The Little Mermaid has been a favourite film of children for a long time and with the much-anticipated release of the live action remake, the popularity of The Little Mermaid inspired dolls (and other Little Mermaid toys) is understandably through the roof. Dolls are always a great toy choice, thanks to their ability in encourage a child's imagination and develop their social skills, but when you mix that with Disney, it's bound to be something special.
Disney is a brand that has been a part of our lives since we ourselves, were children, and continue to be in our little one's lives through the movies and toys. With the new remakes creeping onto cinema screens over the past few years too, we can't help but relive that childhood Disney magic with our own children.
Inspired by the all-new film, Disney have launched a magical range of products with Mattel, where fans of the Disney favourite will be able to get a dose of mermaid magic (who doesn't love a mermaid toy or two?). As part of the new line, Mattel’s carefully crafted products are inspired by the characters from the film, including Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel and features her signature mermaid tail, as well as products inspired by characters such as Ursula, Prince Eric, King Triton and Ariel's six sisters.
Our favourite Little Mermaid dolls 2023
• Best transforming Little Mermaid doll: Disney Little Mermaid Transforming Ariel Doll
• Best Little Mermaid doll with stand: Disney The Little Mermaid Deluxe Doll
• Best Little Mermaid doll set: Disney The Little Mermaid Ariel's Adventures Story Set With 4 Small Dolls
• Best posable Little Mermaid dolls set: The Little Mermaid Set of 3
In honour of the new The Little Mermaid film and our love all things mythical and magical, we've rounded up the best The Little Mermaid dolls that children will love.
Best transforming Little Mermaid doll
This Disney Little Mermaid Transforming Ariel Doll switches from human to mermaid at the push of a shell necklace! How special is that? Her signature blue dress opens to become a multi-coloured mermaid tail. The doll also has long hair, which your little one can enjoy styling and brushing over and over again.
One reviewer said: "This is a nice doll that any child will love if they love dolls and love this film, or even if they just love dolls and mermaids. You press the necklace pendant and her skirt turns into a fishtail which is a nice touch and which my goddaughter has loved. A nice gift that I think will go down well."
Pros
- 2-in-1 transformation
- Beautiful design
Cons
- None
| Suitable for ages: | 3 years+ |
| Dimensions: | 22.9 x 32.5 x 6.5 cm |
- Push shell necklace
- Mermaid and human mode
- Design inspired by film
Best Little mermaid doll set
Disney The Little Mermaid Ariel's Adventures Story Set with 4 Small Dolls features film favourites, Ursula, Prince Eric, King Triton and of course, Ariel. It even comes with two animal favourites, Flounder and Sebastian to play with too. With each doll wearing their signature look, fans can recreate the story with the posable dolls.
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One reviewer said:** "I feel they've stepped up the quality with this new movie mermaid line. The details is really nice, the mermaid fin has a soft bend to it and can sit. The sparkles and colours really do pop. My 4 year is loving this set."
Pros
- Comes with two accessories
- A fab gift idea
Cons
- Dolls are quite small
Best Little Mermaid Ursula doll
With posable arms, the Disney Ursula Doll features the characters iconic lavender hair and removable necklace. This doll is the perfect villain and even has sparkle details on her tentacles. If your little one wants to act out the whole film as they play, this doll is a must-have for their collection.
One reviewer said: "The Ursula doll is fantastic! Love the detail and texture of her outfit. She a nice size doll and can’t wait to get all the others to have the set. My daughter loves the Little Mermaid and any dolls or sets will make her want to play for hours with them."
Pros
- Removable necklace accessory
- Posable arms
Cons
- Could be scary for younger children
| Suitable for ages: | 3+ |
| Dimensions: | 16.36 x 19.74 x 27.53 cm |
- Moveable arms
- Features iconic lavender up-do
Best Little Mermaid doll with stand
With a beautifully designed iridescent tail, the Disney The Little Mermaid Deluxe Doll comes with a whirlpool-themed stand to add to the storytelling, or to make displaying a lot easier. The doll features the characters natural red hair and hair jewellery too. We love the overall look and attention to details here.
One reviewer said: "A fabulous official toy from the new little mermaid movie. A very good size and looks brilliant. You can move the limbs of the doll. It has some accessories and looks just like Ariel from the new film. My daughter loves the hair mostly on this. A great toy for a great film."
Pros
- Ombre-colored mermaid tail with foil scales
- Comes with accessories
Cons
- Carefully with the small accessories when giving to toddlers
Best posable Little Mermaid dolls set
Featuring three of the iconic characters from the film, this Disney The Little Mermaid Set of 3 is inspired by the new onscreen characters and are all posable. Wearing their signature outfits, each doll has removable story telling accessories and lovely attention to detail in their designs.
One reviewer said: "This item came in a Very Good condition. Fast shipping too!!"
Pros
- Easy to pose
- Removable accessories
Cons
- Not all the fan-favourite characters are featured
Best Little Mermaid playset
www.very.co.uk
The Storytime Stackers Ariel Grotto Playset brings the films underwater location to life. This compact set opens to reveal the underwater hangout, featuring a pool and elevator lift. It comes with a small Ariel doll, Flounder and Sebastian figures and other accessories to add to the storytelling magic.
Pros
- Portable design with handle
- Lots of fun details
Cons
- No reviews yet
Best original Little Mermaid doll
If your little one prefers the animated version, this is a wonderful option. Featuring a tulle detail mermaid tail, this Disney Princess Ariel Little Mermaid Doll is based on the original film and looks stunning. It features Ariel's classic signature red hair, a shimmery green mermaid tail and a glittering purple top.
One reviewer said: "The doll itself is really well made and beautiful. My niece loved it since the first moment she saw it"
Pros
- Poseable arms and head
- Gorgeous design
Cons
- One reviewer found the knee joints were a little stiff
Best collectible Little Mermaid doll
This Ariel Doll Animator Collection comes in a lovely clear window box and is perfect for little ones who really want to treasure this doll and look after their own mermaid companion. We love the holographic 3D shell details and little Flounder that comes with the doll. She has realistic hair and posable arms too.
One reviewer said: "My granddaughter who is 1 years old absolutely loves her doll. She loved it from the moment she opened it. It's also bigger than I thought. My Granddaughter loves brushing her hair.Great Doll"
Pros
- Comes with a little satin Flounder
- Realistic hair
Cons
- Not the best for rough play
Best Little Mermaid and sisters set
These Ariel & Sisters Storytelling dolls are ideal for little ones who like to pretend play, as they will be able to act out scenes from the movie. They're all posable and have gorgeous sparkly designs that are bound to make your little one's face light up when they open this set up.
One reviewer said: "They are beautiful. The box is bulky but is very colorful - avery good gift and they were delighted."
Pros
- Easy to pose
- Beautiful designs
Cons
- Not all the sisters are featured
Best Little Mermaid soft doll
Perfect for your little one to snuggle with, this Disney Ariel Soft Toy Doll is a welcome addition to your child's doll collection. It has a shimmery tail design for a real mermaid effect, and is incredibly soft, making it ideal for younger children as well. For a magical bedtime companion, this is a winner.
One reviewer said: "Well-made, colourful and beautifully cuddly."
Pros
- Embroidered expression
- Super soft
Cons
- None
| Suitable for ages: | N/A |
| Dimensions: | 13 x 11 x 37 cm |
- Classic character design
- Shimmery tail
- Soft to touch doll
When does the Little Mermaid film come out in cinemas?
The new Little Mermaid film will premiere in cinemas from May 26th, 2023, starring Halle Bailey, and is a live action remake of the original animated movie. Melissa McCarthy will be playing Ursula so, it looks like it's going to be a great one for all the family to watch together.
What to consider when choosing a mermaid doll for your child?
If your child loves mermaids, a mermaid doll is bound to be a smash hit regardless of what kind, but if they have been hinting at a specific one, that's obviously the one you're going to choose. If they haven't specified (AKA beg and not-so-subtly hint), it's best to pick a mermaid doll in their favourite colours or from their favourite film/book.
If they like dressing up dolls, find one with different clothing accessories. If they love creating imaginative adventures, choose one that comes with sidekicks or is part of a wider collection. In the end of the day, if your child is mermaid mad, they'll most likely love any of the choices from above. You could even get them a mermaid-themed duvet cover or another accessory to score some real parenting brownie points.
How we test and choose recommended products
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.
Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs. For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.