As Disney continues to evaluate their phased reopening plans, BlogMickey.com has learned that the plan is to keep the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show permanently closed.
UPDATE (December 19, 2023): Disney World has confirmed that the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show has closed permanently.
Our original article continues below.
The show, which has been running at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 1992, was reportedly under consideration to take a final bow before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the parks down. Between the extended closure and ongoing battle with the Actors’ Equity union, Disney has decided to end the show rather unceremoniously, we’re told.
As you can see in the photos below, the queue was never marked for social distancing, an indication that there were no plans to reopen the show when the theme parks reopened, we were told by Cast Members in the area. As a matter of fact, other shows have had social distancing markers in place for when the union stalemate comes to an end.
First, here’s a look at Voyage of the Little Mermaid has it sits today, followed by the other Hollywood Studios shows that have social distancing markers in place (although they remain temporarily closed).
Here is a look at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, complete with queue and seating social distancing markers.
Set pieces sit waiting for the Cast to return.
Over at the Frozen Sing-Along, queue stickers and pre-show dots are in place.
At Beauty and the Beast, we can find extensive queue markers and we’re told that the stadium seating is also marked like Indiana Jones above.
Of course, the all-new Disney Junior Play and Dance show that features all non-equity Cast Members has markings as well.
As with any rumor, you should treat this information as unofficial unless and until Disney confirms it.
Boo! That’s my favorite show at HS!!
Darn. This is one of my favorite shows.
Such a shame I went to Disney world for the first time late February into early March. The Little mermaid show was one of the highlights for families with small children in Hollywood Studios. With this now closing it really means that Hollywood studios has very little to offer families with younger children.
The Little Mermaid is such a beautiful show to watch. When my son was 6, we went for the first time and he was mesmerized with it. It became a tradition that this was the last thing we would do every time we went. We often spoke about how he wanted to make it a tradition with his own children one day. It saddens me we won’t have that opportunity.
If only there were a whole land in DHS devoted to kids and Toys. That would be a different Story.
Losing Voyage of The Little Mermaid is disheartening. One of the older Disney Princesses, Ariel deserves to have a ride/show. New Princesses moving in with their rides, takes away from older Princesses. The Little Mermaid is my all time favorite movie, especially growing up in the 80’s, and still is to this day. Disney needs to keep faithful to one of the Original Princess.
Like everything else in Hollywood Studios that “WAS” cool and magical,, ex ,, Backlot Tour , Honey I Shrunk the Kids , Lights Camera Action , Great Movie Ride , the fantastic street performers ,the city street murals , the water tower , along with other stuff ,and let’s not forget the iconic Wizards Hat ,,,
Let’s make room for more Star Wars crap
Sorry it is closing. It was one of my favorites. Always went on since it opened. Wish they would reconsider closing it.
This is such a bummer. This show was great for children and adults. Regardless of how many times I visited the park, I always got in to see the Little Mermaid show. It never got old. Hope they reconsider.
Absolutely agreed. I’ve been visiting since it opened and I feel that like EPCOT it is losing it’s identity and drifting towards becoming another Magic Kingdom
[…] the subtraction front, BlogMickey is reporting that the Voyage of the Little Mermaid puppet and stage show has been permanently […]
You must be kidding me. I’ve been to Disney every year, sometimes twice a year, since I was born. This is one of the BEST shows Disney has ever put on and I would never miss it. Hollywood Studios is almost not worth going to anymore. First, you get rid of The Great Movie Ride, now this? Who is making these decisions? I understand trying to stay innovative for the younger generations, but I am 27 and don’t know one person who would agree with these changes. Bring back the Disney magic and stop overdoing it by replacing all of these classic attractions.
“One of the older Disney Princesses, Ariel deserves to have a ride/show. ” Ummmm didn’t they just open a brand new Ariel ride in New Fantasyland within the last10 years?
The show has, sadly, been neglected for years. How many remember that the waiting area used to have an entertaining pre-show with elements on the walls that now sit dormant? Or that the main show had set elements that haven’t been active in I-can’t-recall-how-long?
It seems a number of commenters are upset about this probable change, but I think it’s bit overdue. With the opening of “Under the Sea” in new Fantasyland, I thought the show in Hollywood Studios was now a bit redundant. Although it was entertaining the first couple of times, we rarely went to see it in recent years. The last time we did attend, I was struck by how brief the performance was. So I hope that Disney actually has a good replacement show in mind that can go into that space in relatively quick order. They have tons of new IP on which to draw so no excuse for not putting in something new and equally enjoyable. Don’t be like Stitch!
“Original Princesses need a ride” I can’t…. Ariel has a whole fancy new ride in Magic Kingdom……
BRING BACK — THE MOVIE RIDE , 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA – USE THIS WITH THE LITTLE MERMAID , GO BACK TO THE UNDERWATER AND LET KIDS ENJOY WATCHING . ALSO BRING BACK THE SWAN RIDE , IT WOULD LOOK WONDERFUL IN EPCOT & MAGIC KINGDOM . Bad enough that Pleasure Island is Gone .
Please rethink what You are Doing .
how dare they try to close me and my moms favorite show in all of Disney world