Ariel’s Grotto is a character meet-and-greet in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, where you meet Ariel from The Little Mermaid with her tail rather than in a gown. It suits young children who know the film and anyone collecting princess photos. It is not a ride, and there is no height requirement.
| Location | Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom |
| Experience type | Character meet-and-greet |
| Characters | Ariel (check the My Disney Experience app for availability) |
| Height requirement | None |
Where it is
The grotto sits beside Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid, in the part of Fantasyland that opened with the 2012 expansion. Both are themed to Prince Eric’s seaside castle, so it is easy to do them one after the other.
What the meet-and-greet is like
You wait in line, then enter a cave-like room lit in blues and greens and decorated with coral, shells and sea treasures. Ariel greets each party from a seashell throne. There is time for a short conversation and photos, and the meeting itself runs about three minutes.
A PhotoPass photographer normally works the room, and you can take pictures with your own phone or camera as well. PhotoPass images are linked to your account in the My Disney Experience app, so scan in with the photographer if you want them.
Only Ariel appears here. If you want to meet several princesses, Princess Fairytale Hall is the better stop.
Who it suits
Children who are excited about Ariel get the most from it, and adult fans of the film may want the photo. If nobody in your group cares about meeting characters, it is an easy one to skip. There is nothing here to ride and no show to watch, so the whole visit comes down to a few minutes with one character.
Queue and access
The queue is not air-conditioned, which matters in Florida’s summer heat. Waits change with the time of day and season, so check the posted time in the My Disney Experience app before you commit. Touring Plans does not include Ariel’s Grotto in its current list of Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane attractions, so plan on the standby line and confirm in the app on the day of your visit. The app also lists Ariel’s appearance times and current access details for guests using wheelchairs or ECVs.
Tips
- Go early or late: Character lines across the park are generally shorter soon after opening and toward the end of the day.
- Pair it with the ride: Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid is next door, so plan both for the same trip through Fantasyland.
- Have your phone ready: The meeting is short, so have your camera open and your PhotoPass code handy before you reach the front of the line.
