Disney's The Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson

It's time to put the starfish on top of the coral tree. Santa Claws is swimming to town!

The publicity artwork shown on the cover of this issue of The Disney Channel Magazine featuring Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder is the first image I remember seeing of the characters. I first saw this artwork in the pages of The Disney Channel magazine prior to the film's November 1989 release.

When I saw Ariel and her friends for the first time, I thought of the 1987 mermaid episode of Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears TV show (called "Water Way to Go," featuring a mermaid named Aquarianne).

The Little Mermaid made a big splash when it debuted in November of 1989, and was a hit with film critics.

Much of the success of the movie can be attributed to the fantastic songs created by lyricist Howard Ashman (of "Little Shop of Horrors" fame) and composer Alan Menken.

At this time, I can remember watching the Tracey Ullman show specifically to see the hilarious short animated clips featuring The Simpsons. This article in USA Today about the animation industry in 1989 is a very interesting read.

In the early 1990s, I do remember hearing people say that someday hand drawn animated movies would be replaced by computer animation. That is sort of what happened.

As part of the release of The Little Mermaid, McDonald's had Happy Meal toys to promote the film, and they also sold plush ornaments of Sebastian and Flounder.

With his ear muffs, scarf and snowflake gloves, the Sebastian ornament is pretty elaborate, especially for a fast food plush item. This Sebastian ornament is missing a pink tongue (a decal like the snowflakes on his gloves) that cracked and flaked off years ago.

The ornament boxes feature some great artwork.

This image of Flounder was used frequently on merchandise.

McDonald's had previously sold plush ornaments for Disney's 1988 film, Oliver and Company. The plush Oliver and Dodger ornaments played music. Oliver played Jingle Bells and Dodger played Frosty the Snowman.

The Sebastian and Flounder ornaments should have played music! Sebastian should have played "Under the Sea" and Flounder could have played "Kiss The Girl."

Sebastian is such a great character. He can live in the water or on land and he sings!

Sebastian was also the spokes-character for a new McDonald's item called McCrab Cakes.

He wasn't really. Wouldn't that be twisted? It would sort of be like Foghorn Leghorn being the mascot for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Oh, wait. That actually DID happen!

I thought it was incredibly creative and fresh to see Christmas ornaments of a crab and a fish.

Macy's offered an exclusive plush toy of Prince Eric's dog, Max.

Back then, Premier Cruise Lines was the Official Cruise Line of Walt Disney World. My, how times have changed!

The Little Mermaid was a huge merchandising hit.

By 1990, there were all sorts of items featuring Ariel and her friends for sale in the Disney Catalog.

For 1994, Sebastian the crab played Santa Claws, the famous Snow Crab who delivers treasures to all the good fish folk.

Is Ariel on the Nice List or the Naughty List?

Santa Claws got many of his Little Mermaid gifts from the Disney Catalog, from 1990 to 2005.

It's time to go fathoms below into the world of Mermaid Merchandise Mania.

Santa Claws might bring you a music box, a watch, or a mermaid toothbrush.

It looks like Ariel fed Flounder some steroid-laced fish flakes.

Before you could play games on your phone, kids had Tiger Electronics hand-held games.

Don't laugh! This was high-tech. There's that image of Flounder seen on the McDonald's Christmas ornament Box.

There was even a collection of Pro Set Little Mermaid Baseball Cards. Did you get Sebastian D. Crab, short stop for the Devil Rays?

OK, they were not exactly baseball cards.

If a Loan Shark tells you he will make you sleep with the fishes, don't assume the worst.

That Loan Shark may have bought you some Little Mermaid bedding.

Here we see the official Disney Little Mermaid Plush Toys.

At the Disney Store, children would sometimes throw the smaller version of the Flounder toy like a football.

Ariel was featured on gadgets and gizmos aplenty.

She was on whosits and whatsits galore. Like this lamp!

To quote Sally's letter to Santa from "A Charlie Brown Christmas": "I have been extra good this year, so I have a long list of presents that I want. Please note the size and color of the items, and send as many as possible."

Sally continues, "If it seems too complicated, make it easy on yourself. Send money. How about tens and twenties?" Or a Sebastian medallion.

Were you an angelfish this year? If so, Santa Claws might bring you something shiny.

If you were shellfish or naughty, Santa Claws will bring you a lump of coral.

It's time to go Under Da Sea!

This snow globe is a bit different. Instead of snow, this has tiny plastic fish and dolphins!

The Walt Disney Classics Collection brought some of the Under the Sea characters to life as detailed sculptures.

These are prototypes of the figures.

Here's what the finished figures looked like.

These look like they jumped off the movie screen. They also give you an idea of what a 3D CGI version of The Little Mermaid might look like.

These sculptures are not cheap!

These look similar to the animated figures seen in The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction at California Adventure in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

If you were really good this year, maybe you'll see The Little Mermaid Car in your driveway.

Look, there's Flounder in the background! He's walking on Main Street and he's the size of Herbie the Love Bug, so he must be at Disneyland in California!

Here's some great stuff with some fishes! Don't believe me? Ask the dishes! Wait a minute, wrong movie...

These collector plates happen to show the four main segments of the Little Mermaid dark ride at California Adventure.

Tip the Penguin and Dash the Walrus would be the perfect hosts for a special Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson Christmas overlay for California Adventure's Mermaid attraction.

In The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, Tip the Penguin is voiced by Max Casella (from TV's Doogie Howser, M.D.) and Dash the Walrus is voiced by Stephen Furst (from TV's St. Elsewhere).

Tip and Dash could be featured with Scuttle in a snow-covered setting at the start of Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson. Like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Small World Holiday at Disneyland in California, the ride itself would not be changed, but the decor would be different.

Up first is Ariel's Grotto, filled with Christmas toys and Nutcrackers.

In the "Part of Your World" section of the Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson ride, the song is replaced by "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."

Ariel sings, "Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the---what's that word again?---fire!"

Flounder and Sebastian are dressed as elves in this scene.

Up next, it's time to go "Under the Sea."

This section of the ride is lit up by colorful jellyfish and a new seahorse carousel.

For the Under the Sea room, Sebastian the crab is dressed up as Santa Claws.

Instead of "Under the Sea," Sebastian sings the Andy Williams "The Holiday Season" song.

Up next, it's time to visit Ursula's Lair.

Instead of "Poor Unfortunate Souls," Ursula sings Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby." Imagine Ursula crooning "I've been an awful good girl!"

For the "Kiss the Girl" section, the song is now the Burl Ives classic, "A Holly Jolly Christmas."

Sebastian sings, "Oh, ho, the mistletoe, hung where you can see. Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me!"

The ride ends with the finale, featuring King Triton dressed as Santa Claus, being pulled in his chariot by 8 dolphins.

In the background, we hear "The Holiday Season" song playing again. Tip, Dash and Scuttle wish us a Happy Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson.

At Walt Disney World in Florida, the Little Mermaid dark ride ("Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid") will be opening in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. Florida doesn't seem to do Christmas overlays, so I don't imagine they would participate with a Little Mermaid Holiday.

If they ever did, they could put Christmas twinkle lights and seashells all over Prince Eric's Castle and the grottos there.

Hopefully Santa Claws left something you can use in the summertime.

Summer is another big SEAson for Ariel.

Bring Ariel to life on the beach!

Make a Sandcastle of Triton's Castle! It's so easy, even a really lazy person can make one.

How about a game of Flounder Paddleball?

There's that image of Flounder from the Christmas Ornament Box again!

Summer Seas Ariel is probably the best three dimensional version of The Little Mermaid that I've seen.

She's got flowing hair and a crown made of utensils!

For Disney, The Little Mermaid is like a generous grama. She keeps giving them money!

I guess every SEAson is big for Ariel merchandise sales.

If you are really lucky, maybe Santa Claws will bring you the rare, original VHS tape of The Little Mermaid.

These are tough to find now. And I have one, and I think it' s probably worth something.

Santa Claws has a lot of work to do!

Treasure your Happy Little Mermaid Holiday SEAson, Mon!

Disney's Bathing Beauty Beast For The Christmas Tree

It just isn't the holiday season without an ornament of the Beast taking a bubble bath hanging on the Christmas tree. This may be the most comical item I've seen featuring Disney's Beauty and the Beast characters.

It's time for the Disney Enesco Christmas Ornament Spectacular! These ornaments were sold in card stores and in catalogs during 1994, 1995 and 1996.

No Christmas special would be complete without some great commercials. Luckily, Enesco also made some ornaments featuring some popular advertising mascots.

Mr. Peanut from Planter's joins Lifesaver's, Hershey's and Campbell's to sponsor this event.

Beauty and the Beast have been celebrating Christmas since 1997. That's when their "mid-quel" movie, "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" debuted.

The film featured new characters that were never seen again, including a Tree Topper Angel named Angelique (voiced by Bernadette Peters), a pipe organ named Forte (Tim Curry) and Forte's assistant, Fife (Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens).

Some of the Enesco ornaments were re-released over the years.

Beauty and the Beast will soon have their own village in Fantasyland at Walt Disney World in Florida (complete with Beast's Castle on a snow-capped mountain).

It's time for Holiday Cheer from Puppy Chow, Tootsie Roll and McDonald's.

This McDonald's ornament celebrates the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

It's time to go Under the Sea for a Little Mermaid Christmas.

The Little Mermaid has a new dark ride at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, which is also under construction at Walt Disney World in Florida. Could these rides ever get a Holiday makeover? I say YES!

It's time to cool off with refreshing Coca-Cola ornaments.

One thing I love about writing Dizmentia is that I have readers all over the world. This ornament celebrates a popular Coca-Cola campaign that I can remember seeing on TV when I was three years old.

Coca-Cola has some very creative ornaments.

Coca-Cola is the official soft drink of Santa's Workshop.

Santa's workforce also includes Polar Bears.

The Polar Bears are cute, but they sometimes drink on the job.

Santa also drops Coca-Cola from his plane. Look out below!

Santa Claus washes down the millions of cookies he eats using Diet Coke.

Enesco artists even came up with a Coca-Cola train!

The train was sold in limited quantities. I wonder how much it is worth these days.

Coca-Cola has been around for a long time!

Some of the artwork in this trunk reminds me of the opening titles to the sitcom "Cheers."

As we stroll down memory lane, we see Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse in the 1928 cartoon "Plane Crazy."

I love this version of Mickey Mouse. Notice his large, goggle-like eyes, which were eventually redesigned.

Mickey and Minnie ring in 1995, and celebrate the past with 1928's Steamboat Willie.

Squeaky-clean Minnie Mouse also enjoys a Christmas bubble bath (but not with the Beast).

Mickey's Toontown opened at Disneyland in California in 1993, so it was still pretty new when these ornaments debuted.

It looks like Mickey bought Minnie something from Victoria's Secret.

If you plan on driving across the country for Christmas, why not do it in style?

Driving a 1957 Chevy Bel Air and wearing shades and a black leather jacket, Santa Claus redefines cool in the North Pole.

Santa makes sure the elves have a jukebox.

It would have been amazing if this ornament actually played music.

Kris Kringle has a stylin' 1965 Corvette Stingray.

Here, Kris Kringle looks a bit like Guy Fieri from Food Network's TV show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

Mr. Kringle loves to sample food as he travels. He really digs McDonald's! He loves it so much, he had the elves make him a helicopter out of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

The Polar Bears are in charge of preparing Santa's McDonald's lunches. The elves make him Campbell's soup for dinner.

As you travel during the holidays, be aware that the elves are busy all around you. They are making you French Fry Trees at McDonald's. They are even delivering pizzas at Pizza Hut.

Did you win a free sandwich when you played the Monopoly game at McDonald's? Bring your winning game piece with you when you travel for the holidays to save money. Take a can of Campbell's soup with you when you visit your Grama's house, and tell her "I brought you dinner!" Don't forget to leave a big bowl of Kitten Chow for Mittens while you are gone.

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas (so the saying goes).

LifeSavers make a charming Christmas Tree if you don't have room for an actual tree. Mr. Peanut doesn't mind if you eat peanuts, so don't feel guilty about gobbling them up during the Holidays.

It's time for some treats, courtesy of Coca-Cola, Hershey's, and Wrigleys!

A Coca-Cola bird feeder provides an oasis of refreshment for our fine, feathered friends.

It's time for Christmas with Aladdin! The Genie is a one-man caroling band.

Jasmine and Rajah probably won't see any snow, but they may find themselves in a sandstorm.

The Genie is often imitated but never duplicated.

Except when he is duplicated.

You won't find a magic lamp buried inside a box of Cracker Jacks, but you will find a treasure of some kind. It may be a piece of plastic, though.

Someone did get a diamond ring as part of a special promotion.

Santa wants you to leave him Hershey's brand hot chocolate.

If you don't get him Hershey's, you may end up with a lump of coal in your stocking.

Hershey's has their own amusement park (with roller coasters!) in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

We have yet to see the Nestle company build their Nestle Thrillville theme park located in Nestle Crunch, Wyoming.*

*This is just a joke. There are no plans, to my knowledge, of a Nestle Thrillville theme park. There is also not a town called Nestle Crunch in Wyoming. Yet.

Kids love getting toys at Christmas, and Disney has their own living toy. It's Pinocchio, the little wooden boy carved by puppet master Geppetto.

The hot new toy for 2011 is Tell No Lies Pinocchio made by Mattel. That's a lie right there.

Gather the family together to play a game...of MURDER! It's Clue from Parker Brothers!

Disney has special Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror versions of Clue that I really would love to play. I do own the Simpsons version of Clue, which is pretty funny.

I spent countless hours playing SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog game years ago.

I was happy to see a Sonic balloon in the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

You can play Monopoly at McDonald's or the real game in your home.

Rich Uncle Pennybags dances around his Monopoly Money Tree, decorated with game pieces.

There have been many versions of Monopoly, but the classic everyone remembers includes Park Place and Boardwalk.

I'd like to see a Hasbro version of A Christmas Carol starring Rich Uncle Pennybags as Ebenezer Scrooge. Mr. Potato Head could be Bob Cratchit.

It's playtime with Tinkertoy and Monopoly!

I thought these advertising ornaments were pretty interesting years ago, but after becoming a fan of AMC's "Mad Men" ad agency-based TV show, I'm even more fascinated by them. Enesco made Juicy Fruit Gum and Wrigley's Gum ornaments and people actually paid to put them on their Christmas tree.

The Enesco artists are incredibly talented, because I would have bought these ornaments if I could have!

A chewing gum plane and tree? Brilliant!

I've just spotted Disney's 101 Dalmatians.

I especially like the dalmatian "tree."

Maybe Santa will bring a dalmatian puppy to your house for Christmas.

Maybe he'll bring 101 dalmatians. Better stock up on Purina Puppy Chow.

Mickey and his dog Pluto lead a pack of nifty Mickey and Minnie ornaments.

It's time for the Mickey Mouse finale of the Disney Enesco Christmas Ornament Spectacular.

I think I'm running out of things to say.

There's a firetruck, a car and a sleigh.

Mickey goes postal at Christmas!

Mickey takes a train (it is NOT the Polar Express).

Donald should have ducked.

Goofy goofed up and ordered too many of these Mickey Mouse ornaments, so some of these were available for several years.

The Enesco shop is closing up now. Mrs. Mouse has some stirring to do when she gets home.

Not shown here are delightful, cute ornaments with mice and elves featuring brands like Charmin, Tampax, Metamucil and Pepto-Bismol. Maybe next time.

Happy Holidays!