Hi Angela,
Welcome to the Moms Panel! December is a great time for a first visit to Disney World! Be sure to pick up your "1st Visit" buttons when you check in your resort or at any Guest Relations location. A great souvenEAR to start your trip.
Ariel's Grotto is indeed now closed to make way for the Fantasyland expansion. Great news for your daughter though - Ariel is currently appearing in her human form for Meet & Greets at the Magic Kingdom. Look for her in the Adventureland Veranda Gazebo. Be sure to check your
Times Guide for appearance times. These are available at the entrance of the parks, Guest Relations & most merchandise locations.
Ariel has also been known to appear at
Cinderella's Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom & the
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. There is no guarantee which princesses will appear - it varies. If you think you may want to dine at either of these locations, I'd call 407-WDW-DINE as soon as possible as Guests can begin making dining reservations 180 days prior to their trips & these are both very popular locations.
Although you can't "meet" her, Ariel can also be seen in the
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade held most afternoons in the Magic Kingdom. You can also see Ariel in
The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show &
Fantasmic! at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Wishing you many magical memories :-) Allison