A live‑action Ariel character meet‑and‑greet is returning to its original location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort. The attraction will resume in the Walt Disney Presents theater space on January 12, 2025, after being temporarily relocated within the park.
Relocation History and Return Details
On October 28, 2025, the Ariel meet‑and‑greet moved from Walt Disney Presents to Echo Lake near 50’s Prime Time Café. The relocation allowed Disney to use indoor space for a Santa meet-and-greet during the Christmas season. Guests could still meet Ariel, though the area had less thematic design than the original venue.
Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo by Giles Keyte. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The temporary Echo Lake location lacked the immersive theming of Walt Disney Presents. While visitors could still meet Ariel, the setting was primarily outdoors with minimal props, a few potted plants and a treasure chest. Returning to the theater restores a controlled, indoor environment. The indoor area is designed to look like Ariel’s seaside home, letting guests feel like they’re meeting her on the terrace of the castle.
The official park calendar lists operating hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the returning experience, though these hours may vary with park schedules.
Background on the Character Experience
The live‑action Ariel meet‑and‑greet first opened at Walt Disney World on May 26, 2023, coinciding with the release of Disney’s live‑action film The Little Mermaid. The experience reflects Ariel’s seaside setting and was originally hosted within Walt Disney Presents, which also features exhibits and previews related to Disney entertainment.
A mural from Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via MainGatePass.com
Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid in 2023 underperformed with about $570 million worldwide in theatrical ticket sales, compared with other remakes that exceeded $1 billion. Studios typically retain roughly half of box office revenue after theatre cuts, meaning Disney’s theatrical share was around $285 million. Production costs rose to $379.8 million before marketing, a figure considerably higher than early estimates. When compared with reported production costs alone, theatrical returns were insufficient to cover those costs, and analyses based on the filings suggest the film suffered an estimated box office loss even before accounting for marketing expenditures.
Guests can meet red-headed Ariel from the 1989 animated film at Ariel’s Grotto in Fantasyland of Magic Kingdom.
Summary
The live‑action Ariel meet‑and‑greet will return to Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on January 12, 2025. The experience follows a temporary relocation to Echo Lake. Guests should consult official Disney scheduling resources to confirm times and availability.
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