Ariel from the live-action The Little Mermaid is moving out of Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the second holiday season in a row. Starting October 28th, Disney says the meet-and-greet will be temporarily unavailable, and Ariel will greet guests at Echo Lake near 50’s Prime Time Cafe. The wording matches what Disney shared last October, right down to the date. Here’s the latest.
Ariel Meet and Greet Moving to Echo Lake October 28th at Hollywood Studios
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Where Ariel will meet guests starting October 28th, and what Disney says about the change.
- What the Echo Lake spot looked like when Ariel moved there last year.
- What happened inside Walt Disney Presents last holiday season, and when Ariel returned.
Fans hoping for a photo with Ariel this fall will still have a place to find her at Hollywood Studios. Her temporary home moves outdoors to Echo Lake, trading the castle set inside Walt Disney Presents for an open-air spot. Here’s exactly what Disney says about the change:
Meet Ariel at Walt Disney Presents will be temporarily unavailable beginning October 28. Ariel will be greeting guests at Echo Lake, near 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
That wording matches the update we reported last October, when the same change took effect on October 28th, 2025. Disney hasn’t shared an end date this time, and like last year, they haven’t said who will take over the space inside Walt Disney Presents. The word “temporarily” suggests the plan is still to bring her back indoors once the change wraps up.
What Ariel’s Echo Lake Spot Looked Like Last Year
We visited Ariel’s Echo Lake spot on its first morning last year. She met guests near a closed Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular gift shop, between the stunt show and 50’s Prime Time Cafe. Large potted tropical plants framed the space, and Ariel greeted guests in the ruffled light blue dress from the film. Disney’s description points to the same area this year.
Echo Lake looks different right now. Crews drained the lake in August for a refurbishment. Our October 15th update showed Gertie freshly painted and the scaffolding gone from the Dockside Diner ship. The lake was still empty during that visit, and Disney hasn’t said when the water will return, but it should be soon.
Walt Disney Presents During the Holiday Season
Ariel has called Walt Disney Presents home since the live-action meet and greet debuted on May 26th, 2023. The space sits at the end of the gallery and took over the former Sulley meet-and-greet area. Disney sets the scene on the terrace of Prince Eric’s castle, with a large video screen showing the sea at sunset behind Ariel.
Last holiday season, Santa Claus took over that castle set. He met guests in Walt Disney Presents from November 8th through December 24th, 2025. Ariel stayed at Echo Lake through the end of the year and moved back to her castle terrace on January 12th, 2026.
Disney hasn’t named a holiday character for the space this year, but the timing lines up with last season. This year, Disney Jollywood Nights opens November 7th and, for the first time, continues into January, with the final night on January 5th. If Disney follows last year’s pattern, Ariel would return to Walt Disney Presents sometime early in the new year.
Keep Reading
- See exactly where Ariel greeted guests last fall in our photos from her first morning at Echo Lake.
- Take a tour of the castle terrace set in our look at the live-action Ariel meet and greet’s 2023 debut.
- Check on Gertie and the Dockside Diner ship in our latest Echo Lake refurbishment update.
- Plan a holiday night at the park with our guide to Disney Jollywood Nights 2026 dates, tickets, and lineup.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!