‘Voyage of the Little Mermaid’ Replacement Announced by Disney

Since 1989, we’ve all been in love with a certain finned teenager from under the sea. Since its inclusion in Disney’s vast catalog, The Little Mermaid (1989) and Ariel have been a cemented part of Disney culture, offering up merchandising opportunities and unique experiences at many of the company’s wide range of theme parks.

Related: It’s Finally Safe to Watch the Live-Action ‘Little Mermaid’

One of these popular attractions opened at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in January 1992. Voyage of the Little Mermaid, a stage show featuring popular songs from the memorable Disney film, as well as props, visuals, and amazing puppets, delighted fans in Hollywood Studios for decades until it was abruptly closed in March of 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No longer would fans get to watch the story of Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, Ursula, and Flounder unfold right before their eyes. Held in the Animation Courtyard section of Hollywood Studios, Voyage of the Little Mermaid featured talented vocalists like Corey Burton (King Triton), Pat Carroll (Ursula), Jess Harnell (Sebastian), and Paddi Edwards (Flotsam and Jetsom).

Upon its origination, the show replaced the once-popular Here Come the Muppets at the Animation Courtyard Theatre. However, since its closure, it’s been set as an empty shell of itself (pun entirely intended). Although some may have considered the stage show outdated, guests typically adored the attraction, and as it served as a celebration of an extremely popular part of Disney animation history, many were saddened to hear of its closing.

Still, hope held out strong, as no official word was been given on changes to what will become of Voyage of the Little Mermaid or the Animation Courtyard Theatre, at least until today.

According to Scott Gustin on X, formerly Twitter, Disney World has announced that a new show, a reboot of sorts, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, will debut in the theatre beginning in the Fall of 2024.

NEW: Disney confirms “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” a reimagined theatrical production inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Little Mermaid,” will debut in the newly refreshed Animation Courtyard theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024. pic.twitter.com/kkn0C8vxuo

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) December 19, 2023

This new offering will be “reimagined” and “inspired by Walt Disney Animation’s The Little Mermaid.” According to Disney, “When it opens, the show will feature stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects, and a bold new design that captures Ariel’s imagination and emotions through her unique view of the world around her.”

It’s unclear if this will be a permanent replacement for Disney World’s Voyage of the Little Mermaid, but it certainly feels like it could be. Although not specifically stated, it’s almost certain that the new addition will include popular music from the original film, much like the last offering at the Animation Courtyard Theatre.

As the original attraction in the show focused only on the animated version of the film, having closed before the introduction of the live-action, the safe assumption is that this new rendition will do the same. Therefore, we can expect Jodi Benson instead of Halle Bailey.

As more information becomes available regarding the exciting news of a brand-new experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we’ll be here at Disney Dining to keep you in the loop! So, stay tuned!

This post is originally appeared on Disney Dining.