The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park has been a fixture of Paradise Gardens Park since 2011, and this weekend, scaffolding and scrim arrived to signal that the 15-year-old ride is getting some long-overdue attention.
Construction Arrives at Paradise Gardens Park
On Saturday, WDWNT reported that plywood construction walls had appeared at the main entrance of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure and extended down the right side of the building. The outlet shared a photo of the construction setup, which reveals that behind the plywood, scaffolding has been erected across nearly the entire right-side facade of the attraction — all of it draped in black scrim fabric.
The only element still visible on that side of the building is a cast-member-only door, framed by the surrounding scaffolding and scrim. The towering columns and decorated walls at the Paradise Gardens Park entrance remain unobstructed, giving the area a relatively normal appearance as Disneyland Resort guests walk through.
The scope of what's concealed behind the barriers tells a different story. The scaffolding coverage on the right side of the building is extensive, pointing to a substantive exterior refurbishment rather than cosmetic spot work.
The Little Mermaid (1989) Ride Stays Open
Despite construction around the building, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure continues to welcome guests at Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland Resort has not announced any upcoming closure for the attraction, and the refurbishment shows no signs of encroaching on the actual ride system or the interior guest experience — the work appears to be limited entirely to the exterior facade.
Disneyland Resort has not commented on the project, which follows standard practice for construction projects that don't require temporary closures.
Which Disney park has your favorite ride inspired by The Little Mermaid (1989)? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
