There
is probably no Disney movie more apropos to having its own "land" in
Tokyo DisneySea than The Little Mermaid. Mermaid Lagoon is entirely inspired by that
movie.
Mermaid Lagoon has two areas, an outdoor area and an indoor, "underwater
kingdom" area that is home to the Little Mermaid (whose name is Ariel)
and the rest of her pals.
 The exterior of the underwater kingdom is absolutely stunning. A fluid
design accented by giant seashells, coral, and kelp, it is a structure
befitting royalty. It is especially beautiful at night, when
ever-changing light patterns and fiber optic special effects turn the
structure into a show of its own.
The inside of the underwater kingdom is nearly as beautiful as the
outside. Brilliant use of lighting effects help set the mood, as you
are surrounded by kelp and coral formations, glowing jellyfish, and
other creatures of the sea.
With one exception, the attractions in Mermaid Lagoon are nothing to write
home about. Most are adaptations of your basic go-around-in-a-circle
carnival rides. They are all beautifully themed, and the ones inside the
underwater kingdom are thematically designed to integrate into their
surroundings. However, it's obvious that this land is geared towards
children, and those without children will probably enjoy looking at the
attractions more than riding them.
The one exceptional attraction in Mermaid Lagoon is not a ride but a show:
the Mermaid Lagoon Theater. This live-action recreation of The Little
Mermaid combines music with large-scale puppetry and flying-wire
acrobatics. It will be enjoyed by folks of all ages, and is Mermaid
Lagoon's must-see attraction. |
