Walt Disney World introduced the Summer season 2025 opening date of the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey stage present at Hollywood Studios. This shares the debut date and new particulars, plus predictions about smooth openings & previews, Lightning Lanes vs. standby traces, crowds, and extra! (Up to date Might 13, 2025.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is a reimagined theatrical manufacturing set to switch Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The latter was a casualty of the COVID closure, and over 5 years later, goes to get replaced by this up to date present. It needs to be related in spirit and substance, with variations in fashion and (some) songs.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey is impressed by the Walt Disney Animation Studios traditional film, and can debut within the newly-refreshed theater in Animation Courtyard. The present was initially slated to debut final fall, however now’s on monitor to debut alongside Villains Unfairly Ever After in Summer season 2025.
When the brand new Little Mermaid Musical Journey opens, the stage present will characteristic beautiful new set items, cutting-edge results, and a daring new design that captures Ariel’s creativeness and feelings via her distinctive view of the world round her. Watch as Ariel follows her goals to be a part of the human world. This little mermaid’s journey is brimming with acquainted moments—like encounters with King Triton and Ursula—and stirring scenes.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally brimming with music–therefore the title. All through Ariel’s journey, get swept away by transferring musical numbers like “A part of Your World,” “Beneath the Sea,” “Poor Unlucky Souls,” “Kiss the Woman” and extra!
Followers gained’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer for there to lastly be a Little Mermaid present in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. Walt Disney World introduced that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey will formally open on Might 27, 2025.
Might 13, 2025 Updates: Walt Disney World has shared a bunch of reports about The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey in the previous few days. First, the Disney Parks channel on YouTube has launched a 10-minute lengthy ‘Making of’ video for the brand new present. (Warning: video accommodates present spoilers.)
Wish to take a sneak peek on the devices and gizmos aplenty Disney Reside Leisure have in retailer? So did Disney Legend and authentic voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson! She’s stunning Forged Members and bringing you alongside on this unique behind-the-scenes video. Fairly cool to see, and far ‘meatier’ than the traditional 1-2 minute fast clips we get for brand spanking new productions like this.
In different information, Walt Disney World has up to date the official attraction web page, revealing that the showtimes for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey might be steady from to
Talking of traces, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey has additionally been added to the Lightning Lane roster–confirming our hypothesis under. We’ve up to date our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for 2025 accordingly, however the one factor you actually need to know is that this gained’t be a very good use of your line-skipping allocations (except you’re visiting within the first week or in order that it’s open).
Observe that Might 27, 2025 is the date that each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Villains Unfairly Ever After will debut in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is seemingly strategic, coming proper after Memorial Day weekend, which is normally the unofficial kickoff to the summer season season’s advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
Though not explicitly said by Disney on this announcement, one factor to notice is that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is debuting across the similar time that MuppetVision 3D and Muppet Courtyard closes on the opposite facet of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s seemingly that the 2 new stage exhibits will decide up the slack and capability of dropping MuppetVision, particularly at a time when Walt Disney World attendance has been softening. In any case, you’ll have solely a bit over one week to take pleasure in each “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” and MuppetVision 3D. So plan your summer season holidays accordingly if your loved ones is stuffed with muppets and mermaid followers!
Now, let’s flip to questions in regards to the Little Mermaid Musical Journey’s potential smooth openings, AP/DVC previews, and extra…
Smooth Openings
The primary two sections listed below are basically equivalent to what we’ve written for Villains Unfairly Ever After. When you’ve already learn that, you would possibly as properly skip forward to the Lightning Lane part. The underside line is that the 2 new stage exhibits are equally seemingly or unlikely to supply smooth openings and/or affiliation previews.
If one does and the opposite doesn’t, it’s a matter of full coincidence, luck, or as a result of one is additional forward in rehearsals than the opposite. None of these are issues we will predict (and we don’t have any inside information on both).
To reiterate, Walt Disney World had moved away from smooth openings in the previous few years, earlier than bringing them again with TRON Lightcycle Run two years in the past. That was the final massive brand-new attraction to debut, earlier than Tiana’s Bayou Journey final summer season, which didn’t have smooth openings.
Our guess is that the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey may simply go both method with smooth openings. In digging again via the DTB Archives, I can’t discover a single occasion of a stage present having a smooth opening earlier than its basic public debut. It’s however nonetheless doable provided that the opening date is being set a pair months upfront and in mild of the timing round Epic Universe.
The present could be able to run forward of schedule, wherein case Walt Disney World may pull again the curtain earlier to assist take up summer season crowds. There’s little to no precedent for that taking place with a stage present like this. However alternatively, there’s additionally no precedent for opening new stage exhibits as “counterprogramming” to a brand new theme park at Common Orlando.
AP & DVC Previews
Walt Disney World’s current strategy has been to forgo smooth openings in favor of extra managed previews for choose affiliation teams, together with Disney Trip Membership Members, Annual Passholders, Golden Oak Residents, Membership 33 Members.
Affiliation previews are extra seemingly than smooth openings for Little Mermaid Musical Journey, however they’re removed from assured. We’d say it’s about 50/50 at this level. Truthfully, it wouldn’t shock me if there’s a preview “bundle” of types, the place Annual Passholders and Disney Trip Membership Members register for previews of each stage exhibits, and so they happen on the identical dates.
If these exhibits do supply previews, count on them to work virtually precisely just like the previews for the final a number of years, proper right down to all eligible APs not receiving the e-mail earlier than slots began filling up. (I wouldn’t count on Disney to go the ‘no registration’ route of Moana’s Journey of Water, as that’s a walkthrough and it is a way more limited-capacity venue with showtimes.)
In any case, receiving the e-mail for preview registration doesn’t matter! The hyperlink inside is what’s essential, and anybody who’s eligible can use that. Each of us might be monitoring our emails like hawks within the coming weeks and offers you a heads up ASAP if/when preview registration goes stay. You possibly can subscribe to our free e mail publication for immediate alerts.
Lightning Lane Standing
Our first distinction between Villains Unfairly Ever After and the Little Mermaid Musical Journey! As with that new DHS stage present, our prediction right here largely comes right down to precedent. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was not a FastPass or Lightning Lane attraction, so the infrastructure was not there for it. Walt Disney World must exit of their method so as to add a separate queue.
In contrast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a FastPass+ attraction. (It by no means provided a Lightning Lane as a result of, once more, this theater has been darkish for the final 5+ years, so it’s missed the whole Lightning Lane period thus far.) This implies the entire infrastructure is all the time in place. Walt Disney World must exit of their technique to take away the separate queue, or just fake it doesn’t exist.
It’s doable that Walt Disney World will take away the Lightning Lane from this queue. In spite of everything, Voyage of the Little Mermaid virtually by no means wanted FastPass exterior of some peak weeks per 12 months. Even then, “want” could be a stretch. Like so many stage exhibits, this was principally a “bonus” FastPass geared toward creating capability and the phantasm of worth with out really providing one thing of worth.
Anticipate the identical to be true right here. Having a Lightning Lane on the Little Mermaid Musical Journey will assist Walt Disney World promote Multi-Cross and Premier Cross, and likewise “permit” Walt Disney World to boost the worth of LLMP at DHS. It will additionally add capability to the paid Lightning Lane providers, enabling Disney to boost the edge for a sell-out.
Not like the character meet & greets which have had Lightning Lanes eliminated, it’s additionally not the case that the Little Mermaid Musical Journey has such low capability or throughput {that a} Lightning Lane causes operational or logistical points. In different phrases, it’s neither a constructive nor damaging for friends. However it’s a mild constructive for Walt Disney World and the trail of least resistance is retaining the queue for the Lightning Lane, so it’ll most likely have one. Nonetheless removed from a certain factor, however simply method above 50/50 odds. Extra like 80/20, if not 90/10.
In the end, I’m trying ahead to the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. I’m additionally a bit bitter that it’s taken over 5 years to get a reimagined alternative on this area, which is over two years longer than all different venues. I’m certain it’ll be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually take pleasure in. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it!
I’m only a bit annoyed by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical strategy over the past a number of years. It looks like the one issues completed with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership building. For every part else, there’s the implicit expectation that we, as followers, ought to merely be appreciative about no matter Walt Disney World–an costly trip vacation spot–chooses to offer us.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that wait instances are excessive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That individuals depart the park early out of frustration. That extra stability is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate assets to creating stage exhibits for Jollywood Nights (amongst different issues) versus expediting The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.
A few years from now, we’ll most likely have forgotten all about how lengthy it took to carry again a Little Mermaid manufacturing–I’m already “over” how lengthy it took to construct TRON Lightcycle Run. However for now, I’ll be having fun with the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey present whereas additionally questioning: what took so lengthy?!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part that you must know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey? Excited to have a brand new stage present, or bitter that this area has been darkish for over 5 years? Excited to expertise this throughout your summer-time journey to Walt Disney World? Assume it’ll have a Lightning Lane or be standby-only? What about smooth openings vs. pre-registered previews? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World introduced the Summer season 2025 opening date of the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey stage present at Hollywood Studios. This shares the debut date and new particulars, plus predictions about smooth openings & previews, Lightning Lanes vs. standby traces, crowds, and extra! (Up to date Might 13, 2025.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is a reimagined theatrical manufacturing set to switch Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The latter was a casualty of the COVID closure, and over 5 years later, goes to get replaced by this up to date present. It needs to be related in spirit and substance, with variations in fashion and (some) songs.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey is impressed by the Walt Disney Animation Studios traditional film, and can debut within the newly-refreshed theater in Animation Courtyard. The present was initially slated to debut final fall, however now’s on monitor to debut alongside Villains Unfairly Ever After in Summer season 2025.
When the brand new Little Mermaid Musical Journey opens, the stage present will characteristic beautiful new set items, cutting-edge results, and a daring new design that captures Ariel’s creativeness and feelings via her distinctive view of the world round her. Watch as Ariel follows her goals to be a part of the human world. This little mermaid’s journey is brimming with acquainted moments—like encounters with King Triton and Ursula—and stirring scenes.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally brimming with music–therefore the title. All through Ariel’s journey, get swept away by transferring musical numbers like “A part of Your World,” “Beneath the Sea,” “Poor Unlucky Souls,” “Kiss the Woman” and extra!
Followers gained’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer for there to lastly be a Little Mermaid present in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. Walt Disney World introduced that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey will formally open on Might 27, 2025.
Might 13, 2025 Updates: Walt Disney World has shared a bunch of reports about The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey in the previous few days. First, the Disney Parks channel on YouTube has launched a 10-minute lengthy ‘Making of’ video for the brand new present. (Warning: video accommodates present spoilers.)
Wish to take a sneak peek on the devices and gizmos aplenty Disney Reside Leisure have in retailer? So did Disney Legend and authentic voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson! She’s stunning Forged Members and bringing you alongside on this unique behind-the-scenes video. Fairly cool to see, and far ‘meatier’ than the traditional 1-2 minute fast clips we get for brand spanking new productions like this.
In different information, Walt Disney World has up to date the official attraction web page, revealing that the showtimes for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey might be steady from to
Talking of traces, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey has additionally been added to the Lightning Lane roster–confirming our hypothesis under. We’ve up to date our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for 2025 accordingly, however the one factor you actually need to know is that this gained’t be a very good use of your line-skipping allocations (except you’re visiting within the first week or in order that it’s open).
Observe that Might 27, 2025 is the date that each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Villains Unfairly Ever After will debut in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is seemingly strategic, coming proper after Memorial Day weekend, which is normally the unofficial kickoff to the summer season season’s advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
Though not explicitly said by Disney on this announcement, one factor to notice is that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is debuting across the similar time that MuppetVision 3D and Muppet Courtyard closes on the opposite facet of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s seemingly that the 2 new stage exhibits will decide up the slack and capability of dropping MuppetVision, particularly at a time when Walt Disney World attendance has been softening. In any case, you’ll have solely a bit over one week to take pleasure in each “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” and MuppetVision 3D. So plan your summer season holidays accordingly if your loved ones is stuffed with muppets and mermaid followers!
Now, let’s flip to questions in regards to the Little Mermaid Musical Journey’s potential smooth openings, AP/DVC previews, and extra…
Smooth Openings
The primary two sections listed below are basically equivalent to what we’ve written for Villains Unfairly Ever After. When you’ve already learn that, you would possibly as properly skip forward to the Lightning Lane part. The underside line is that the 2 new stage exhibits are equally seemingly or unlikely to supply smooth openings and/or affiliation previews.
If one does and the opposite doesn’t, it’s a matter of full coincidence, luck, or as a result of one is additional forward in rehearsals than the opposite. None of these are issues we will predict (and we don’t have any inside information on both).
To reiterate, Walt Disney World had moved away from smooth openings in the previous few years, earlier than bringing them again with TRON Lightcycle Run two years in the past. That was the final massive brand-new attraction to debut, earlier than Tiana’s Bayou Journey final summer season, which didn’t have smooth openings.
Our guess is that the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey may simply go both method with smooth openings. In digging again via the DTB Archives, I can’t discover a single occasion of a stage present having a smooth opening earlier than its basic public debut. It’s however nonetheless doable provided that the opening date is being set a pair months upfront and in mild of the timing round Epic Universe.
The present could be able to run forward of schedule, wherein case Walt Disney World may pull again the curtain earlier to assist take up summer season crowds. There’s little to no precedent for that taking place with a stage present like this. However alternatively, there’s additionally no precedent for opening new stage exhibits as “counterprogramming” to a brand new theme park at Common Orlando.
AP & DVC Previews
Walt Disney World’s current strategy has been to forgo smooth openings in favor of extra managed previews for choose affiliation teams, together with Disney Trip Membership Members, Annual Passholders, Golden Oak Residents, Membership 33 Members.
Affiliation previews are extra seemingly than smooth openings for Little Mermaid Musical Journey, however they’re removed from assured. We’d say it’s about 50/50 at this level. Truthfully, it wouldn’t shock me if there’s a preview “bundle” of types, the place Annual Passholders and Disney Trip Membership Members register for previews of each stage exhibits, and so they happen on the identical dates.
If these exhibits do supply previews, count on them to work virtually precisely just like the previews for the final a number of years, proper right down to all eligible APs not receiving the e-mail earlier than slots began filling up. (I wouldn’t count on Disney to go the ‘no registration’ route of Moana’s Journey of Water, as that’s a walkthrough and it is a way more limited-capacity venue with showtimes.)
In any case, receiving the e-mail for preview registration doesn’t matter! The hyperlink inside is what’s essential, and anybody who’s eligible can use that. Each of us might be monitoring our emails like hawks within the coming weeks and offers you a heads up ASAP if/when preview registration goes stay. You possibly can subscribe to our free e mail publication for immediate alerts.
Lightning Lane Standing
Our first distinction between Villains Unfairly Ever After and the Little Mermaid Musical Journey! As with that new DHS stage present, our prediction right here largely comes right down to precedent. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was not a FastPass or Lightning Lane attraction, so the infrastructure was not there for it. Walt Disney World must exit of their method so as to add a separate queue.
In contrast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a FastPass+ attraction. (It by no means provided a Lightning Lane as a result of, once more, this theater has been darkish for the final 5+ years, so it’s missed the whole Lightning Lane period thus far.) This implies the entire infrastructure is all the time in place. Walt Disney World must exit of their technique to take away the separate queue, or just fake it doesn’t exist.
It’s doable that Walt Disney World will take away the Lightning Lane from this queue. In spite of everything, Voyage of the Little Mermaid virtually by no means wanted FastPass exterior of some peak weeks per 12 months. Even then, “want” could be a stretch. Like so many stage exhibits, this was principally a “bonus” FastPass geared toward creating capability and the phantasm of worth with out really providing one thing of worth.
Anticipate the identical to be true right here. Having a Lightning Lane on the Little Mermaid Musical Journey will assist Walt Disney World promote Multi-Cross and Premier Cross, and likewise “permit” Walt Disney World to boost the worth of LLMP at DHS. It will additionally add capability to the paid Lightning Lane providers, enabling Disney to boost the edge for a sell-out.
Not like the character meet & greets which have had Lightning Lanes eliminated, it’s additionally not the case that the Little Mermaid Musical Journey has such low capability or throughput {that a} Lightning Lane causes operational or logistical points. In different phrases, it’s neither a constructive nor damaging for friends. However it’s a mild constructive for Walt Disney World and the trail of least resistance is retaining the queue for the Lightning Lane, so it’ll most likely have one. Nonetheless removed from a certain factor, however simply method above 50/50 odds. Extra like 80/20, if not 90/10.
In the end, I’m trying ahead to the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. I’m additionally a bit bitter that it’s taken over 5 years to get a reimagined alternative on this area, which is over two years longer than all different venues. I’m certain it’ll be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually take pleasure in. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it!
I’m only a bit annoyed by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical strategy over the past a number of years. It looks like the one issues completed with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership building. For every part else, there’s the implicit expectation that we, as followers, ought to merely be appreciative about no matter Walt Disney World–an costly trip vacation spot–chooses to offer us.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that wait instances are excessive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That individuals depart the park early out of frustration. That extra stability is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate assets to creating stage exhibits for Jollywood Nights (amongst different issues) versus expediting The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.
A few years from now, we’ll most likely have forgotten all about how lengthy it took to carry again a Little Mermaid manufacturing–I’m already “over” how lengthy it took to construct TRON Lightcycle Run. However for now, I’ll be having fun with the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey present whereas additionally questioning: what took so lengthy?!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part that you must know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey? Excited to have a brand new stage present, or bitter that this area has been darkish for over 5 years? Excited to expertise this throughout your summer-time journey to Walt Disney World? Assume it’ll have a Lightning Lane or be standby-only? What about smooth openings vs. pre-registered previews? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World introduced the Summer season 2025 opening date of the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey stage present at Hollywood Studios. This shares the debut date and new particulars, plus predictions about smooth openings & previews, Lightning Lanes vs. standby traces, crowds, and extra! (Up to date Might 13, 2025.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is a reimagined theatrical manufacturing set to switch Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The latter was a casualty of the COVID closure, and over 5 years later, goes to get replaced by this up to date present. It needs to be related in spirit and substance, with variations in fashion and (some) songs.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey is impressed by the Walt Disney Animation Studios traditional film, and can debut within the newly-refreshed theater in Animation Courtyard. The present was initially slated to debut final fall, however now’s on monitor to debut alongside Villains Unfairly Ever After in Summer season 2025.
When the brand new Little Mermaid Musical Journey opens, the stage present will characteristic beautiful new set items, cutting-edge results, and a daring new design that captures Ariel’s creativeness and feelings via her distinctive view of the world round her. Watch as Ariel follows her goals to be a part of the human world. This little mermaid’s journey is brimming with acquainted moments—like encounters with King Triton and Ursula—and stirring scenes.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally brimming with music–therefore the title. All through Ariel’s journey, get swept away by transferring musical numbers like “A part of Your World,” “Beneath the Sea,” “Poor Unlucky Souls,” “Kiss the Woman” and extra!
Followers gained’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer for there to lastly be a Little Mermaid present in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. Walt Disney World introduced that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey will formally open on Might 27, 2025.
Might 13, 2025 Updates: Walt Disney World has shared a bunch of reports about The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey in the previous few days. First, the Disney Parks channel on YouTube has launched a 10-minute lengthy ‘Making of’ video for the brand new present. (Warning: video accommodates present spoilers.)
Wish to take a sneak peek on the devices and gizmos aplenty Disney Reside Leisure have in retailer? So did Disney Legend and authentic voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson! She’s stunning Forged Members and bringing you alongside on this unique behind-the-scenes video. Fairly cool to see, and far ‘meatier’ than the traditional 1-2 minute fast clips we get for brand spanking new productions like this.
In different information, Walt Disney World has up to date the official attraction web page, revealing that the showtimes for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey might be steady from to
Talking of traces, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey has additionally been added to the Lightning Lane roster–confirming our hypothesis under. We’ve up to date our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for 2025 accordingly, however the one factor you actually need to know is that this gained’t be a very good use of your line-skipping allocations (except you’re visiting within the first week or in order that it’s open).
Observe that Might 27, 2025 is the date that each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Villains Unfairly Ever After will debut in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is seemingly strategic, coming proper after Memorial Day weekend, which is normally the unofficial kickoff to the summer season season’s advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
Though not explicitly said by Disney on this announcement, one factor to notice is that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is debuting across the similar time that MuppetVision 3D and Muppet Courtyard closes on the opposite facet of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s seemingly that the 2 new stage exhibits will decide up the slack and capability of dropping MuppetVision, particularly at a time when Walt Disney World attendance has been softening. In any case, you’ll have solely a bit over one week to take pleasure in each “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” and MuppetVision 3D. So plan your summer season holidays accordingly if your loved ones is stuffed with muppets and mermaid followers!
Now, let’s flip to questions in regards to the Little Mermaid Musical Journey’s potential smooth openings, AP/DVC previews, and extra…
Smooth Openings
The primary two sections listed below are basically equivalent to what we’ve written for Villains Unfairly Ever After. When you’ve already learn that, you would possibly as properly skip forward to the Lightning Lane part. The underside line is that the 2 new stage exhibits are equally seemingly or unlikely to supply smooth openings and/or affiliation previews.
If one does and the opposite doesn’t, it’s a matter of full coincidence, luck, or as a result of one is additional forward in rehearsals than the opposite. None of these are issues we will predict (and we don’t have any inside information on both).
To reiterate, Walt Disney World had moved away from smooth openings in the previous few years, earlier than bringing them again with TRON Lightcycle Run two years in the past. That was the final massive brand-new attraction to debut, earlier than Tiana’s Bayou Journey final summer season, which didn’t have smooth openings.
Our guess is that the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey may simply go both method with smooth openings. In digging again via the DTB Archives, I can’t discover a single occasion of a stage present having a smooth opening earlier than its basic public debut. It’s however nonetheless doable provided that the opening date is being set a pair months upfront and in mild of the timing round Epic Universe.
The present could be able to run forward of schedule, wherein case Walt Disney World may pull again the curtain earlier to assist take up summer season crowds. There’s little to no precedent for that taking place with a stage present like this. However alternatively, there’s additionally no precedent for opening new stage exhibits as “counterprogramming” to a brand new theme park at Common Orlando.
AP & DVC Previews
Walt Disney World’s current strategy has been to forgo smooth openings in favor of extra managed previews for choose affiliation teams, together with Disney Trip Membership Members, Annual Passholders, Golden Oak Residents, Membership 33 Members.
Affiliation previews are extra seemingly than smooth openings for Little Mermaid Musical Journey, however they’re removed from assured. We’d say it’s about 50/50 at this level. Truthfully, it wouldn’t shock me if there’s a preview “bundle” of types, the place Annual Passholders and Disney Trip Membership Members register for previews of each stage exhibits, and so they happen on the identical dates.
If these exhibits do supply previews, count on them to work virtually precisely just like the previews for the final a number of years, proper right down to all eligible APs not receiving the e-mail earlier than slots began filling up. (I wouldn’t count on Disney to go the ‘no registration’ route of Moana’s Journey of Water, as that’s a walkthrough and it is a way more limited-capacity venue with showtimes.)
In any case, receiving the e-mail for preview registration doesn’t matter! The hyperlink inside is what’s essential, and anybody who’s eligible can use that. Each of us might be monitoring our emails like hawks within the coming weeks and offers you a heads up ASAP if/when preview registration goes stay. You possibly can subscribe to our free e mail publication for immediate alerts.
Lightning Lane Standing
Our first distinction between Villains Unfairly Ever After and the Little Mermaid Musical Journey! As with that new DHS stage present, our prediction right here largely comes right down to precedent. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was not a FastPass or Lightning Lane attraction, so the infrastructure was not there for it. Walt Disney World must exit of their method so as to add a separate queue.
In contrast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a FastPass+ attraction. (It by no means provided a Lightning Lane as a result of, once more, this theater has been darkish for the final 5+ years, so it’s missed the whole Lightning Lane period thus far.) This implies the entire infrastructure is all the time in place. Walt Disney World must exit of their technique to take away the separate queue, or just fake it doesn’t exist.
It’s doable that Walt Disney World will take away the Lightning Lane from this queue. In spite of everything, Voyage of the Little Mermaid virtually by no means wanted FastPass exterior of some peak weeks per 12 months. Even then, “want” could be a stretch. Like so many stage exhibits, this was principally a “bonus” FastPass geared toward creating capability and the phantasm of worth with out really providing one thing of worth.
Anticipate the identical to be true right here. Having a Lightning Lane on the Little Mermaid Musical Journey will assist Walt Disney World promote Multi-Cross and Premier Cross, and likewise “permit” Walt Disney World to boost the worth of LLMP at DHS. It will additionally add capability to the paid Lightning Lane providers, enabling Disney to boost the edge for a sell-out.
Not like the character meet & greets which have had Lightning Lanes eliminated, it’s additionally not the case that the Little Mermaid Musical Journey has such low capability or throughput {that a} Lightning Lane causes operational or logistical points. In different phrases, it’s neither a constructive nor damaging for friends. However it’s a mild constructive for Walt Disney World and the trail of least resistance is retaining the queue for the Lightning Lane, so it’ll most likely have one. Nonetheless removed from a certain factor, however simply method above 50/50 odds. Extra like 80/20, if not 90/10.
In the end, I’m trying ahead to the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. I’m additionally a bit bitter that it’s taken over 5 years to get a reimagined alternative on this area, which is over two years longer than all different venues. I’m certain it’ll be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually take pleasure in. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it!
I’m only a bit annoyed by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical strategy over the past a number of years. It looks like the one issues completed with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership building. For every part else, there’s the implicit expectation that we, as followers, ought to merely be appreciative about no matter Walt Disney World–an costly trip vacation spot–chooses to offer us.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that wait instances are excessive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That individuals depart the park early out of frustration. That extra stability is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate assets to creating stage exhibits for Jollywood Nights (amongst different issues) versus expediting The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.
A few years from now, we’ll most likely have forgotten all about how lengthy it took to carry again a Little Mermaid manufacturing–I’m already “over” how lengthy it took to construct TRON Lightcycle Run. However for now, I’ll be having fun with the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey present whereas additionally questioning: what took so lengthy?!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part that you must know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey? Excited to have a brand new stage present, or bitter that this area has been darkish for over 5 years? Excited to expertise this throughout your summer-time journey to Walt Disney World? Assume it’ll have a Lightning Lane or be standby-only? What about smooth openings vs. pre-registered previews? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
Walt Disney World introduced the Summer season 2025 opening date of the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey stage present at Hollywood Studios. This shares the debut date and new particulars, plus predictions about smooth openings & previews, Lightning Lanes vs. standby traces, crowds, and extra! (Up to date Might 13, 2025.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with it, “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is a reimagined theatrical manufacturing set to switch Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The latter was a casualty of the COVID closure, and over 5 years later, goes to get replaced by this up to date present. It needs to be related in spirit and substance, with variations in fashion and (some) songs.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey is impressed by the Walt Disney Animation Studios traditional film, and can debut within the newly-refreshed theater in Animation Courtyard. The present was initially slated to debut final fall, however now’s on monitor to debut alongside Villains Unfairly Ever After in Summer season 2025.
When the brand new Little Mermaid Musical Journey opens, the stage present will characteristic beautiful new set items, cutting-edge results, and a daring new design that captures Ariel’s creativeness and feelings via her distinctive view of the world round her. Watch as Ariel follows her goals to be a part of the human world. This little mermaid’s journey is brimming with acquainted moments—like encounters with King Triton and Ursula—and stirring scenes.
Unsurprisingly, it’s additionally brimming with music–therefore the title. All through Ariel’s journey, get swept away by transferring musical numbers like “A part of Your World,” “Beneath the Sea,” “Poor Unlucky Souls,” “Kiss the Woman” and extra!
Followers gained’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer for there to lastly be a Little Mermaid present in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as soon as once more. Walt Disney World introduced that The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey will formally open on Might 27, 2025.
Might 13, 2025 Updates: Walt Disney World has shared a bunch of reports about The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey in the previous few days. First, the Disney Parks channel on YouTube has launched a 10-minute lengthy ‘Making of’ video for the brand new present. (Warning: video accommodates present spoilers.)
Wish to take a sneak peek on the devices and gizmos aplenty Disney Reside Leisure have in retailer? So did Disney Legend and authentic voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson! She’s stunning Forged Members and bringing you alongside on this unique behind-the-scenes video. Fairly cool to see, and far ‘meatier’ than the traditional 1-2 minute fast clips we get for brand spanking new productions like this.
In different information, Walt Disney World has up to date the official attraction web page, revealing that the showtimes for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey might be steady from to
Talking of traces, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey has additionally been added to the Lightning Lane roster–confirming our hypothesis under. We’ve up to date our Information to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World for 2025 accordingly, however the one factor you actually need to know is that this gained’t be a very good use of your line-skipping allocations (except you’re visiting within the first week or in order that it’s open).
Observe that Might 27, 2025 is the date that each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Villains Unfairly Ever After will debut in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is seemingly strategic, coming proper after Memorial Day weekend, which is normally the unofficial kickoff to the summer season season’s advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
Though not explicitly said by Disney on this announcement, one factor to notice is that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is debuting across the similar time that MuppetVision 3D and Muppet Courtyard closes on the opposite facet of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s seemingly that the 2 new stage exhibits will decide up the slack and capability of dropping MuppetVision, particularly at a time when Walt Disney World attendance has been softening. In any case, you’ll have solely a bit over one week to take pleasure in each “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” and MuppetVision 3D. So plan your summer season holidays accordingly if your loved ones is stuffed with muppets and mermaid followers!
Now, let’s flip to questions in regards to the Little Mermaid Musical Journey’s potential smooth openings, AP/DVC previews, and extra…
Smooth Openings
The primary two sections listed below are basically equivalent to what we’ve written for Villains Unfairly Ever After. When you’ve already learn that, you would possibly as properly skip forward to the Lightning Lane part. The underside line is that the 2 new stage exhibits are equally seemingly or unlikely to supply smooth openings and/or affiliation previews.
If one does and the opposite doesn’t, it’s a matter of full coincidence, luck, or as a result of one is additional forward in rehearsals than the opposite. None of these are issues we will predict (and we don’t have any inside information on both).
To reiterate, Walt Disney World had moved away from smooth openings in the previous few years, earlier than bringing them again with TRON Lightcycle Run two years in the past. That was the final massive brand-new attraction to debut, earlier than Tiana’s Bayou Journey final summer season, which didn’t have smooth openings.
Our guess is that the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey may simply go both method with smooth openings. In digging again via the DTB Archives, I can’t discover a single occasion of a stage present having a smooth opening earlier than its basic public debut. It’s however nonetheless doable provided that the opening date is being set a pair months upfront and in mild of the timing round Epic Universe.
The present could be able to run forward of schedule, wherein case Walt Disney World may pull again the curtain earlier to assist take up summer season crowds. There’s little to no precedent for that taking place with a stage present like this. However alternatively, there’s additionally no precedent for opening new stage exhibits as “counterprogramming” to a brand new theme park at Common Orlando.
AP & DVC Previews
Walt Disney World’s current strategy has been to forgo smooth openings in favor of extra managed previews for choose affiliation teams, together with Disney Trip Membership Members, Annual Passholders, Golden Oak Residents, Membership 33 Members.
Affiliation previews are extra seemingly than smooth openings for Little Mermaid Musical Journey, however they’re removed from assured. We’d say it’s about 50/50 at this level. Truthfully, it wouldn’t shock me if there’s a preview “bundle” of types, the place Annual Passholders and Disney Trip Membership Members register for previews of each stage exhibits, and so they happen on the identical dates.
If these exhibits do supply previews, count on them to work virtually precisely just like the previews for the final a number of years, proper right down to all eligible APs not receiving the e-mail earlier than slots began filling up. (I wouldn’t count on Disney to go the ‘no registration’ route of Moana’s Journey of Water, as that’s a walkthrough and it is a way more limited-capacity venue with showtimes.)
In any case, receiving the e-mail for preview registration doesn’t matter! The hyperlink inside is what’s essential, and anybody who’s eligible can use that. Each of us might be monitoring our emails like hawks within the coming weeks and offers you a heads up ASAP if/when preview registration goes stay. You possibly can subscribe to our free e mail publication for immediate alerts.
Lightning Lane Standing
Our first distinction between Villains Unfairly Ever After and the Little Mermaid Musical Journey! As with that new DHS stage present, our prediction right here largely comes right down to precedent. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy was not a FastPass or Lightning Lane attraction, so the infrastructure was not there for it. Walt Disney World must exit of their method so as to add a separate queue.
In contrast, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a FastPass+ attraction. (It by no means provided a Lightning Lane as a result of, once more, this theater has been darkish for the final 5+ years, so it’s missed the whole Lightning Lane period thus far.) This implies the entire infrastructure is all the time in place. Walt Disney World must exit of their technique to take away the separate queue, or just fake it doesn’t exist.
It’s doable that Walt Disney World will take away the Lightning Lane from this queue. In spite of everything, Voyage of the Little Mermaid virtually by no means wanted FastPass exterior of some peak weeks per 12 months. Even then, “want” could be a stretch. Like so many stage exhibits, this was principally a “bonus” FastPass geared toward creating capability and the phantasm of worth with out really providing one thing of worth.
Anticipate the identical to be true right here. Having a Lightning Lane on the Little Mermaid Musical Journey will assist Walt Disney World promote Multi-Cross and Premier Cross, and likewise “permit” Walt Disney World to boost the worth of LLMP at DHS. It will additionally add capability to the paid Lightning Lane providers, enabling Disney to boost the edge for a sell-out.
Not like the character meet & greets which have had Lightning Lanes eliminated, it’s additionally not the case that the Little Mermaid Musical Journey has such low capability or throughput {that a} Lightning Lane causes operational or logistical points. In different phrases, it’s neither a constructive nor damaging for friends. However it’s a mild constructive for Walt Disney World and the trail of least resistance is retaining the queue for the Lightning Lane, so it’ll most likely have one. Nonetheless removed from a certain factor, however simply method above 50/50 odds. Extra like 80/20, if not 90/10.
In the end, I’m trying ahead to the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey. I’m additionally a bit bitter that it’s taken over 5 years to get a reimagined alternative on this area, which is over two years longer than all different venues. I’m certain it’ll be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually take pleasure in. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it!
I’m only a bit annoyed by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical strategy over the past a number of years. It looks like the one issues completed with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership building. For every part else, there’s the implicit expectation that we, as followers, ought to merely be appreciative about no matter Walt Disney World–an costly trip vacation spot–chooses to offer us.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that wait instances are excessive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That individuals depart the park early out of frustration. That extra stability is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate assets to creating stage exhibits for Jollywood Nights (amongst different issues) versus expediting The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.
A few years from now, we’ll most likely have forgotten all about how lengthy it took to carry again a Little Mermaid manufacturing–I’m already “over” how lengthy it took to construct TRON Lightcycle Run. However for now, I’ll be having fun with the Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey present whereas additionally questioning: what took so lengthy?!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part that you must know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey? Excited to have a brand new stage present, or bitter that this area has been darkish for over 5 years? Excited to expertise this throughout your summer-time journey to Walt Disney World? Assume it’ll have a Lightning Lane or be standby-only? What about smooth openings vs. pre-registered previews? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
