I was VERY excited to be able to attend the Cast Member preview for the new Little Mermaid attraction at DCA. The marketing mavens have been churning the spin machine like the tilt-a-whirl at a carnival. It seems that almost daily fascinating little tidbits have been released about this new dark ride that would blow the imaginations of guests.

Can you imagine what a Debbie-Downer this sign was when I saw it? Besides having it suck that I couldn't take interior photos, it also made me wonder what they were hiding or afraid of, as interior videos and photos released directly from Disney seemed to exist in abundance; not like there were many surprises to be seen.



Catching my breath from the panic of actually riding an attraction without staring through the lens, I snapped a few exterior shots and one of the interior mural:







And the new attraction poster that has been created for it (big ol' thumbs up for this!):



As for the ride itself...I was less than blown away. To get your expectations on the proper level, think of these dark rides: Monsters, Inc., or Pinocchio's Daring Adventure. Visually, Ariel's Undersea Adventure is stunning. The audio experience is great, too (how could you go wrong with the music from "The Little Mermaid"?), and I even enjoyed riding in the clamshell (MUCH smoother than the clunky ones at WDW). So what's missing? The "wow" factor. After riding it, I turned to Stacy and said, "Do you feel like you missed anything or have a burning desire to ride it again?" Both of us sadly said "no." Younger kids will LOVE it; adults will enjoy it as well, but I just don't see a huge enticement to ride it repeatedly like the Haunted Mansion or POTC.

The attempt to make the rider feel immersed in the water fails; the lighting doesn't achieve the watery effect, and Ariel's hair floating "up" just looks silly, as the wiggle in the 3D material used for it isn't enough to look as if it is weightless. Overall technically, this new dark ride is truly impressive, but without exciting visual scenes, all the technical artifice in the world can't wow. The best scene is the one with Ursula, and the only one that comes closest to having the magical effect of a classic attraction like "Peter Pan" in Fantasyland.

The exterior looks magical at night; the exterior design and lighting definitely elevates the look of DCA's landscape .











Over at Cars Land, work continues to progress steadily:











This handy dandy diagram shows the layout of this exciting new land:



Tantalizing glimpses of the new entrance are barely visible behind the tarps:



That's it for today...hope you all can enjoy the 3-day weekend!

Follow my Daveland updates on Twitter. See more Little Mermaid attraction photos at my regular website.

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ELECTRONICA! I have been wanting to check this out for months now, but every time I go, somehow it just doesn't fit into the schedule. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.



Electronica has a youthful energy and a current hipness to it that Disney is rarely able to capture; it usually seems too manufactured and even a little on the "safe" side. Young guests were enjoying themselves dancing, socializing, and playing arcade games:



The adults who stood on the periphery were also enjoying themselves observing the fun and making sure that the kids weren't getting into too much trouble!



The arcade games and neon signs representing some of the games I used to play during my college days brought back many happy memories (and the thought of how many quarters I blew!).



Even though I'd already seen the movie, I went to the 3D Preview, which actually makes the movie seem worth watching.



Electronica is amazing for another reason; it takes a movie (a sequel) that foundered at the box office, polishes the proverbial turd, and makes some mighty tasty lemonade out of it. Apparently it has been extended through September.









The lighting effects make The Monsters Inc. building fit right into the club-like surroundings.



The rest of DCA also looked pretty at night:











Although I won't really miss the Golden Gate Bridge tribute, I will miss the Zephyr. I am hoping that they will find a place in the new DCA for it to call home.



In the morning, the zinnias at DCA were in full bloom:



Plenty of DCA Construction going on as workers race against the clock to meet the June/July deadlines.



The Disney Theater looks fantastic; I love the retro styling which will fit into the 1920's/30's retheming:







Over at Paradise Pier a new coat of paint and some minor touchups to keep the souvenir stand in good shape until it eventually will get removed for a new attraction (sometime in the next decade!):





The vintage posters signifying the new attractions and restaurants are very well done. They help generate excitement while masking the blight of the construction.



The menu and concept for the new restaurant here also has me excited. Paradise Pier was an off-the-shelf area I formerly avoided. I have a feeling I will be spending more time here as a result of the changes.











Ariel's Undersea Adventure keeps unveiling new details:







If you look close enough, you can see the new mural that decorates the entrance area, continuing the Fantasyland tradition.



The Carthay Circle recreation continues to grow:









Disneyland Hotel construction is also making progress. Again - love the posters and images showing what the final product will be.









Still more trip reporting to come!

Follow my Daveland updates on Twitter. See more vintage & current Disney California Adventure photos at my regular website.

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