| Ariel's Grotto | |
| Location: | Disneyland |
| Location2: | Magic Kingdom |
| Location3: | Disney California Adventure |
| Location4: | Tokyo DisneySea |
| Section: | Fantasyland |
| Section2: | Fantasyland (Enchanted Forest) |
| Section3: | Paradise Pier |
| Section4: | Mermaid Lagoon |
| Status: | Removed |
| Status2: | Open |
| Status3: | Removed |
| Status4: | Open |
| Soft Opened2: | (current) |
| Soft Opened4: | (original) |
| Opened2: | (original) (current) |
| Opened4: | (original) (current at Mermaid Lagoon Theater) |
| Closed2: | (original) |
| Closed4: | (original) |
| Previousattraction: | Alpine Gardens |
| Replacement: | Pixie Hollow |
| Replacement2: | Pooh's Playful Spot (original) |
| Replacement3: | Lamplight Lounge |
| Type: | Meet and greet area (Magic Kingdom, Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea) Restaurant (Disney California Adventure) |
| Ride: | not |
| Theme: | The Little Mermaid |
| Virtual Queue Name: | FastPass+ |
| Virtual Queue Image: | Fastpass+ Logo.svg |
| Virtual Queue Status: | available |
Ariel's Grotto is a meet-and-greet area at several Disney parks, as well as a former restaurant in Disney California Adventure based on Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid.[1]
This was formerly a colorful grotto in which Ariel, in mermaid form, was available for autographs and photo opportunities. The meet-and-greet area was decorated with starfish, coral, and waterfalls.[2] King Triton's Fountain leading to the grotto featured a soft-surface "sandy beach" play zone dotted with jumping fountains. On August 17, 2008, the area officially closed. It has now been re-themed to Pixie Hollow, a Disney Fairies meet-and-greet attraction amid oversized 'plants' which gives guests the sense of being the size of a fairy.
The King Triton statue that once spouted water into the ponds was moved to the rooftop of Ariel's Undersea Adventure in Disney California Adventure and is a part of the decor.[3]
In April 2010, the Ariel's Grotto attraction at Magic Kingdom was closed.[4] It reopened as part of the New Fantasyland expansion along with the ride Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. The similar meet-and-greet sits beside this attraction. It is in a cave, next to Prince Eric's Castle, surrounded by waterfalls and large rock formations. This iteration of the meet-and-greet closed in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and reopened on January 22, 2023.[5]
Ariel's Grotto was an "under the sea" themed restaurant that offered Character Dining. This gave guests an opportunity to dine with Ariel and other Disney Princesses. The restaurant was located on Paradise Pier, and featured American, Healthy Selections, and Vegetarian cuisine.[6] On January 8, 2018, Ariel's Grotto closed to make way for the Lamplight Lounge, a restaurant that opened with Pixar Pier on June 23, 2018.
Ariel's Greeting Grotto was a character meet-and-greet attraction. Originally scheduled to close on March 31, 2020, it was early closed on January 31, 2020, in response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, on September 29, 2020, it was "reopened" inside Mermaid Lagoon Theater as a socially distanced greeting with Ariel in her mermaid form.