Ariel's Grotto - Home of the Little Mermaid

UPDATE 4/10/2010 - Ariel's Grotto has been closed for the expansion of Fantasyland. When the expansion is done in 2013, Ariel will have a some new digs at a ride called Under the Sea: The Voyage of the Little Mermaid. An Ariel meet and greet will take place at the Adventureland Veranda

Ariel's Grotto, what is it?

Ariel in person

Ariel from The Little Mermaid at Ariel's Grotto

Several years ago Disney noticed that people were clamoring for autographs, pictures with, and time with Disney characters. So someone came up with the bright idea to make a specific are where guests could come and meet the characters. Ariel presented a problem for Disney. There was no way for her to appear in her mermaid form. So they created an area where Ariel could be seen and made it look like she had a tail.

Here is a whole new world for the Little Mermaid. This is where everyone can come see, talk to, take pictures with, get autographs from, the Little Mermaid herself. Each group is given a short time (about 5 minutes) to spend with Ariel. You can take your own pictures, or a handy dandy Photopass photographer will be there to gladly assist you.

Waiting Area

Waiting to see Ariel can be an experience. Lines can be long and slow moving. Most of the waiting area is in shade from those warm Florida summer afternoons.

Just outside of where Ariel sits is a spongy play area for the kids. It includes irregular spurts of water that can be soothing during warm summer days.

Dad's Ride Information Table

Airel's Grotto

Description: Character Greeting Area

Height Requirement - none

FASTPASS:no

Length of Ride: about 5 minutes

Type of ride: Meet Ariel in her mermaid state

Dad's Ratings

Toddlers	Pre-Teens	Teens	Adults	Grandparents
4	3	2	3	3

Other Information:

History

Ariel's Grotto is one of the newest attractions in the Magic Kingdom. It's based on the movie The Little Mermaid. In the movie, Ariel wants to become human, but here in the ride, we see her in the mermaid form.

Fun Facts

There is a spongy water playground area that little (and sometimes not so little) kids can run and play in. Warning: your children will want to run in the water. They will get wet. You might want to throw a spare set of clothes in the backpack. (Isn't Dad helpful?)

Needed Information

Ariel's Grotto typically opens at 10:00 in the morning. Because it open later than the rest of Fantasyland it usually has fairly long lines when it first opens.
Those lines continue to be long throughout the day. Usually, the best time to visit is late in the evening or during one of the parades.
If you happen to be at Disney World during a slow time, you might still encounter a little crowd here. Sometimes even when the rest of the park is slow Ariel backs up.
This area is accessible by wheelchair.

Dad's Bottom Line

Disney has taken an area that was an eye sore and turned it into something unique. For years after 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed this area has been just plain ugly.

This is a good place for the little ones to get wet on hot days.