Voyage of the Little Mermaid...

[Eckert]

So I watched this show today and I can't help but feel as if it's time to say goodbye to this very weird and outdated show, considering now we have the very well-done Under the Sea at MK.

I hadn't seen the show in forever and pacing and the way they flailed the puppets around was not exactly charming enough for me to consider it a 'stay-there classic'.

Does anyone else feel the same the way?

 

[Tom]

I do not feel the same way. It's one of my favorite live productions on property. I've grown up in the technical theater world (mostly as a hobby or side job - not my profession), so I appreciate controlled theater environments and the clever use of lighting and other theatrical effects.

I'm always amazed by the black-light performers - especially after watching them through an infrared camera one time. Wow - there's seriously a LOT going on up on that stage during that song.

I also love the music of TLM, and it's a nice place to sit when it's hot. Especially with the mist screen and other water effects.

Sure, it's an old show, and it may have run its course for some people. But not for me. I consider it a classic that's remained unchanged for many years, while still running fairly flawless shows.

 

[Monkee Girl]

My opinion on the show itself is that I love the theatrical elements of it. I love seeing Ariel and Eric on stage (Especially Ariel singing live). I love being in the grotto atmosphere. The 'Under the Sea' bit is wonderful to watch. And Ursual is amazing. However, I hate that they make a bulk of the action just a rehash of the movie on the screen. I feel cheated.

As for the show being where it is: I think it is time to change it as well and here is why: I really hate all the duplicating in the parks. There are so many Disney movies that are not represented anywhere and yet some of the same shows are duplicated in the different parks. When they planned New Fantasy Land with a Mermaid section, they should have added a brand new theater where they could either move the show or make it a new show for the fans. Then you would have had the show, ride, and meet and greet all in one place. And then this theater can be used for some other shows such as Frozen or some other animation property they want to use.

I feel the same way with the Beauty and the Beast show. I love it. But now they have the pavilion in New Fantasyland so it is no longer needed at the Studios. They could use that theater to showcase any number of Broadway shows Disney has such as Newsies or their newest Aladdin production. (I actually wish they had an entire 'Broadway' section at that park. Just a strip of theaters all down the street with different productions....ah...dreams....)

Anyway, I am not saying 'get ride of these shows now' but I would not be heart broken if they said 'Mermaid' was being turned over to 'Pinocchio' or something like that.

 

[Chef Mickey]

The amazing part of the show is the quality and consistency despite the number of performances per day. It's very well done and sometimes good is good. I know it's old, but I don't see classics like this as needing updates. For me, that would be updating just for the sake of updating.

I see Beauty and the Beast the same way.

 

[Daniel Johnson]

I'm not much for shows, and quickly get no bored. But I was surprisingly captivated by this one. The black lighting and lasers make is something a little more engaging, at least to me.
I also haven't seen it more than 5 times. Its still new and different to me each time

 

[Matt_Black]

I like it, but I'm of a similar mind as Monkee Girl. You have so many other excellent properties that can be adapted into shows, especially now as WDAS has been killing it so hard they should be serving life sentences. Mulan, The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, Frozen, and more are all excellent choices for replacements for B&B and Mermaid. Heck, it doesn't even need to have been a musical initially- look at Finding Nemo over at AK.

 

[Goofyernmost]

So I watched this show today and I can't help but feel as if it's time to say goodbye to this very weird and outdated show, considering now we have the very well-done Under the Sea at MK.

I hadn't seen the show in forever and pacing and the way they flailed the puppets around was not exactly charming enough for me to consider it a 'stay-there classic'.

Does anyone else feel the same the way?

Attractions that are still popular should never be eliminated. If the other properties are so great then build another theater, in fact I can think of one in DHS that has been empty for years now, and put a new show in there. Do not take out anything. Add to everything.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

No, keep this awesome Mermaid show in DHS. Redo the MK Mermaid instead.

Mermaid and the Studios are from 89, twin products of an astonishing Disney era. They fit together. Besides it is a fantastic show, whereas MK Mermaid is mediocre. Turn that one into Frozen. As an omnimover it can handle the crowds. Just paint the rocks white.

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

I love the movie and enjoy the show, but I think they should adopt a policy of running a show for X-amount of time, like a "limited engagement." If it exceeds expectations and is hugely popular, give it an extended run. After that, rotate it out for a new show. I'd much rather see a new Tangled show than see the Little Mermaid show again. You could retheme the building and lobby to make it seem more like a Disney musical theater, as opposed to just the Mermaid theater.

 

[Eckert]

I love the movie and enjoy the show, but I think they should adopt a policy of running a show for X-amount of time, like a "limited engagement." If it exceeds expectations and is hugely popular, give it an extended run. After that, rotate it out for a new show. I'd much rather see a new Tangled show than see the Little Mermaid show again. You could retheme the building and lobby to make it seem more like a Disney musical theater, as opposed to just the Mermaid theater.

See, that's what I'd love to happen. Some modern Disney Theatrical Production style show. Tangled would be great!

 

[JohnD]

As for the show being where it is: I think it is time to change it as well and here is why: I really hate all the duplicating in the parks.

Agree.

Little Mermaid: Show (HS), Ride (MK)
Nemo: Show (AK), Ride (Ep)
B&B: Show (HS), M&G Belle (MK), BOG Restaurant (MK)
Frozen: EVERYWHERE

 

[Matt_Black]

Frozen: EVERYWHERE

Oh, for... Look, you have ONE meet & greet in the Magic Kingdom, the sing-a-long show in DHS which is only temporary anyway, and the thing at Epcot which isn't even done yet.

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

QUOTE="Matt_Black, post: 6601564, member: 86948"]Oh, for... Look, you have ONE meet & greet in the Magic Kingdom, the sing-a-long show in DHS which is only temporary anyway, and the thing at Epcot which isn't even done yet.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I had a long comment written out about the comparison of how many Frozen things are actually in the parks and how many parks they appear in, especially compared to some of the other movies/characters, but I decided to take a deep breath and delete. I was at WDW again last month, and other than sharing a spinning float with Tiana in Festival of Fantasy and "Let It Go" being part of Celebrate the Magic, I didn't even encounter Frozen the entire week I was there, other than walking by Princess Fairytale Hall and looking at the wait time.

 

[JohnD]

Oh, for... Look, you have ONE meet & greet in the Magic Kingdom, the sing-a-long show in DHS which is only temporary anyway, and the thing at Epcot which isn't even done yet.

So, you're saying Frozen is barely noticable in the parks? The thing with Frozen is that while there is one M&G whether in Epcot first and now MK and the PERMANENT closure of Maelstrom (thereby making Frozen very noticable to those who lament the closure of Maelsrom) although the new ride isn't ready yet, they have gone overkill on muliple "temporary" offerings. You just can't summarily discount them.

MK: Anna and Elsa in PFH, Frozen 24 hour event coming up in May, Frozen characters lighting Cinderella's castle
Ep: Anna and Elsa M&G (now moved to MK then back when new M&G built), Closure of Maelstrom (reminding fans of Maelstom daily that Frozen kicked it out)
HS: Frozen Sing-along, Frozen Summer Fun, Oakens Trading Post
AK: So far spared but you never know

 

[Matt_Black]

So, you're saying Frozen is barely noticable in the parks? The thing with Frozen is that while there is one M&G whether in Epcot first and now MK and the PERMANENT closure of Maelstrom (thereby making Frozen very noticable to those who lament the closure of Maelsrom) although the new ride isn't ready yet, they have gone overkill on muliple "temporary" offerings. You just can't summarily discount them.

MK: Anna and Elsa in PFH, Frozen 24 hour event coming up in May, Frozen characters lighting Cinderella's castle
Ep: Anna and Elsa M&G (now moved to MK then back when new M&G built), Closure of Maelstrom (reminding fans of Maelstom daily that Frozen kicked it out)
HS: Frozen Sing-along, Frozen Summer Fun, Oakens Trading Post
AK: So far spared but you never know

Yeah, what's your point? I seem to recall that in the heyday of Aladdin, there was a parade at MK, something at DHS, and M&Gs at Epcot. This ain't a new phenomenon.

 

[JohnD]

Yeah, what's your point? I seem to recall that in the heyday of Aladdin, there was a parade at MK, something at DHS, and M&Gs at Epcot. This ain't a new phenomenon.

My point is that Frozen is EVERYWHERE and we're back to my first reply.

 

[BJones82]

MK: Anna and Elsa in PFH, Frozen 24 hour event coming up in May, Frozen characters lighting Cinderella's castle
Ep: Anna and Elsa M&G (now moved to MK then back when new M&G built), Closure of Maelstrom (reminding fans of Maelstom daily that Frozen kicked it out)
HS: Frozen Sing-along, Frozen Summer Fun, Oakens Trading Post

Did you complain when the Lion King was this popular in the parks? Just curious.

Another thing is to remember most of these things you listed were not simultaneously going. Stating that the M&G was in both MK and Epcot is the same as saying You can watch the Festival of the Lion King both in Camp Mickey and it's new pavilion in Africa...

Oaken's trading post is gone now and the 24 hour party is a party you don't have to go to.

Frozen is not everywhere, the two that you mention that I can understand being upset about but can get over just as fast are the castle lighting and Maelstrom closing... Maelstrom closing is very sad but hijacking every thread (not you specifically just in general on these forums) about it is kind of getting out of hand over a year later now...

 

[JohnD]

Did you complain when the Lion King was this popular in the parks? Just curious.

Another thing is to remember most of these things you listed were not simultaneously going. Stating that the M&G was in both MK and Epcot is the same as saying You can watch the Festival of the Lion King both in Camp Mickey and it's new pavilion in Africa...

Oaken's trading post is gone now and the 24 hour party is a party you don't have to go to.

Frozen is not everywhere, the two that you mention that I can understand being upset about but can get over just as fast are the castle lighting and Maelstrom closing... Maelstrom closing is very sad but hijacking every thread (not you specifically just in general on these forums) about it is kind of getting out of hand over a year later now...

Up until 2013, I hadn't been to WDW in 20 years. But my point is valid is that you can't escape Frozen. But, if you insist, here's where Frozen is in multiple parks today:
MK: PFH
HS: Frozen Sing Along (It's said to be "temporary" but it's a show offered now)
Ep: I grant there is nothing to visit today but the closure of Maelstrom reminds you that Frozen is coming.

 

[Matt_Black]

Up until 2013, I hadn't been to WDW in 20 years. But my point is valid is that you can't escape Frozen. But, if you insist, here's where Frozen is in multiple parks today:
MK: PFH
HS: Frozen Sing Along (But appanrently I'm not allowed to included that because its "temporary", you see, but no indication when it's ending)
Ep: I grant there is nothing to visit today but the closure of Maelstrom reminds you that Frozen is coming.

Picking the meet and greet is REALLY nitpicky. All the major characters have one, if not several, opportunities to meet. Snow White, Mary Poppins, Alice, and Pooh & Tigger (and more) can be met at both MK and Epcot, Stitch can be met at MK, DHS, and certain resorts, etc.

 

[JohnD]

Picking the meet and greet is REALLY nitpicky. All the major characters have one, if not several, opportunities to meet. Snow White, Mary Poppins, Alice, and Pooh & Tigger (and more) can be met at both MK and Epcot, Stitch can be met at MK, DHS, and certain resorts, etc.

I disagree. A&E, regardless of location is actually permanent. Was in Epcot. Now in MK. Will be back in Epcot when the new M&G is built. It's not the same as the other M&G. It's a highly prized FP+ attraction for those two characters alone right now. It always takes up half of PFH. I would put it on the same level as Belle. The others are scattered everywhere and are available when checking a times guide for whichever park you're in.