What does "The Little Mermaid" have to do with California?

Dear Prudence

Well-Known Member
In the past, I had brought up why so many people here think that Frozen Ever After is thematically inappropriate for EPCOT (i.e., a fictitious realm in a pavilion otherwise all about a real country), that it should have gone in, say, Fantasyland or maybe even the Studios (because it's a movie, so anything goes in the Studio). While they do bring up a point, I don't think it's really that bad a fit. They did research, and even the name "Arendelle" is based on a real Norwegian location. So you can't say they didn't try to fit it in.

In the same thread, I had also brought that there have actually been many other thematic inconsistencies in the park, yet most of them seem to get overlooked or get a free pass. One of them is the question of how the Little Mermaid ride fits in the California Adventure. Where are the criticisms based on that? About the only connection to California that "The Little Mermaid", a European story, has is that it was made entirely in Southern California. I could be mistaken, but I don't believe the animators ever went to Denmark or anywhere to do research on the movie.

Yet many people here seem to be less bothered by that ride being in the CA Adventure than Frozen Ever After being in EPCOT. How is it that the Little Mermaid in the CA Adventure gets a free pass, while Frozen Ever After in EPCOT does not?
The building is modeled after a 19th/20th-century aquarium (most likely the old California Academy of Sciences back before it became a tourist trap) and the San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts. From the outside, it sits across from the areas that homage Santa Cruz and Monterey. I actually enjoy the attraction a lot, and it's one of the only ones in DCA that doesn't give me Vertigo. I am a born and bred San Franciscan, so it sits well enough as far as I am concerned.
 

Samy Sam

New Member
In the past, I had brought up why so many people here think that Frozen Ever After is thematically inappropriate for EPCOT (i.e., a fictitious realm in a pavilion otherwise all about a real country), that it should have gone in, say, Fantasyland or maybe even the Studios (because it's a movie, so anything goes in the Studio). While they do bring up a point, I don't think it's really that bad a fit. They did research, and even the name "Arendelle" is based on a real Norwegian location. So you can't say they didn't try to fit it in.

In the same thread, I had also brought that there have actually been many other thematic inconsistencies in the park, yet most of them seem to get overlooked or get a free pass. One of them is the question of how the Little Mermaid ride fits in the California Adventure. Where are the criticisms based on that? About the only connection to California that "The Little Mermaid", a European story, has is that it was made entirely in Southern California. I could be mistaken, but I don't believe the animators ever went to Denmark or anywhere to do research on the movie.

Yet many people here seem to be less bothered by that ride being in the CA Adventure than Frozen Ever After being in EPCOT. How is it that the Little Mermaid in the CA Adventure gets a free pass, while Frozen Ever After in EPCOT does not?
I'd keep TLM ride instead what was there before, a movie theater with a film about California hosted by Whoopi Goldberg. You can watch it on YouTube. I'd prefer they move TLM to Buzz Astro Blasters but the entrance on the opposite side of the building facing Fantasy Land. Then bring Buzz Astro Blasters to building that houses TLM ride in DCA. Though it's would be the third shooter ride at DCA. LOL
 

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