In this post we give an overview of Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, a dark ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Under the Sea, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. The Magic Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Magic Kingdom.
Under the Sea Basics
Under the Sea is a classic dark ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride
does not offer rider switch
is a tier 2 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 6 minutes long
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, Under the Sea is a good option because it doesn’t have a height requirement. Like most dark rides, there are portions that have scared our baby during their more sensitive times, but we’ve never found it to be bad enough to skip the ride.
Where is Under the Sea located?
Under the Sea is located in the back of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World.
Entering the park you can go directly through (or around) the castle and past the carrousel. Continue straight / soft right, passing the Beauty and the Beast buildings (the Belle greeting, Be Our Guest, Gaston’s Tavern) on your left, and you’ll come to Under the Sea on your left just after that.
How to Ride Under the Sea
Note: The initial paragraphs of this section are repeated across the four relevant rides.
There are four rides—all tier 2 Lightning Lanes—in this part of the park that I almost always ride in quick succession: Dumbo, Barnstormer, Under the Sea, and Mad Tea Party. Whether it’s with or without Lightning Lanes (or some with, some without), you should be able to conquer this part of the park without too much fanfare.
With exceptional planning / luck, you’ll be able to make Tomorrowland Speedway and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin a part of this block, too. And don’t forget PeopleMover is nearby if you have some time to fill between Lightning Lanes.
Altogether, this chunk of rides is usually how I finish my morning when I don’t have Multi Pass. With Multi Pass, it’s really a matter of monitoring return time vibes and refreshing your searches to put these together whenever you can. On a day with low crowds, I might head here with just one open Lightning Lane “slot” and just book one after the other. On a day with higher crowds, I probably want to be working with two or three open “slots” so I can get three things booked around the same time before committing myself.
Under the Sea in particular is a little awkwardly remote, all the way in the back of new Fantasyland. There’s an Ariel greeting next door, and you’re not far from Storybook Circus either. I just wouldn’t want to have to walk all the way here from, say, Frontierland during a crowded day.
Flippin’ Your Fins (Inside the Vehicle!)
Under the Sea is a classic dark ride through the story of The Little Mermaid. It’s a pretty basic ride, without any particularly impressive effects, but it is fun, musical, and colorful.
You’ll hop aboard your clamshell and descend under the sea, where you’ll meet Ariel, Sebastian, and Co. There’s a brief “scary” scene with Ursula, but that tension quick evaporates and she basically meets her demise in the background of a future scene.
While I think the animatronics, music, and effects are enough for most kids, I think adults will leave feeling like more could have been done. There’s no Hatbox Ghost or dreaming Winnie the Pooh here. Even The Seas With Nemo and Friends has that aquarium effect.
I mused recently that between this ride and its copy at Disney California Adventure, I think it’s maybe the Disney ride I’ve ridden most, but that isn’t about any particular love I have for it. It doesn’t command as high waits as Peter Pan’s Flight or even Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, so I’ll often just swing by it when I want to sit and relax indoors for a bit.
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.