Cast Member Previews Scheduled for New Villains and Little Mermaid Shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Posted: Tuesday April 29, 2025 9:40am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has scheduled Cast Member previews for its two new stage shows coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this summer.

Villains Show concept art

According to current plans, previews for Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will take place across two separate weeks in May 2025.

The current Cast Member preview schedule is as follows (dates are subject to change):

“Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” – May 21, 22, 23
“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” – May 24, 25, 26

Both new shows will officially open to all guests on May 27, 2025.

Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will debut at the Sunset Showcase, featuring iconic villains like Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent as they argue their case for being the most misunderstood characters. The show promises live musical numbers, cutting-edge special effects, and an audience-driven finale inside the mysterious realm of the Magic Mirror.

Villains Show concept art

Meanwhile, The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure brings a reimagined stage version of the beloved animated classic back to Hollywood Studios. The updated production will feature new sets, refreshed musical arrangements, and modern stage effects, offering guests a fresh take on Ariel’s undersea journey.

The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure concept art

Discuss on the Forums

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RteetzDec 15, 2025

The exterior of RnR isn't changing much outside of the guitar. They'll likely just put up walls around that and the ride entrance and keep a path to the show.

AidenRodriguez731Dec 15, 2025

Probably just a bypass walkway I imagine for now, they don’t really need the whole plaza right now anyway

EagleScout610Dec 15, 2025

I doubt they'd shut villains down after less than a year

Cmdr_CrimsonDec 15, 2025

Anyone know if the Villians Show is going to close around the same time RnRC closes down? The only way to get into the theater entrance is in the G-force plaza or build refurb walls get built?

Cmdr_CrimsonAug 29, 2025

Exactly what I was thinking.. Consider how many show they perform and the results per day it would be interesting to see a full tally once the show finally gets removed..

Jedi14Aug 29, 2025

I saw the show six times on my last trip, I was trying to get all the endings, and Maleficent was picked for three of them, Hook two, and I got Cruella on my last one.

Figments FriendAug 29, 2025

Has to be Maleficent. The in audience voting seems to be skewed however. The show I experienced for example clearly had far more cheering for Maleficent, and yet Cruella was deemed the ‘winner’. Um….yeah….. -

Cmdr_CrimsonAug 28, 2025

When this show finally ends and closes I would really like to see the tally of who had the most votes throughout the span of the show and would make them the most villainous out of them all..

Jedi14Jul 27, 2025

What ad?

Disgruntled WaltJul 27, 2025

I saw a YouTube ad for this that made it sound like you could vote for Jafar, which isn't exactly accurate.

jrhwdwJul 27, 2025

TrainsOfDisneyJul 14, 2025

I would say even more so - you could put another show in there tomorrow with some quick light and video programming! (Well…. At least a month for Disney but that’s not the point! Haha)