Little Mermaid ride at California Adventure loses its scaffolding

After about two months under wraps, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure shows off a fresh coat of paint. Plus, Space Mountain closes for a day.

Ariel’s coming up for air.

The scrims and most of the scaffolding are gone from The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure, WDWNT reported on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The building had been wrapped up since August while crews worked on its exterior.

The good news for anyone with a Disneyland trip coming up: the ride itself stayed open the whole time. It “has remained open throughout the exterior refurbishment,” WDWNT said.

Want to see what’s inside before you go? Here’s a full ride-through from Theme Park Steve, filmed in October 2026:

What changed on the Little Mermaid ride building?

Mostly paint. WDWNT said the cream walls, bronze trim and blue columns look refreshed, and “there are no apparent design changes.” The work seems to be about wear and tear, not a new look.

WDWNT’s reporter found the scrims already gone during a visit on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The work isn’t totally finished, though. Construction walls are still up near the entrance, and scaffolding still covers the far end of the building over the covered outdoor queue.

Disneyland Resort hasn’t said anything publicly about the project, and we didn’t find an official end date.

How long was the Little Mermaid ride covered?

About two months. Scaffolding and scrims went up in August, WDWNT reported in September. Crews later swapped plain black scrims for themed ones printed to look like the facade, which kept the area from looking like a construction zone.

Back in September, guests could still walk in through gaps in the construction walls. “The ride is still open with gaps in the construction walls for guests to enter,” WDWNT wrote at the time.

What’s the history of this building?

It’s older than the ride. The building first housed Golden Dreams, a theater show about California history that closed in 2008. Disney tore down the theater but kept the facade, then added undersea details like seashells, mermaid musicians and a King Triton figure, according to WDWNT.

The facade takes its look from Bernard Maybeck’s Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Today the ride sits in Paradise Gardens Park.

This isn’t the facade’s first touch-up, either. WDWNT covered a new look for the entrance after an earlier refurbishment in May 2021.

When did Ariel’s Undersea Adventure open?

The ride officially opened on June 3, 2011, after a soft opening on May 26. Magic Kingdom got its own version, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, in New Fantasyland on Dec. 6, 2012.

Both rides use clamshell-shaped vehicles on a moving track, a system Disney calls an Omnimover. The California ride has 105 clamshells, including two that fit wheelchairs, according to Wikipedia. The ride runs about six and a half minutes and walks you through songs like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and “Kiss the Girl.”

The California version got a refresh in 2014, when it closed from March 20 to May 10. Disney added new sea creatures, a blacklight look for the “Under the Sea” scene and real hair on the Ariel and Prince Eric figures.

The ride has no height requirement, according to Disneyland’s website, so it’s a good pick for little ones.

Is Space Mountain closing at Disneyland?

Just for one day. Space Mountain at Disneyland Park is scheduled to close on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, according to the park calendar on Disneyland’s website, WDWNT and Mickey Visit reported. It’s open on Nov. 9 and Nov. 11.

Disney hasn’t said why. “No other details have been shared,” WDWNT wrote. Dates can change, so check the Disneyland app the morning of your visit.

What else is closed at Disneyland in November?

“it’s a small world” closes on Friday, Oct. 30, so crews can put in its holiday overlay. It reopens on Friday, Nov. 13, according to WDWNT and Mickey Visit. That means it’s also closed on Nov. 10, the same day as Space Mountain.

If you’re planning a Nov. 10 visit, check the park calendar a few days out and build a backup list, since refurbishment dates can shift.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• WDWNT (Oct. 28 and Sept. 21), refurbishment details, building history and the Space Mountain closure

• Mickey Visit (Oct. 28), Space Mountain and “it’s a small world” dates

• Disneyland Resort, ride details and height requirement

• Wikipedia, opening dates and ride history

• Theme Park Steve, ride-through video

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.