Tag Archives: little mermaid
Did I Just See & Hear Mermaids on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride?
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I went on one of my favorite rides and as I went along, somehow I had forgotten the news that mermaids had been added to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride – and I am hearing most people did not know either. So, I wanted to share with you my experience so you can be better prepared and on the lookout for the mermaids on your next “POTC” trip.
So, there I was riding along with my group and I began to hear the voices of mermaids singing. I thought to myself, is that new? Then I saw mermaids swimming in the water, and I KNEW that was new. So, I said to my group they have added the mermaids to Pirates of the Caribbean! And all of a sudden the coolest part popped up, the skeleton of a mermaid. Normally, I would not think a skeleton was “cool” in any way. But, the Disney Imagineers did a great job of making the skeleton believable as a mermaid and really help seal the deal of mermaid representation in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I know that the mermaids are part of the story now, but I think Disney needs to be given a standing ovation on this one. Not only did they add the mermaids into the ride fairly quickly they also did it just subtle enough where you are looking for it and then are delighted with it!
Preview Period Has Begun for Fantasyland
The day we all have been waiting for is finally here…in a bit controversial and different from announced way. The new Fantasyland is open! Though scheduled to open on December 6th, they have begun what is being called a “preview period”. Disney Parks Blog reports that the new expansion’s “Preview Period” began on Nov. 19, which means the new rides, experiences and restaurants are accessible to all Magic Kingdom guests with some limitations such as limited operation hours.
• Be Our Guest Restaurant — a new Beauty and the Beast-themed, French-inspired restaurant with first-come, first-served lunch hours and dinner options.
• Bonjour! Village Gifts — a Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid retail shop in Belle’s Village.
• Enchanted Tales With Belle — an interactive show with Belle re-enacting the popular stories from Beauty and the Beast.
• Gaston’s Tavern — another eatery theme after the famous movie. The restaurant’s iconic dishes are a pork shank and LeFou’s Brew.
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid — ride a clam shell and experience the story of The Little Mermaid with the film’s popular (and extremely catchy) music.
The official grand opening date of the new Fantasyland is Dec. 6.
Related articles
- Behind the scenes look at the detail of the Fantasyland Expansion (chipandco.com)
- Top 5 Reasons I’m Excited for December 6th (chipandco.com)

‘Celebrate the Magic’ Debutes at Magic Kingdom Park
As you probably already know, Walt Disney World has been busy at work creating an all new “Celebrate the Magic” nighttime projection show at the Magic Kingdom since it’s last showing on Labor Day when it was previously presented as “The Magic, The Memories, and You!“. Well the time has come to “Celebrate the Magic” in a whole new way!
“Celebrate the Magic” is a nighttime projection show that displays on Cinderella Castle and pays tribute to your favorite Disney stories and movies both past and present.
The new show is sure to please, featuring Tinker Bell transforming the castle into a spectacular piece of living art and showcasing Disney fan favorites such as Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo, Simba, “Pirates of the Caribbean“, “Brave” and even the most recent “Wreck It Ralph“! And of course there is an appearance in the show by everyone’s favorite mouse!
“’Celebrate the Magic’ draws its inspiration from the love we all share for Disney’s memorable characters, their stories and the imagination that brought them to life,” says Show Director Katy Harris. “The team has been able to combine advances in technology with spectacular imagery and a stirring musical score to create a stunning and immersive way of storytelling. ‘Celebrate the Magic’ takes us on a journey full of wonderful moments our guests will never forget.”
Another great feature of “Celebrate the Magic” is that there will be seasonal updates to the show. The show will debut this month with a segment created just for the holiday season – featuring the return of the “gingerbread castle” as seen during the original show. And down the road seasonal changes will include Disney couples in January, “Lilo and Stitch” and “The Little Mermaid” this summer and of course the Disney villains for next Halloween!
“Celebrate the Magic” will be presented most evenings at the Magic Kingdom. Are you excited for the new “Celebrate the Magic” show? And what seasonal updates would you like to see Disney come out with over the course of this year? Let us know!
Related articles
- Keys to the Kingdom Tour – What’s it All About? (chipandco.com)
- Starbucks Locations Opening at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)

Top 5 Most Crucial Disney Movies
Who doesn’t enjoy a good Disney movie? Disney movies give us memorable characters, terrific music, fantastic stories, and happy endings! Disney films are integral to the Disney company; and over the years, several Disney movies have been crucial to the company’s success! Interested? Check out my Top 5 list of the most crucial Disney movies!
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs-I know, I know, Snow White’s kind of an obvious pick; but this film was so crucial to the future of Disney and the film industry as whole! Not only was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs the first animated feature film, but it was the first Disney movie; and next to the creation of Mickey Mouse, this film marked the launch of the Disney empire. And thank goodness for that! With those facts, this film is truly “the fairest of them all.”
2. Cinderella – Cinderella was Disney’s first major film since the box office slump of World War II. In fact, rumor has it that Disney would have gone under if Cinderella hadn’t been a success! Talk about pressure! Fortunately, Cinderella was most definitely a success. Not only did it fuel the Disney Company to further greatness, but it became one of the most iconic Disney movies of all time. Big Cinderella fan? Read about Cinderella Castle Suite inside of Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle here!
3. The Little Mermaid-When The Little Mermaid debuted in 1989, it launched an era which is referred to as “The Disney Renaissance.” Since Walt Disney’s death, Disney films had failed to live up to the company’s previous successes; but with The Little Mermaid, Disney regained its former glory and marked the beginning of a string of new classics. Because it was such a breakthrough, The Little Mermaid is definitely one of the most crucial Disney films.
4. Toy Story-In 1995, Disney and Pixar released the first movie made entirely by CGI. No one had ever seen anything like Toy Story; and with it’s major success, we were introduced to the wonderful world of Pixar. This film sparked an animation revolution! Therefore, for ushering in the Pixar era, Toy Story is one of the most important Disney movies in history. By the way, have you heard the rumors about Toy Story 4?
5. The Lion King-When The Lion King came to theaters in 1994, it brought a whole new meaning to the term “blockbuster.” The Lion King was not expected to be a success, and was a departure from many Disney films in that it was an original story; but it turned out to be one of the highest grossing animated movies ever and won numerous awards. Because of the low expectations, and the fact that it marked the epitome of the Disney Renaissance, The Lion King is definitely one of the most crucial Disney films.
So what do you think? Are any of these crucial Disney movies some of your favorites? What do you think Disney would be like today if any of these failed? Let us know!
Related articles
- Ten Movies Your Family Should Watch Before Your Disney Vacation (chipandco.com)
- Timon, Pumbaa and Simba take a stroll through the courtyard. The Lion King wing opens today at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. (pics.chipandco.com)














