Walt Disney World has introduced that “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is coming to Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024 as a newly-reimagined stage present. This submit shares the announcement and official particulars, plus our commentary concerning the upcoming addition. (Up to date June 10, 2024.)
Let’s begin with the announcement from Walt Disney World. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” is a totally reimagined theatrical manufacturing. The present is impressed by the Walt Disney Animation Studios traditional film, and can debut within the newly-refreshed theater in Animation Courtyard in Fall 2024.
As a part of the continued funding within the parks expertise, Disney Reside Leisure has been dreaming up progressive methods to carry new life to the beloved story of Ariel’s journey to be a part of the human world. When it opens, the present will function gorgeous new set items, cutting-edge results, and a daring new design that captures Ariel’s creativeness and feelings by way of her distinctive view of the world round her.
“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” can have friends flipping their fins to musical numbers impressed by the movie together with “A part of Your World,” “Poor Unlucky Souls,” and extra. The above idea paintings reveals the “Kiss the Lady” scene in “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.” In keeping with Walt Disney World, that’s “an all-new addition that captures the magic of this recent manufacturing.”
That’s not all that’s new in “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.” The reimagined present options all-new bodily units, solid of puppets, stay performers, and gorgeous visuals. In actual fact, Walt Disney World is treating it as an brand-new present as a result of a lot has modified as in comparison with its predecessor, Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
“We considered what Ariel’s room might appear to be and got here up with this collage type that you simply’ll see woven all through the manufacturing,” stated Sarah Schmidt, Inventive Idea Artist & Illustrator for Disney Reside Leisure. “This new look actually knowledgeable each design choice – from scenic, to the puppets, even the customized digital content material being created for the present.”
To tug off this suave mix of sensible and projected scenic design, of actual and digital puppetry, the Disney Reside Leisure group is pairing some tried and true strategies (the blacklight puppets are again!) with state-of-the-art expertise.
“We’re utilizing some actually cutting-edge instruments like movement seize expertise, which you might have seen utilized in blockbuster movies,” stated James Silson, Present Director. “Mainly, we’ve got a stay performer in a go well with coated in sensors, and the info captured from their efficiency helps us create a digital animation of the character, which our animators then use to carry them to life on stage.”
This cutting-edge digital imagery can be used all through the present to accent what is occurring on stage, bringing to life characters like King Triton, Ursula, and even Ariel’s sisters, who kick the manufacturing off with an all-new “Daughters of Triton” quantity.
Earlier this yr, Walt Disney World posted a few audition notices for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey on Disney Careers. Submissions had been accepted by way of February 19 and in-person callbacks occurred in March and April in Orlando, New York, and Atlanta.
The primary casting name was searching for performers to play Ariel and Prince Eric. The discover signifies that Ariel is a singing position, searching for a lyrical pop soprano with belt to C, whereas Eric is a non-singing position. The opposite casting name sought puppeteers for each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Competition of the Lion King.
Whereas these audition notices didn’t share a gap timeframe, given the common turnaround time between casting and opening, we’d anticipate The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey to debut very early in its previously-announced Fall 2024 timeframe.
Previous precedent means that the present may open nearer to late summer time based mostly on these casting calls. Nonetheless, on condition that within the June 2024 replace, Walt Disney World didn’t present a gap date or timeline, maybe not. So at this level, we’re not likely positive what to anticipate. This isn’t a serious addition, so a strategic opening date isn’t actually essential.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey may debut anytime between August and December 2024 and it actually wouldn’t come as a lot of a shock. We’re inclined to consider it’ll open earlier in that timeframe…however who is aware of.
As urged above, it is a reimagining of Voyage of the Little Mermaid. “Kiss the Lady” and “Daughters of Triton” are all-new additions, however different songs can be ported over from Voyage of the Little Mermaid.
There have been rumors concerning the destiny of Voyage of the Little Mermaid since Summer time 2020. If I recall accurately, rumblings on the time indicated that the theater had been gutted and the stage present completely retired. Even then, it was unclear what “gutted” meant–the seats had been in fairly tough form, and different reveals (MuppetVision being a major instance) have seen quite a lot of updates during the last couple of years. Had these occurred unexpectedly through the closure, one would possibly’ve dubbed that “gutted” and erroneously concluded it was being completely retired.
It wasn’t (and isn’t) in the least stunning that Voyage of the Little Mermaid would finish its prolonged run–the present is actually sufficiently old to purchase a spherical of drinks from BaseLine Faucet Home. It had been displaying its age for years with circa-1992 leading edge results consisting of lasers and different outdated lighting.
Like just a few reveals in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was/is overdue for an replace or outright alternative. Personally, I appreciated its blast-from-the-past vibe and comforting Nineteen Nineties high quality–however I nonetheless notice that the present wanted to be overhauled or outright changed. That is very a lot excellent news from that perspective–I’m not lamenting the change.
Following these rumors, Walt Disney World refreshed the outside of the constructing and saved up the marquee. Subsequent experiences urged that the Voyage of the Little Mermaid would possibly stay on–with a alternative present within the spirit of the unique arriving “quickly.”
I began listening to these rumors in both late 2021 or early 2022 (it’s been lengthy sufficient that my reminiscence isn’t 100% correct). Actually, I assumed the concept had been deserted as a result of it had been so lengthy.
I assume not. On the one hand, I’m all the time completely satisfied to see extra normalcy restored at Walt Disney World. And that is extra than simply that–it’s a stage present that has been overdue for an replace for at the least a decade getting a correct reimagining. Equally, it’s nice to see Disney Reside Leisure get some love (and funds).
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey can be much-needed ’spherical out the day’ capability at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which ought to assist offset the park’s top-heavy trip roster. So all of that’s nice information. I don’t wish to diminish any of that.
However (in fact there’s a however…) it’s additionally a little bit tough to get enthusiastic about this given the encompassing circumstances. To begin with, as a result of even with a alternative for Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the Residents of Hollywood and Jedi Coaching Academy are nonetheless MIA. To not point out an precise fireworks present at DHS.
These might appear to be minor issues, however Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the best wait occasions (on common) of any park at Walt Disney World. The park actually wants extra to supply that doesn’t contain 60+ minute standby waits or Lightning Lanes. (See Walt Disney World May Repair the Visitor Expertise by Bettering These Issues.) The one fast repair for these points is leisure.
Actually, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Magnificence and the Beast – Reside on Stage, and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular all ought to’ve been refreshed in early 2019 earlier than the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. That was the time to do all of this, when the park was gearing up for an enormous attendance enhance and would badly want added capability. Walt Disney World didn’t do this; they had been extra preoccupied with reducing leisure prices as an alternative.
The subsequent greatest time to do that would’ve been Summer time 2020 when there was one other (albeit unanticipated) lull and Walt Disney World would’ve had a possibility to make adjustments with out taking away wanted capability from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
However I assume you could possibly argue that there was an excessive amount of uncertainty and development was tough because of the dynamic. (It didn’t cease different initiatives round Central Florida, together with at Common–however let’s simply fake Disney is, one way or the other, totally different and couldn’t presumably have constructed through the downtime.)
The subsequent greatest time to do that would’ve been someday in 2021 or 2022. By that time, issues had been going again to regular and pent-up demand was arriving in full drive. Despite the fact that the capability was very a lot wanted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the mission may nonetheless have moved ahead since Voyage of the Little Mermaid wasn’t being proven, anyway. The capability had already been misplaced; it was a nonfactor.
As a substitute, we’re getting an announcement now for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey coming in Fall 2024. A reimagined model of an present present that’s been ‘quickly unavailable’ for practically 4 years…coming nearly one other yr from now. Possibly I simply awakened on the incorrect aspect of the mattress–or possibly it’s the distinction of this information with what Common is doing–however it’s actually tough for me to get enthusiastic about Walt Disney World belatedly doing what they need to’ve carried out years in the past, and taking perpetually within the course of.
For 2024, I’d’ve anticipated one thing extra. That complete nook of the park is nicely previous its prime, with Star Wars Launch Bay being a tragic shell of its former self. Shifting these meet & greets to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (some sort of ‘portal’ or some story nonsense if essential to sidestep timeline points) and remodeling that house into the long-rumored clean slate darkish trip–or actually anything–can be welcome.
Once more, Disney’s Hollywood Studios wants much more to do, and it is a very underutilized nook of the park. Supposedly, Josh D’Amaro and Bob Iger wish to redevelop areas like this to enhance capability! (For no matter it’s price, we consider them. As mentioned in Why a fifth Theme Park Will NOT Be Constructed at Disney World within the Subsequent Decade, that is the extra environment friendly method.)
I’m positive The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey can be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually take pleasure in. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it! So I’m not making an attempt to be a debbie downer or detrimental nelly or no matter.
I’m only a bit annoyed by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical method during the last a number of years. It looks as if the one issues carried out with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership development. For every little thing 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 provide us.
Actually, it additionally bothers me that there was loads of funds to develop two new stage reveals for Disney Jollywood Nights, the arduous ticket Christmas social gathering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however not carry again or refresh leisure for normal day friends.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that DHS wait occasions are excessive. That folks go away the park early out of frustration. That extra stability is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate sources to that versus expediting The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey (and extra).
To be crystal clear, this isn’t a knock on the creatives or group at Disney Reside Leisure engaged on The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey or Disney Jollywood Nights. Despite the fact that I didn’t love the occasion as an entire, these Christmas stage reveals weren’t the explanation why–they had been completely unbelievable (and I actually hope they stay on, a technique or one other). It’s not the fault of creatives that one factor will get funds and one other doesn’t. They’re enjoying the playing cards they’ve been dealt.
Let’s hope that subsequent yr and in 2025, they begin being dealt higher playing cards, as a result of it’s not simply the exhaustion of pent-up demand that’s going to be an issue for Walt Disney World. There could be loads of individuals who defend every little thing Disney does, however there are additionally quite a lot of longtime followers beginning to get annoyed. And, as we mentioned in Is Common “Beating” Walt Disney World?, the opening of Epic Universe is correct across the nook.
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Your Ideas
What’s your response to The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey? Are you merely excited on the prospect of a newly-reimagined stage present and one thing else to do at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Or is your response extra combined, with frustration that it’s taking so lengthy to perform so little? Assume we’re being too harsh or completely truthful? Do you agree or disagree with our take? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
