A single Fantasyland attraction at Magic Kingdom Park will shut down hours before the rest of the park on Thursday, November 5. Walt Disney World Resort posted the change with only about a week to spare, and it hasn't said why.
What the Calendar Shows
This week, Walt Disney World Resort updated the official webpage for Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid. The ride will close at 7:00 p.m. on November 5, three hours before the park's scheduled 10:00 p.m. closing time. The operating calendar lists the Fantasyland dark ride as running from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. that day.
Guests staying at eligible Disney Resort hotels get a little extra time with Ariel and her underwater companions. Early Theme Park Entry at Magic Kingdom begins at 8:30 a.m. on November 5, which means those guests can ride 30 minutes before the regular start.
A Busy Stretch on the Calendar
The shutdown falls just days after the final night of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. It also lands three days before the first Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Both events send non-ticketed guests out of the Magic Kingdom beginning at 6:00 p.m.
No Explanation Yet
Walt Disney World Resort hasn't given a reason for the early closure, but this isn't the first time. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid was also closed for a single day on February 11, and that closure appeared on the operational calendar about a week in advance. Disney didn't explain that one either.
No refurbishment is currently scheduled for the attraction. The early closure could be tied to a private event or a minor repair, though Walt Disney World Resort hasn't confirmed either possibility.
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