Paul Hiffmeyer / AP

On June 3, Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., debuts The Little Mermaid — Ariel's Undersea Adventure as part of a multiyear billion-dollar expansion of the park. The family-friendly ride features characters from the popular movie as riders travel on a virtual underwater journey.

It’s taken more than 20 years, but Ariel, everyone’s favorite aquatic princess, is coming to Disney California Adventure. On June 3, the park will unveil its newest attraction: The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Underwater Adventure.

The ride, estimated to cost almost $100 million, takes its cues from the eponymous 1989 movie and subsequent videos and DVDs. Riding brightly colored clamshells, guests will go "under the sea" where they’ll meet animatronic characters, including Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder and others.

Not surprisingly, the ride is designed to be family-friendly — and especially appealing to young girls, many of whom, no doubt, know its songs by heart. From "Part of Your World" to "Kiss the Girl," it promises to faithfully retrace the story as Ariel and Prince Eric meet, get separated by the evil sea-witch Ursula and eventually find true love.

While Disney is keeping mum on additional details, industry observers expect it to live up to both its billing and its price tag. "A ride like this becomes an experience and can have a shelf life of 20 to 30 years," said Dennis Spiegel, president of International Theme Park Services Inc., a Cincinnati-based theme park consulting company.

"She definitely has 'legs' — or at least a tail," he said.

 Rob Lovitt is a longtime travel writer who still believes the journey is as important as the destination.