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 put up shares the announcement and official particulars, plus our commentary concerning the upcoming addition. (Up to date February 6, 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 Dwell Leisure has been dreaming up revolutionary methods to convey 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 via her distinctive view of the world round her.
“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey” may 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 art work exhibits the “Kiss the Woman” 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 contemporary manufacturing.”
As of February 2024, Walt Disney World has posted a few audition notices for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey on Disney Careers. The primary casting name is on the lookout 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.
Submissions can be accepted via February 19, 2024 and in-person callbacks will happen in late March and early April 2024 in Orlando, New York, and Atlanta.
The opposite casting name is searching for puppeteers for each The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey and Pageant of the Lion King. This one runs via February 25, 2024 with callbacks thereafter in Orlando.
Whereas these audition notices don’t share a gap timeframe, given the typical turnaround time between casting and opening, we’d count on The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey to debut very early in its previously-announced Fall 2024 timeframe. If something, previous precedent means that the present might come nearer to late Summer season 2024. (If this casting name got here with out the prior “Fall 2024” opening, our guess would’ve been that the present would debut in late June or July.)
Whereas Walt Disney World’s press launch doesn’t point out Voyage of the Little Mermaid, this can be a refresh of that. Phrases like “totally reimagined” and “convey new life” and “contemporary manufacturing.” Particularly, “Kiss the Woman” is recognized as an all-new addition, suggesting the opposite 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 season 2020. If I recall appropriately, 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 have been in fairly tough form, and different exhibits (MuppetVision being a primary instance) have seen a whole lot of updates over the past couple of years. Had these occurred suddenly throughout 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 slightest degree shocking 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 exhibiting its age for years with circa-1992 innovative results consisting of lasers and different outdated lighting.
Like just a few exhibits in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Voyage of the Little Mermaid was/is overdue for an replace or outright alternative. Personally, I favored its blast-from-the-past vibe and comforting Nineteen Nineties high quality–however I however understand 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 recommended 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 happy 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 a minimum of a decade getting a correct reimagining. Equally, it’s nice to see Disney Dwell Leisure get some love (and price range).
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 journey 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 bit of troublesome to get enthusiastic about this given the encompassing circumstances. Initially, 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 could seem to be minor issues, however Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the very best wait instances (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 Might Repair the Visitor Expertise by Enhancing These Issues.) The one fast repair for these points is leisure.
Actually, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Magnificence and the Beast – Dwell 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 a large attendance improve and would badly want added capability. Walt Disney World didn’t try this; they have been extra preoccupied with reducing leisure prices as a substitute.
The following greatest time to do that would’ve been Summer season 2020 when there was one other (albeit unanticipated) lull and Walt Disney World would’ve had a chance to make modifications 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 troublesome because of the dynamic. (It didn’t cease different tasks round Central Florida, together with at Common–however let’s simply fake Disney is, by some means, totally different and couldn’t presumably have constructed throughout the downtime.)
The following greatest time to do that would’ve been someday in 2021 or 2022. By that time, issues have been going again to regular and pent-up demand was arriving in full power. Regardless that the capability was very a lot wanted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the challenge might 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 an alternative, we’re getting an announcement now for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey coming in Fall 2024. A reimagined model of an current present that’s been ‘briefly unavailable’ for almost 4 years…coming virtually one other yr from now. Possibly I simply awoke on the incorrect facet of the mattress–or possibly it’s the distinction of this information with what Common is doing–however it’s actually troublesome for me to get enthusiastic about Walt Disney World belatedly doing what they need to’ve completed years in the past, and taking eternally within the course of.
For 2024, I’d’ve anticipated one thing extra. That whole nook of the park is effectively previous its prime, with Star Wars Launch Bay being a tragic shell of its former self. Transferring these meet & greets to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (some form of ‘portal’ or some story nonsense if essential to sidestep timeline points) and remodeling that house into the long-rumored clean slate darkish journey–or actually the rest–could be welcome.
Once more, Disney’s Hollywood Studios wants much more to do, and this can be 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 imagine 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 certain The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey can be a enjoyable stage present that we’ll actually get pleasure from. I’m already trying ahead to taking Megatron to it! So I’m not making an attempt to be a debbie downer or damaging nelly or no matter.
I’m only a bit pissed off by Walt Disney World’s lackadaisical method over the past a number of years. It looks as if the one issues completed with a way of urgency are upcharges, cutbacks, and Disney Trip Membership development. For all the pieces 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 present us.
Actually, it additionally bothers me that there was loads of price range to develop two new stage exhibits for Disney Jollywood Nights, the arduous ticket Christmas social gathering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, however not convey again or refresh leisure for normal day friends.
It’s no secret to anybody in park administration that DHS wait instances are excessive. That individuals depart the park early out of frustration. That extra steadiness is required within the attraction and leisure lineup. And but, they selected to allocate assets 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 crew at Disney Dwell Leisure engaged on The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey or Disney Jollywood Nights. Regardless that I didn’t love the occasion as an entire, these Christmas stage exhibits weren’t the explanation why–they have been completely improbable (and I actually hope they stay on, a method or one other). It’s not the fault of creatives that one factor will get price range and one other doesn’t. They’re taking part in 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 all the pieces Disney does, however there are additionally a whole lot of longtime followers beginning to get pissed off. And, as we mentioned in Is Common “Beating” Walt Disney World?, the opening of Epic Universe is true 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 may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
