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Post by Arielholic on Aug 20, 2008 22:44:04 GMT -5
Last Sunday was the final day of operation for Ariel's Grotto/Triton Gardens at Disneyland. Apparently around 5:30 a bunch of leads and current and former Ariels (out of costume of course) were there to see her spin around one last time. There's even amusing footage on Youtube of Alice and The Mad Hatter saying their goodbyes by Watering Ariel. With Peter Pan over looking.
Ariel will take up residence in human form at The Princess Fantasy Faire. When the new ride opens at DCA, and new Grotto will be built there and she'll leave Disneyland for good. The current Grotto is going to be refitted to accomodate Tinkerbell and her Fairies book line.
I will greatly miss the Grotto. It was one of my favorite areas along with me being a huge Mermaid fan. I usually try to get at least one photo per visit. Though I missed out last March, so i think my last was Halloween. I'll especially miss the lovely lighted area at night with the soft strains of Menken's score waifing in the air. I've got a great photo of myself with my sister mother and maternal grandmother there from way back in 2001.
Though when I heard it was being taken out, I commented on how they'll probably move it to DCA. I laughed when I was proven right. I just hope it has that nicely secluded atmosphere of the original.
One classic memory I have of the area, years ago. I was towards the front of the line when they switched her out. Something must've happened, as the new Ariel didn't come out for seemingly almost half an hour. I think it was after my meet, but I jokingly went to one of the CMs and said on long waits like that, you should do some sort of activity, like, say, a Sebastian sound alike contest. This got me around to quoting my favorite line of his ("Just look at her, on legs.....etc"). I'm not sure what triggered the reaction, be it the ridiculousness of it, or if I was just spot on, but I caught in the corner of my eye Ariel, her latest meet over, wide eyed, mouth agap at me. The timing was perfect too so I turned and pointed at her right at, "and don't you shake your head at me, young lady". I'll never forget that look.
RIP Ariel'sGrotto/Triton Gardens. You'll be deeply missed.
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Post by UmbrellaFish on Aug 22, 2008 18:04:25 GMT -5
Cute story, Arielholic!
I'm surprised however, that Ariel isn't going to be in Disneyland at all once they move her to DCA. Just seems silly.
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Post by Pacific Wolf on Aug 22, 2008 23:00:02 GMT -5
It's weird how I was thinking about it today because I wanted to see it tomorrow because I knew it was going to close. I'm disappointed that I won't be able to. Even when Ariel wasn't around it was still one of my favorite places to go to.
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Post by Random Prince on Aug 23, 2008 4:38:59 GMT -5
I liked the video of Alice and the Mad Hatter watering Ariel!  |
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Post by Ariel's Grotto on Aug 23, 2008 17:30:44 GMT -5
I'm surprised however, that Ariel isn't going to be in Disneyland at all once they move her to DCA. Just seems silly. That's how I initially felt until I found out that Ariel is at the Princess Faire in Fantasyland.  I am not a big fan of the Princess Faire, but at least she is still in the park. Otherwise, I would have been really unhappy. |
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Post by howiep on Sept 19, 2008 16:05:48 GMT -5
She'll still be part of the parades at DL. So she'll be there in some form or another.
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Post by Frodo on Oct 2, 2008 16:53:05 GMT -5
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Post by Random Prince on Oct 3, 2008 2:30:54 GMT -5
Very funny picture.  |
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Post by Prince of Bubbles on Oct 3, 2008 2:56:19 GMT -5
Awww...that is bitterly sweet. I'm going to miss DL Grotto so much.
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Post by Arielholic on Oct 8, 2008 10:45:01 GMT -5
That drawing is awesome. I absolutely love it. Reminds me of the Mad Hatter's apparent thoughts on the subject "Silly faeries". On the plus side, the atmosphere looks like it might be spared. Though it will be lacking Menken's score. I'd love to actually have the music they played in the area (it wasn't direct from the film if memory serves). By the way, anyone care to venture a guess as to why Ariel's always in some green dress? My guess is to suggest her fin. Though why they can't just use her peasant dress or pink gown is beyond me. I suppose they all have to wear their best, so peasant is out, and Aurora has pink (based on the reasoning why she's never in the blue dress anymore - too many confuse her with Cindi). I've heard few in Florida recognize poor Ariel because of that dress she's never worn. She even wears it at her restaurant. Though she's in human form there with good reason. Apparently, once it became Ariel's Grotto, she was pushed on a chart for the whole "under the sea" bit. By the time I first ate there, they'd cut pushing the chart, and she was stationary at the entrance while Mickey and the gang roamed around. Eventually, they pulled her altogether for literally no good reason. I was told the lead in charge of the building was getting so frustrated by all the "where's Ariel"s, that he demanded they either bring her back, or change the name. Lucky for us, they brought her back, albeit in that odd green dress. Better than nothing I guess. Still, it's nice to have Ariel actually come to the table. I still remember her getting all dismayed at how we had all ordered the salmon. ^_^ A seafood restaurant does seem slightly cannibalistic in theory, doesn't it? I'm hoping to try out the new menu when I go in October (just in time to be among the first to see what horrors they've done to Triton Gardens) So Ariel's had a long, sordid history in special appearances. |
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Post by Prince Mike on Oct 8, 2008 14:58:19 GMT -5
Wow... what is wrong with the Disney Company these days? Pulling out Ariel's Grotto in Disneyland for TINKERBELL?? I hate that stupid *****. Disney has always had trouble noticing how popular Ariel is, and how much her movie helped out their company back in the day. I'm slightly losing my faith in the Disney corporation, they don't seem to care about creating new movies except for Pixar crap. All they wanna do is bring in money from their old movies that were actually... GOOD! Sigh.
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Shotty
Sea Cucumber
All hail Queen Ariel.
Posts: 108
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Post by Shotty on Dec 19, 2008 15:37:16 GMT -5
Why can't Ariel be special enough to have her own spot? I never knew she was at Disneyland..... long long time ago when I was little...I went to Disneyland with my grandma, I asked if "Ariel" was here and she said no. This is the thing I wanted most in my little mermaid collection... I wanted a framed picture of me with Ariel before I die someday. I would have taken great pride in that.
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Post by DanTheMan on Dec 31, 2008 17:26:30 GMT -5
Wow... what is wrong with the Disney Company these days? Pulling out Ariel's Grotto in Disneyland for TINKERBELL?? I hate that stupid b****. Disney has always had trouble noticing how popular Ariel is, and how much her movie helped out their company back in the day. I'm slightly losing my faith in the Disney corporation, they don't seem to care about creating new movies except for Pixar crap. All they wanna do is bring in money from their old movies that were actually... GOOD! Sigh. I really couldn't have said it better myself here. Why can't Disney see that TLM is quite possibly their most popular movie of all time? I mean, even if they only looked at money, a movie/characters this popular would only bring them more money. If I was running Disney, I would try to promote their best stuff as much as possible. It's simple business. |
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Post by howiep on Jan 2, 2009 18:07:14 GMT -5
At least Disney didn't do away with Ariel's Grotto at Magic Kingdom..........yet!
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Post by emily on Jan 2, 2009 18:31:56 GMT -5
So, the grotto is still in Disney World? They just got rid of it in Disneyland? Because I remember hearing about this and was really upset. Ariel's Grotto was always my favorite place to go ever since I was little. At least you're still able to visit Ariel, but I don't think it's as special as going to see her in her mermaid form. :[
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Post by DanTheMan on Jan 2, 2009 18:38:40 GMT -5
At least Disney didn't do away with Ariel's Grotto at Magic Kingdom..........yet! ssshh, don't give them any ideas. We don't need anymore of this happening lol.. BTW, this was at the Disney place in Florida right? I always get Disneyworld/land mixed up. |
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Post by ariel101 on Jan 2, 2009 19:42:51 GMT -5
At least Disney didn't do away with Ariel's Grotto at Magic Kingdom..........yet! ssshh, don't give them any ideas. We don't need anymore of this happening lol.. BTW, this was at the Disney place in Florida right? I always get Disneyworld/land mixed up. The one that is taken everything of Ariel away is Disneyland in California. The One that didn't taken anything of Ariel (yet) is Disney World in Florida. Don't worry I get them mixed up all the time too. |
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Post by DanTheMan on Jan 2, 2009 23:23:29 GMT -5
Whew, that's a relief. I live closer to Florida, so if I had to go to a huge Disney place, it would be there (never been to any of them before). Thank you.
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Post by ariel101 on Jan 3, 2009 21:39:14 GMT -5
Your welcome. I live close but not too close I live like 6 states away. Ok I don't live to close. Hahaha!!!! But I agree the one that is I had to go to Disneyland or DisneyWorld it would be the one in Florida. I hope they don't take away thing of Ariel away there for stupid Tinkerbell. Ugh!!!! |
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Post by DanTheMan on Jan 4, 2009 0:03:09 GMT -5
Remember, don't give them any ideas. It's bad enough that they're doing the things they do now, we don't need to increase it lol.. However, it is funny how they're really only targeting Ariel, it's like they're trying to get rid of her, heck, she's not even promoted much as a Disney Princess, in that line.
I've never been to a Disney park, ever, and I've always wanted to. Hmm, maybe one day. It sounds like a lot of fun.
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Daniel 
I am not a big fan of the Princess Faire, but at least she is still in the park. Otherwise, I would have been really unhappy.
