Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
On this ride, you're raised on a cable to the top of the
tower and then released to gently parachute back to earth. Mostly a children's ride, Jump-
in' Jellyfish is paradoxically off-limits to those who would most enjoy it because of its
40-inch minimum-height restriction. For adults, the attraction is a real snore. Oops, make
thatarealbore—thepaltry45-seconddurationoftherideisnotlongenoughtofallasleep.
TOURING TIPS
The Jellyfish, so called because of a floating jellyfish's resemblance to an
open parachute, is another slow-loading ride of very low capacity. Get on early in the
morning or prepare for a long wait.
King Triton's Carousel
What it is
Merry-go-round.
Scope and scale
Minor attraction.
When to go
Before noon.
Spe-
cial comments
Beautimus.
Duration of ride
A little less than 2 minutes.
Loading speed
Slow.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
On this elaborate and stunningly crafted carousel, dol-
phins, sea horses, seals, and the like replace the standard prancing horses.
TOURING TIPS
Worth a look even if there are no children in your party. If you have kids who
want to ride, try to get them on before noon.
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
What it is
Track ride in the dark.
Scope and scale
Headliner.
When to go
First thing in the
morning or after 4 p.m.
Duration of ride
6¼ minutes.
Loading speed
Fast.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
The Palace of Fine Arts dome (former home of the
Whoopi Goldberg-hosted
Golden Dreams
film) has been incorporated into an impressive
new lagoon-facing facade modeled on early-20th-century aquariums. The seafoam-
trimmed building, which is topped by a statue of King Triton, conceals Disney's newest
old-school attraction. Opened in 2011, the basics of The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea
Adventure are similar to Disneyland's Haunted Mansion: a continuously loading ride sys-
tem transports you through a series of elaborately themed, darkened scenes with sophist-
icated special effects. In this case, the Little Mermaid attraction takes you to the bottom
of the ocean in clam shell cars, where the ride recaps Ariel's journey from her father's un-
dersea kingdom to marrying Prince Eric. After Scuttle the seagull recaps the backstory for
you, your vehicle descends backward beneath the simulated sea surface with a spritz of
cool air. Assuming that you haven't drowned, you'll then meet a cutting-edge animatronic
Ariel (featuring “floating” hair and synchronized lips); party down “Under the Sea” with
Sebastian the crab; and be menaced by a 12-foot-wide, 7½-foot-tall undulating figure of
Ursula, the evil sea witch. The adventure is all set to newly orchestrated versions of Alan
