A Glimpse in the Mirror and a Journey Under the Sea: 1 Year Later

Posted:  Entertainment Parks

I can’t believe it’s been over a year now since Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

A purple and silver sign at Hollywood Studios’ Sunset Showcase displays showtimes for the Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After show under a blue sky.

Hollywood Studios is one of my favorite parks when it comes to entertainment. Whether you’re looking for live performances like Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage or Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!, a sneak peek at an upcoming feature film, a behind-the-scenes look at the magic at Walt Disney Presents, or an interactive show like For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, there is something for everyone!

The entrance for the “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The iconic film character is seen on the sign above the attraction entry.

Elsa, Anna, and other characters inspired by the Frozen films perform on stage during the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration show.

When I heard about the two new additions last year, I was very interested to see how these shows would enhance the park’s entertainment options.

The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure is an updated version of the former Voyage of the Little Mermaid show. The new iteration still focuses on the retelling of the 1989 animated feature film; however, many wonderful updates have been made. Two more songs were added to the show: “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl,” alongside all the returning favorites performed by live actors. You’ll definitely catch me still singing along to “Poor Unfortunate Souls” every time, and there was also new digital imagery added to some scenes.

The attraction sign for The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure is seen over the entrance under a blue sky. The sign features a silhouette of Ariel in a golden circle, along with purple and blue nautical designs.

For this updated version of the show, the puppets and animatronics also received a refresh. I am a huge fan of puppetry and think Disney does such a great job with it in their shows and productions. This show is no exception! The sea creatures feel so real and swim effortlessly across the stage. They add an extra layer of Disney magic, making the whole performance come alive. As someone who grew up enjoying a lot of Jim Henson projects, the puppets made me feel so nostalgic, especially Max!

Prince Eric performs on stage with a puppet of Max the dog from the animated film The Little Mermaid, during a performance of The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.

As for Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, I will admit I wasn’t sure how I would like this new addition to the park. I hadn’t seen much of the villains in the parks outside Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party; however, I will say that most of my favorite Disney songs are performed by the villains. With the rise of villain backstories like those seen in films like Descendants, Maleficent, and Cruella, and with so many villainous characters being fan favorites, guests clearly want to see more of them!

A large gate decorated pink and purple with the golden logo for “Villains Unfairly Ever After” is seen under a blue sky at Hollywood Studios.

Silhouettes of Disney Villains such as Jafar, Yzma, and more are seen in the stage design of the Villains Unfairly Ever After show, lit with shades of red, purple, and green.

This is currently one of the few Disney attractions that focuses solely on villains, and I was intrigued to see how Disney would make it a family-friendly performance while keeping the frightening elements to a minimum. I can say I was not disappointed and will return to see the show on all future trips.

The stage is set for the Villains Unfairly Ever After show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Multiple large mirrors surround the set as the curtain and stage design are lit with red and purple lighting.

This interactive show gets the audience involved in deciding which villain was the most unfairly treated after being summoned by the Magic Mirror. Through an original song, the Magic Mirror makes his case about how he has been put into a position by all the villains in the land to answer the question “who has been treated the most unfairly?”

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty performs on stage during the Villains Unfairly Ever After show at Hollywood Studios.

Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians performs on stage during the Villains Unfairly Ever After show at Hollywood Studios.

In the show, Cruella, Maleficent, and Captain Hook make their pitches to the crowd through live performances with familiar tunes. There are plenty of other not-so-friendly faces that make appearances throughout the show as well, through the many magical mirrors that surround the stage. This mix of live actors and technology makes the performance feel magical, bringing these classic stories to life right before our eyes. 

The Evil Queen interacts with the Magic Mirror on stage during a performance under hazy purple lighting effects.

At the end of the show, the audience votes for who they believe is the most unfairly treated based on what they heard. This makes the show unique, as the ending could be different every time you see it. I think this is such a fun idea and a great way to get guests coming back again and again!

Captain Hook performs with a sword during the Villains Unfairly Ever After show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After has quickly become one of my favorite things to do at Hollywood Studios thanks to its catchy songs, sassy performances, and stunning visuals!

Maleficent poses with her horns held high as she performs on stage under purple and green lighting.

I can’t wait to see all the new additions and re-imaginings that are underway at Hollywood Studios! This park has always been a favorite of mine, and I think it will remain that way for many years to come.

 

~Taycee

 

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