Also I really wonder why a Little Mermaid dark ride would be considered e-ticket? Wouldn't it be something along the lines of Snow White/Peter Pan, albeit with updated technology?
There seems to be some problems with the semantics of what a "dark ride" means. I've seen this happen before on this board, and only on this board.
In California a "dark ride" is known as a small car traveling on a bus bar track past little show scenes, a la' Snow White's Scary Adventure, Pinnochio's Daring Journey, Alice In Wonderland, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley To The Rescue, Winnie The Pooh, etc., etc.
In Florida, people seem to be using the term "dark ride" to mean any ride that happens primarily in the dark. Floridians seem to be lumping Snow White's Scary Adventure in with Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.
The Little Mermaid ride confirmed to arrive at DCA in 2011 is primarily a ride through darkened environments. But it's really a large scale, full fledged E Ticket along the lines of It's A Small World or The Haunted Mansion. According to Miceage it has dozens of sophisticated animatronic figures, lavish sets, cutting edge special effects, and an Omnimover cycle time of about 7 minutes (same as Haunted Mansion).
The Little Mermaid is a big budget E Ticket attraction. In the dark.
The issue with wording and semantics could stem from the issue of the nearly extinct "dark ride" category out there in Florida. That huge sprawling property with four parks and there are only
three dark rides left;
Peter Pan's Flight
Snow White's Scary Adventures
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
While at Disneyland, with two parks in a compact piece of property, there are
eight dark rides;
Peter Pan's Flight
Snow White's Scary Adventures
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Alice In Wonderland
Pinnochio's Daring Journey
Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley To The Rescue
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Californians know their dark rides. Floridians seem to be confused over the title of such a ride concept. C'est la vie!