagues was, it's just wasted space at the moment.

**JEDIPRINCESS** · 10-24-2006, 03:49 PM

Wow now I really have to go back and watch the dvd again. I totally missed that section.

**jeffcot** · 10-24-2006, 06:18 PM

The Little Mermaid dark ride was announced as part of the "Disney Decade" company initiative back in 1990. It was projected for Disneyland in 1993 and Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1994. Various reports for WDW had it located in either Fantasyland or Mickey's Starland (Toontown Fair).

The Disney Decade ultimately and sadly became a veritable graveyard of abandoned Imagineering projects. I believe one of the reasons Disney has become so conservative when revealing upcoming projects, is the embarrassment they suffered due to the implosion of the Disney Decade and the cancellation of Disney's America.

**Hakuna Matata** · 10-24-2006, 06:34 PM

I bought the little mermaid on dvd and watched the ride that almost was. That is the coolest looking ride ever. It is awesome that you get to go above and below the sea while getting to be part of the movie. I love the peter pan ride, but i think the little mermaid one would be even better. I really wish they would build this ride, even though it has been awhile since it was being designed, it would b great if they still built it. It would be a very popular attraction i am sure. They could put it in fantasyland, it would fit so perfectly, o well thats my rant on how i wish they would bring this attraction to the parks.

**disneymaniac86** · 10-26-2006, 01:59 PM

I read an article about this attraction somewhere (don't ask where, lol), and I thought it sounded awesome. It was to be built were Ariel's Grotto is today. Yes, I agree, it would have been a classic

Sadly though, we will most likely never see it. Disney is too busy with things like Monster's Inc and Finding Nemo these days.

**dbm20th** · 10-26-2006, 04:50 PM

OK, I'll be the only one to say this but this didn't excite me at all. Another dark ride in Fantasyland? Not something at the top of my list. The grotto at DisneySea looks cool, but I would rather see the Villians idea in that area.

**snuffieslady626** · 10-31-2006, 10:29 AM

I saw the "ride that almost was" this week. My kids are so excited & think that it will be a ride! Shame on Disney for putting this on the DVD. It will be hard for parents to convince some smaller girls that ther really isn't a Mermaid ride. To the little ones, the magic on the screen is real! (They believe there really is an Ariel!) So my youngest is waiting to see the Mermaid ride when we go back on turkey day! It looks like it would have been really cool. We can dream....and you know, sometimes.............DREAMS COME TRUE!