First Look: The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Goofy’s Flying School and More

After a recent update, the Blue Sky Cellar at Disney California Adventure re-opened today and we got a first look before the park opened at some of the new and exciting attractions coming to the Disneyland Resort within the next couple of years and here’s what we have learned of the upcoming additions:

Ariel’s Undersea Adventure – This attraction, which is slated to open in 2011 is also coming to the Magic Kingdom in 2012. Boarding what looks at first to be a clammobile from the Nemo & Friends attraction at Epcot (the vehicles here are simply called clamshells), guests actually enter the doorless vehicles from the sides (as the vehicle will be perpendicular to the guest at loading). A vehicle identified as Triton’s Chariot will be able to directly support a wheelchair. In the loading area will be a mural telling the story of The Little Mermaid and measuring in at an amazing 86 foot length and 12 foot height.

On display is a layout of the attraction at 1:96 scale and maps out all of the defined areas of the attraction. After boarding the vehicle (Scene 1): the guest will travel to see Scuttle and Sebastion (Scene 2); descend (Scene 3) into Ariel’s Grotto (Scene 4) where the guest will encounter an audio animatronic of Ariel holding a chest in her lap and a figure of a dancing couple as she sings ‘Part of Your World.’ According to the plans on display, Ariel will be capable of almost 30 separate functions including full control of her pupils (as well as blinking) and full mouth movement. Guests will then continue on to journey under the sea which includes new effects to enhance the sensation (Scene 5); Travel to Ursula’s Lair (Scene 6); ascend (Scene 7) to the ‘Kiss the Girl’ scene (Scene 8); journey on to Love’s First Kiss (Scene 9); and finally live Happily Ever After (Scene 10) before unloading (Scene 11).

Interestingly enough, the attraction’s ride system and vehicles are being constructed in Japan.

Goofy’s Sky School – A redo of Mulholland Madness and also expected to open in 2011, Goofy’s Sky School is based on the classic ‘how to’ cartoons featuring every one’s favorite talking dog. Although it looks like the billboards will remain (but re-themed), the facades will all be lowered to ground level, opening the attraction up. Guests will enter the queue through a ‘control tower’ designed to fit in with the early seaside attraction theming of Paradise Pier. The vehicles will also remain the same but will receive a paint and decal makeover as well as a hood ornament of sorts.

Red Car Trolley – Probably one of the more highly anticipated new attractions of the park makeover is the addition of the Red Car vehicle system for moving around the park. At a height of  10’4″ and approximate length of 26′, the ‘butterfly-wing’ grilled cars are reminiscent of their inspiration from the 1920s and 30s. They are battery powered despite the presence of overhead wires which exist only for show. As they are shown, the cars will seat 20 guests as well as one guest with a wheelchair/ECV in addition to the vehicle operator. There are four stops connecting Buena Vista Street with Hollywood (where tracks have already been embedded into the streets). A map shows proposed wig wag locations for the system: Buena Vista, Carthay Circle and Tower/Bugs. As a sidebar, concept art reveals that the vehicles (or perhaps specially designed ones) can serve as entertainment vehicles as the Omnibus has at Magic Kingdom for example.

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