For anyone who cares, the other reason they cover Ariel with a black bag in fantasmic is so that she is safe from the fireworks in the finale. The bag is flame retardant/resistant. Since the other characters can freely move to safety but she cannot due to her tail situation, they had to either cut her from the end of the show or figure out a way to keep her safe.

Fun fact for her first few years in Ariel's Grotto, her legs were actually in the rock and the tail is basically a structure built around the cast member, similarly for the original Voyage of the little Mermaid. The actress was on the rock and the tail was animatronic which the actress operated with foot pedals within the rock.

I love that Dan's household apparently doesn't have enough forks, so he had to use a wooden spoon as his dinglehopper 😂.

The cast members that are friends with Ariel must have rock hard abs from doing all of that flapping

I'm in AWE of those Japanese show Ariel's on the wires. I will never be satisfied with On-a-Rock-Ariel ever again.

I'm surprised you didn't mention that early Ariel's tails were puppets on a stick or string that they could flop around like a fish - it was a cool effect, but probably really difficult to maintain. You can see it for a hot second in the 90s Vacation Planning videos for MGM Studios. I also remember going to a Disney on Ice as a kid where Ariel was in a full ballgown that they made to look like a rock with her fishtail wrapped around it - that one was the wildest looking of all!

weird thing about the specific costume at 7:44 is that ariel is actually sitting inside the rock and the mermaid tail is just a big plush prop, i have no idea why they did this but they did

Omg! I've been waiting for you to cover Ariel's costumes over the decades! She's my favorite princess. I wish Disney Parks would incorporate the pink dress she wore in the film more or even her blue "Kiss the Girl" dress. It would be nice to see an Evolution of Aurora's costumes. She's also had quite the change over the years from what I've seen. EDIT: I love the look Ariel has from Mickey's Soundsational Parade and the Festival of Fantasy Parade. The tropical pastel theme really suits her.

The Tokyo Disney Sea Mermaid Lagoon Theater no long has the same story, they now have a whole new story. Like you said it was just a short recap of the movie but now the story about the continuation of the (movie) where King Triton’s daughters (Ariel’s sister) doing a musical show and unlike the movie, Ariel does show up and performs for us. PS: Hi from Japan

One note, the Broadway show (at least the travelling version) changed to have the mermaids, mostly Ariel, on the wires with the pretty, flowy costumes. But Flotsam and Jetsam kept the heely shoes, which worked for them.

Why aren't we talking about that Flounder costume for Ariel's first appearance?!

Skating Ariel was such a choice 😂 also Dan in a bright red wig was the most amazing part of my day! I think we need a Captain Hook and Tick Tock costume evolution!!

I've actually met Princess Ariel in her human and mermaid form a few times at Disney World. It was absolutely royally splashtastic! She was so sweet and wonderful! I also saw Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studios and loved it!

Shanghai and Tokyo did such amazing takes on Ariel and her...HAH- ariel performances. There's something so breathtaking about their costumes and how their tails move and swim in the air...I'd love to see these in action one day ^^ But this will do as well~

Actually, The Netherlands were the ones who premiered the "weird wig" musical. The wigs certainly were a choice but the show was amazing!

“The costume is stunning! The hair.. is a choice!” I snorted so hard lol

I connected with Princess Ariel when I was a little girl being born with Cerebral Palsy. All she wanted is to have legs that work and to be a part of the world. 🧜🏼‍♀️🥰

Also I think they made the hair in the Tokyo Broadway show like that intentional to show how hair floats up underwater but on land it would be down! Though it does look silly at first glance.

Ariel in Fantasmic has always baffled me because the princess barges go around and everyone's dancing and then in the middle it's just Ariel sitting on a rock and Eric awkwardly standing next to her. Just put her in the dress, Disney! It's so much easier!

In 2017, I took part in a 'Little Mermaid' theater production, and I had to wear Heelies. I was terrified of wearing them as a kid, so as a then-18 year-old, I got the chance to overcome my fears, and I fully enjoyed it!

I had to pause the video because I couldn't stop laughing at "Terror in a Tower". I'm still giggling over it. Fantastic costume history, and even better jokes. 100/10. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

In Magic Kingdom, the actor's feet are not actually in the tail, but underneath the rock with a foot pedal that connected to the tail so it could be moved. From a former cast member who was very close with Ariel. (Circa 2005)

I remember seeing Ariel in her blanket! Never understood why they wouldn’t just carry her there’s many people to help haha

What I’m confuse about is that I seen a lot of great amazing costumes from those folks who do “mermaiding”. Dare I say, better than Disney’s Ariel. I’m like, why don’t you hire one of those people to make your tail

To my knowledge the black fabric in Fantasmic is also fire resistant since Ariel has to sit out there while the fireworks go off around her. Sounds kinda miserable to be perfectly honest! xD

Can you do the evolution of Sebastian? He's had so many different costumes, puppets, and animatronics over the years (Including one from a Cruisical!).

The Tokyo mermaid lagoon theater made me get whole body chills and tear up a little oh my goddd

Meeting Ariel in her grotto is one of the few things I actually remember from my very first trip back in 2000. Also, omg I never noticed Ariel at the end of Fantasmic! I'll have to look for that next time I go haha

I gotta say, my fave costume for Ariel is from Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After. What they did w/ the mermaid fins was brilliant.

I've seen that Tokyo Disney show live in 2013. I was absolutely flabbergasted during the whole thing. It was so magical and beautiful, I kept crying.

I got to go to Disneyland when I was *very* small and I don't remember hardly any of it but I sure do remember every bit of Ariel's Grotto and the feeling it gave me! Ariel has always been my favorite princess, and meeting her as a mermaid was such a dream. There's a picture of me and her "twinning" with our posing, as she told me to do bc we were friends now. It was such a magical moment, and going to every other Ariel themed area of the park was icing on the cake. She's my absolute favorite still. ♥ Also that clip of the Tokyo show from 2001 made me actually start crying, what a *magical* experience that is!!!! I'd give anything to be able to see that!

I loved the video, I really did, but I am genuinely curious to know what alternative you'd suggest for Disney on Ice Ariel. I definitely agree that the miniskirt doesn't work for mermaid Ariel, too much flesh-coloured leg showing for it to read as "tail", but the pants and the longer skirt are, in my opinion, pretty good solutions for a character that has no legs in something like ice skating where the use of legs is necessary. No one would want to pay to go see her sit on a rock in an ice skating show, so I think the fin pants or mermaid skirt get the idea across well enough while still giving the skater mobility.

I've met with Ariel in both mermaid and human forms more time than I probably care to admit. She's my favorite character

I was listening to a podcast interview with one of the original actresses in Voyage of The Little Mermaid and she basically said she was sitting on a bicycle under the shell. She had to pedal to make the tail flap around which is better than my initial speculation that there were strings like a marionette.

I actually just watched Howard yesterday, which is about Howard Ashman who did the music for the little mermaid, beauty and the beast and Aladdin. I highly recommend it. He brought Jodi in because she was the lead in one of his off Broadway shows that sadly didn't work out.

I remember talking with her once in her grotto and being a little embarrassed because I was like seventeen and she probably was also seventeen. 😅

This video is so funny for me because I actually work at Under the Sea. I miss the grotto meet and greets so much. It’s kind of hilarious because they have a guy just.. carry and bring her in while she’s in her mermaid costume. And don’t even get me started on the ride animatronics… when you see Ariel in that first show scene, her animatronic always gives us issues

As a kid every time we went to Disneyland I HAD to meet Ariel so I witnessed her turning around in her little clam chair multiple times and I'd always ask the cast members where she went when her chair turned around and they always told me she went to her grotto and I'd sit there and try to figure out how tf she got under the sea from this clam seat that was obviously on land and not near the ocean and came to the conclusion it must have a slide that goes underwater

I heard astronaut Sally Ride was also an inspiration for Ariel's animation. They used Sally's hair floating around in space as a reference for Ariel's floating around under the sea.

I am positive that Dan kept calling him "King Trident" and I laughed til I cried EVERY.TIME XD

I met Ariel at her Grotto! IT WAS FANTASTIC!!

Such an interesting video! I'd love to see the evolution of Rapunzel in the parks - I feel like her hair has been through a LOT

Holy nostalgia, BatDan. I saw the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show when I went to the parks back in the early 2000s . . . Talk about unlocking a repressed memory 😅😆

I desire more parody song openings, Dan! You got a nice set of pipes there haha xD

Saw this and clicked faster than you can say "under the sea"

I met Ariel at Cinderella's Royal Table. She stole my dinglehopper. It was awesome.

***TINY correction*** At the end of the video you refer to Ursula as Aunt Ursula, however in the original animated movie it is never said or even alluded to Ariel/Triton being related to Ursula, she was just The Sea Witch. It wasn't until the Disney Broadway musical that it was written that Triton and Ursula are brother and sister making her Ariel's aunt. I actually personally LOVE this plot point making Triton and Ursula the children of Poseidon, God of the Sea, and making it more relevant that Ariel would go to her aunt and innocently trusting her with her problems since her father wouldn't. I wish this had been in the original animated movie.

I met Ariel in 2003 when I was on a make a wish trip for my brother, and Ariel was my favorite meet and greet character. I was afraid of everyone else 😂 she kissed my cheek and I had lipstick on me all day

Speaking of "Starlight Express" and Andrew Lloyd Webber, both Sierra Boggess (Ariel) and Norm Lewis (Triton) from the original cast of Little Mermaid are also well known for playing Christine and the Phantom in ALW's Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

MY FAVORITE PRINCESS!!!!!!!!! I have so many pictures of me of Ariel throughout the years.

My sister and I met Ariel at Ariel's Grotto in the late 2000s, and I thought that I was pretty neat. I do remember my sister accidentally stepping on Ariel's fin, which I guess happened to whoever played Ariel a lot in those types of meet and greets.

Seeing Ariel’s Grotto in this video gave me a vivid flashback to being 6 years old, shyly offering up my autograph book for her to sign.

I did get to meet Ariel when I was a kid. It was such an awesome experience, and the cast member was very sweet. But my favorite part of the video was you classifying Ursula as Ariel’s weird aunt.

Ariel’s tail at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mickey and the Wondrous Book is one of my faves. Ariel sits on a rock and sings Part of Your World live (also joins a princess medley harmonizing with Rapunzel and Merida, it’s adorable) and is flipping her fins while singing live - not an easy feat! Her stationary tail choreography is some of the best I’ve seen in that format, it looks so lifelike and not like she’s flopping around aimlessly, they’ve done a wonderful job with it! Definitely give it a full watch, the performers are amazing.

Spirited as the sea AS USUALL are Ariel and YOU, thanks for this evolution of Ariel, Danny. So in terms of the Ariel in MERMAID form in costume, I believe that the 2014 Fest of Fantasy parade version stands out among the rest because it looks MORE REAL than ever before, and especially made the colors brighter.

The Broadway transformation is my favorite 😍 You should have covered it! Love this either way. Ariel is my favorite princess 🥰

The Japanese version of the musical you mention was actually first developed in the Netherlands and became the new version of the show Disney licenses out

And yes I did meet Ariel- once (June 2019, Disneyland Anaheim, hours before Mickey's Soundsational Parade was to happen) but i'm surprised you missed one Dan- her appearance in the Party Gras (where the Pluto unit is in), where the crabs push the fish she sits upon! And I love that you mention the Tokyo DisneySea Mermaid Lagoon Theater shows, esp King Triton's Concert- my fave show there! Keep up the great work, gotta love Ariel! BTW, met Ariel herself, Jodi Benson, weeks ago in SacAnime at Sacramento. Really great person. The real deal. Like she's everyone's mom that everyone loves!

can we just admire HOW AMAZING Dan's voice was in that intro!

"If your house smells like fish" HOLY-ekguavgujkfbhk Dan I WAS NOT ready for that, thanks so much for the laugh!

Always love the background changes for each themed video! Also that singing voice? Fabulous! I'm so ready for Fantasmic! to return! It's my favorite 😭

Can you pleeeeeeeease do a costume evolution for Hades? He's my favorite

Horrayyyyy!! Ariel is my absolute favorite Disney character! And The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie!!

How dare you, that little mermaid puppet show is the best disney show in all the parks!

I remember the first time we went to Magic Kingdom, it was 2001, I believe. Ariel's grotto was still there. we get in line to meet her, and in my 5 year old brain I'm thinking "she looks like Aunt Angel". I was so locked in that mindset that when it was our turn, the first thing out of my mouth was "hi Aunt Angel!". my parents laughed, the cast members were confused as all heck, and this moment still makes me cringe sometimes. I was a dumb kid. xD

This video makes me so happy. Ariel is my favorite princess and my amazing mother waiting hours with me so that I could see her every time I went to the Magic Kingdom as a kid. I once saw her with Prince Eric and it was so magical!

I've gotten the chance to meet Ariel for more than a few times- she ties as being my favorite Disney Princess next to Anna- in both her mermaid appearance and her human appearance. But I also got a chance to meet Jodi Benson herself two years ago for a photo at GalaxyCon in North Carolina when I went with my older sister that day.

One of my favorite Ariel memories was when The Voyage of the Little Mermaid was under rehab, and Ariel was available for meet & greets only. I announced to my group to take my camera as I was going to give Ariel a hug. Someone in our group shouted, "Run for it!" Run for it. To a mermaid. A fully-finned mermaid. Let that sink in.

In regards to Ariel at Disney on ice I really don't know what else they could do for her in a skating show XD

i can imagine on every episode dan just runs around his house going: "I NEED KERMIT MERCHENDISE!"

Fun fact: The reason why they called the Little Mermaid ride in Disney World "Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid" is because part of the title is a reference to "20,000 Leagues: Under the Sea" attraction that used to be there years ago. There is also a hidden carving of the submarine from the attraction hidden in the rock work of the entrance for the ride. Btw, love your videos, Dan! Ariel is my favorite! Cuz who wouldn't love a fish lady? 🧜‍♀️💖🌊

The black sack is the most mind-blowing thing I have seen in a LONG time. I am dying

I think it would be so cool if for a limited time, you have the chance to meet Halle Bailey’s version of Ariel in Hollywood Studios after the live action adaptation comes out in 2023! I think that would be so cool to see.

I am friends with the 2015 Disney World Ariel. She now runs her very own Disney Princess company, and it's absolutely amazing to get some of that Disney experience and quality here in Michigan.

I had no idea there were so many ways you could make a mermaid tail look cool! :P I’d love to see a video about the evolution of Belle’s costumes-since Beauty and the Beast’s 30th anniversary is next month, it would be a great way to celebrate!

nothing makes my day more than seeing dan in a wig brushing it with a fork and singing a little mermaid song

An Ariel costume DIStory was needed! I am finally watching this after a week-long trip to Walt Disney World where we were super immersed in Little Mermaid. We stayed in the Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms, and we started every day walking by Ariel. Its like you knew that vibe when you released the video lol. Great video though! I got crazy deja vu seeing Ariel's Grotto from the 90's. I'm pretty sure my parents have pictures of that whole place and me meeting her somewhere in their apartment.

One side note, the 2013 Japanese production of the musical was actually a direct copy of the 2012 Dutch musical! It was designed by Bob Crowley for the company Stage Entertainment, which produced the musical in the Netherlands and Russia concurrently. Then the production was helmed by the Shiki Theatre Company in Japan following those two productions, and is actually the longest running version of The Little Mermaid in the world. So yes, while Japan consistently does things better than Disney in the US, their Little Mermaid musical was designed by a British man for a Dutch production company and is not original to Japan 😁

Former figure skater here: For the Disney on Ice Ariel, the skater having their legs not covered to the ankles by a costume is because they are performing very intricate routines and they have to prioritize safety. Note that all of the princesses who wear dresses have their dresses cutoff well above the ankle and the dresses are “fuller,” so they can ballon out away from the legs. Ariel does a lot of lovely partner routines that include lifts and jumps. If fabric was to constrict her legs, she wouldn’t be able to separate them for some of the partner lifts that require specific hand placement for safety and leverage. It’s down to the intricacies of the routine- for her to do jumps she has to be able to get a full range of motion from her legs and has to be able to gain a considerable speed to execute the jump. It would be immensely dangerous for her to skate in something that prioritizes aesthetics over safety. That being said, I do think they could improve the skate covers to blend in better with the skate costume. I feel like the lime, ruffle, ankle length dress “tail” is a good one, but we can see that her tricks are limited in it because it’s tighter near her knees. The best “tail” for form and function is likely the tail “pants.” They allow the skater to be able to do all sorts of tricks that “dress” Ariel can’t do. Take a look at the two routines on KZfaq and note the differences! :) plus, the mini-skirt is actually appropriate for figure skating as that is a variation of what many professional skaters would wear- is it kinda silly in this context? You bet! But it allows the skater the same fluidity as being in a leotard, allowing for a full range of motion, plus, their partner can lift them for partner routines without any excess fabric getting in the way they could become hazardous.

The floating mermaid also appeared in golden mickey at Hong Kong Disneyland. Her tail is massive. Fun to watch

Meeting Ariel is one of my earliest memories from Disneyland. I loved that movie. I definitely think I saw turnaround shell Ariel in the grotto.

HAHA literally started LOLING from the jump! This is why I love this guy! always makes me happy and laugh when im feeling whatever lol. The red wig! the wooden dinglehopper! the song! lol so entertaining.

My new workout will be flailing my legs in a mermaid tail for an hour long 😂

One of my most vivid (and only, but we'll move past that) memories from my trip to Disney was meeting Ariel. I think meeting her was the most hardcore moment of belief for me!

As a costume designer aspiring to a Disney job I am IN LOVE with this videos

ariel was my fav when i was little, and i remember going to see disney on ice with my cousins once (this was the early/mid-90s). i dont remember her exact costume but i do remember the fact that she had legs was BETRAYAL, albeit one i got over quickly (somehow even at that age i was always aware that actors in costume were actors in costume, so it made sense that she needed a costume designed for skating lmao). that said, from my hazy memories of the show it was still fully magical. those clips you used of the shows featuring wirework performances are mindblowing in comparison tho i'd love to see that live also even in my 30s i still want to get myself a tail and embrace the merman life and i blame miss ariel for that 100%

I watch #TheLittleMermaid was a child, a long time a go!! I like the Ariel, Frander & Sebastian! She is beautiful...

OMG GET THIS MAN A BROADWAY CONTRACT ASAP!!!! 🙌🏼😭

Why is he actually amazing at singing?! Also great video Dan

The CORE work for these poor castmembers! LOL

5:13 Bette Midler who spent years hopping around in a mermaid costume: "AMATEURS!"

I remember my mother when she worked for disney animating the 2nd little mermaid film. And growing up with the TV series. Ariel was my life as a child.

I understand why Ariel is now doing meet and greets in her human form, but meeting mermaid Ariel in her grotto is still one of the biggest highlights of my childhood and I would be elated if my daughter could experience meeting mermaid Ariel one day, too.

Awesome Video !!! Thank you so much for sharing. Ariel is my absolute favorite disney princess of ALL time. Hope you have a great & blessed day/night. Thanks again

Can I just say I love the energy of all your videos! It's all just a wonderful time!

Don’t get me started on those fins at the meet and greet, having to make sure those scales (sequins) a headache to maintain looking good. Also you didn’t mention Ariel’s winter wear jacket! 🤣

I met Ariel at Disney World in 2003. We were walking around in her grotto and I thought we were waiting in line for a ride. I was extremely disappointed and refused to smile when it was my turn to get an autograph and take a picture.

Many years ago I found someone on Facebook selling an authentic Ariel tail from the parks (had the barcoded tag and everything) for 5,000 dollars. Would of been such a cool piece of memorabilia to have!

I love it when you do these videos !!! The costumer and fashion passion for me is like gimme gimme more 🎶

I forgot which version of Little Mermaid on Ice I saw, but it scared the crap out of me, especially the inflatable Ursala