If you've strolled through Paradise Garden Park at Disney California Adventure recently, you may have noticed something a little different about The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure. The exterior of the beloved attraction — inspired by the classic 1989 film and open since 2011 — is now almost entirely concealed behind construction walls and scrim fabric as a lengthy refurbishment continues.

How the Construction Unfolded

Scaffolding draped in dark scrim fabric first appeared on the building's exterior in early August. Over the following weeks, additional construction equipment arrived on site, and plywood barriers went up to keep guests from getting too close to the building. Locked wooden doors gave Disney cast members access to the work area.

As the project progressed, Disneyland Resort swapped out most of the plain black scrim for themed fabric designed to match the attraction's exterior. The result? Nearly the entire show building is now wrapped in construction material.

What Guests Are Seeing Right Now

In the past week, several Southern California guests have reported that the full show building is now hidden behind beige construction walls and scrim fabric. Photos shared by @laughingplace on X (formerly Twitter) on September 22, 2026, capture the scene perfectly — with only the very top of the roof, featuring King Triton's Trident, peeking out above the scrim:

"The Little Mermaid is completely covered in scrims except for King Triton's Trident #Disneyland" — @laughingplace

WDWNT also shared a photo taken on September 21 showing that a small section of unthemed black scrim fabric still remained on a portion of the building above the outside queue. It's reasonable to expect Disneyland Resort will eventually replace that remaining black scrim with themed fabric to match the rest of the building.

The Ride Remains Open

Despite all the construction activity outside, The Little Mermaid – Ariel's Undersea Adventure is still welcoming guests. Disneyland Resort has not publicly addressed the ongoing facade refurbishment, which likely involves repainting and other general maintenance work. The park's official website does not list any upcoming closures for the attraction.

So while the outside may be a bit of a construction zone at the moment, you can still dive under the sea and enjoy the magic inside — King Triton's Trident standing tall above it all as a reminder of what's waiting beneath the scrim.