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 Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. 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 ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride
does not offer rider switch
has a Lightning Lane that is a part of Genie+
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 6 minutes long
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
If you have Genie+, Under the Sea is a low priority. You can save it for later, or try and grab it while it has a quick return time, hoping you can do the same at Mad Tea Party, Dumbo, and Barnstormer, knocking out a few rides in quick succession.
Without Genie+, you can try and get to these same rides—Barnstormer, Under the Sea, Dumbo, and Mad Tea Party—within the first hour or so of the park opening if you want short waits. Waits will also drop at the end of the day because of the ride’s remote location surrounded by rides mostly for small children.
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.
Under the Sea Ride Experience
Under the Sea is a classic dark ride through the story of The Little Mermaid. It’s a basic ride, without any particularly impressive effects, but it is fun, musical, and colorful. Since it doesn’t command as high waits as Peter Pan’s Flight or even Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, it can be a great one to ride multiple times, too. You can see a video of the ride here.
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 Genie+ and Lightning Lane 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 Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
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.