Evolution of Ursula's Theme Park Costume - DIStory Ep. 59

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The Little Mermaid is one of my all time favorite animated movies, and Ursula is one of my all time favorite villains. But when it comes to her costume.... Poor unfortunate souls...? No. Poor unfortunate me. Ursula is one scary villain, and TLM is one popular movie, combine those two things with Disney Theme Parks and you've got yourself a long history of sea witch appearances!
#Disney #Mermaids #TheLittleMermaid
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[@LucasBradleylpbproductions6]

And not just Ursula. You need to do a video that ranks the top 10 most terrifying costumes used in the Disney On Ice shows.

[@freckle_face2254]

Omg yes

[@candydogge_2433]

YES PLEASE

[@bluecityempiresports1468]

Make it happen

[@amandalisa1659]

Make sure to include that new Coco costume.

[@lillianward2810]

Yes please.

[@nodesire9291]

I am a simple woman-I see Ursula, I click. She's probably the BEST villain when it comes to her design! Hoping the la remake does her justice.

[@henryapplebottom7231]

Oh yeah! The remake! When is that coming out? (Has it already come out?... I don't know)

[@cursedcancersurvivor]

Ursula is the only good part of the remake. 🫤

[@DannyBeckerFilms]

Hi. I was a "friend" of Ursula and may have rode around on "roomba" you mentioned. There is literally a man operating it under you while you move the arms and head. Also, Ursula is almost always played by a man because of how big the proportions are. Same with the Queen of Hearts who I was also "friends" with.

[@DistoryDan]

What other roles are usually played by dudes that you wouldnt normally guess?

[@rexosaurus3610]

Bro how many friends u got

[@rexosaurus3610]

@@lianyla Shh you're not supposed to say it

[@mr.j.p.awesomeness5606]

I have a funny Ursula story! One day, a few years ago, a woman at my church was telling me about her and her family’s stay at the Art of Animation resort. Their room was right behind the giant Ursula statue. The young daughter of the family said that she hoped Ursula didn’t fart while they were in there! I found it hilarious! Also, maybe an evolution of Hades would be great if you haven’t done one already.

[@arminmemisevic2572]

Yes for hades

[@dancinghulahoop]

I don’t blame her, I wouldn’t want to be around for that either tbh!

[@Soupisthebest3]

Yess

[@KassMcCormack]

When Dan eventually gets around to doing the Disney on Ice Ursula costumes I'm going to be so sad if he doesn't at least mention the Broadway costume because that is one of the few things I vividly remember from seeing that show and it needs a shoutout at minimum!

[@estherhinds6314]

Ursala's costume in the Broadway is actually AMAZING. One of my favorite costumes from that show!

[@Vinny792]

Broadway version resembles Her sister Morgana from TLM2 a lot more than it does Usrsula.

[@KassMcCormack]

@@Vinny792 I will say that from the back row (or there abouts) it reads a lot more Ursula than Morgana. It’s only in the “close up” promo shots that it doesn’t. So for the majority of the people in the audience it works out just fine.

[@-imbattler-]

Evolution of big brid?

[@Vinny792]

@@KassMcCormack Green is not traditionally Ursula’s color. The hair, slim body type, and green are all traits more in common with Morgana than Ursula.

[@haleyg6991]

I love how with most of the Ursula costumes, she always dancin and having a great time it seems

[@missybarbour6885]

Oh villains are the MOST fun characters to play!

[@AdolfLuvr]

Shout out to the bigger girl that was Ursula for the first Halloween villains float! That one was my favorite and I think that's design looked the most realistic. Maybe it's mean but Ursula was bigger. Having someone bigger gives them a time to shine in an industry that thrives on primarily smaller people. Love getting to see something more authentic. 🙂

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Exactly!! It just really gets in my craw when they cast conventionally attractive, thin women as Ursula! Ursula is a big woman, and she was never really ashamed of it! She went for her "Vanessa" look because she knew that's what Prince Eric was going to focus on, not because she had a secret desire to be thin. Unfortunately you know Disney chose to make her fat and "ugly" because she's a "villain" and only princesses and queens (no, not in the drag, LGBTA+ meaning of the word) can be "beautiful". I'm honestly surprised Disney hasn't made their Wicked version of Ursula where she's portrayed as the fat girl with no confidence who wishes to be thin, and she has a crush on King Triton, so she goes to another powerful sea witch and wishes to be thin, and Triton shows interest and they date, only to callously break her heart and so he can be with Ariel's doppelganger mother, and _that's_ why she's evil... or do all that, but tack on some rushed, hackneyed "Love Yourself" lesson at the end as she embraces her newfound evil ways. This _is_ the same company that made a big deal about making LeFou "the first official gay Disney character" in their Beauty and the Beast live-action remake... only for his new "out" identity to be hidden away in subtext and suggestive dialouge, and a quick throw away interact where he dances with another man for a split second and looks surprised but not objectionable, and Disney really believed they would get ass pats and lauded as being great allies for doing _not even_ the barest of bare minimum! 😑

[@AdolfLuvr]

@@cannibalisticrequiem Believe it or not I've never actually been a fan of Disney movies, even as a child. My mother told me the movies put me to sleep actually. 😅 I'm not surprised anymore by how Disney does it's business on any fashion. I don't give the company my $ in many respects either. I do feel it is important though to learn about what I don't like so I'm not an "evil" person. Meaning I don't hate/dislike anything without knowing a thing or two about it. That's why I like Dan. His videos are fun and easier to see the comparisons of things over time. I watch other Disney youtubers too for more education on other things. Mainly the parks and how've they changed over time.

[@lollybowser]

It's not mean. Hire fat people to play fat characters! They deserve the spotlight too.

[@alexlissau275]

@@cannibalisticrequiem Jsyk Ursula and triton are siblings, it was cut from the movie but made it into the stage show

[@chattycatty3336]

Yeah, i find it funny that disney originally designed her to be fat and "ugly" so people wouldnt like her, then she ended up becoming many peoples favorite villain overall 😂 almost every guy I watch react to the movie is thirsting over her 😂 shes a baddie and she knows it lmao

[@sarahlamper5701]

At least at Universal: yes, the actors in the little romba esque parade floats have control over their motorized egg shell. I believe sometimes it’s controlled by leaning forward and backwards but I’m also pretty sure they can have really tiny hand held remotes to move as well, most likely to spin. They kinda like fit on their finger/in between. Not sure if they use that at Disney at all, in the one where she’s holding the contract it would probably be very easy to use that kinda remote in that hand as it wouldn’t be obvious she was holding something. But they deff control themselves.

[@Grenadreams]

I love Ursula so much, I honestly wish that she and the other Villains had a meet and greet.

[@melissapelletier1335]

I LOVED the last Ursula costume (the projection screen skirt)! Also, here’s Dan delivering another golden video I didn’t know I needed, but I’m so happy he did.

[@somechump5239]

The 2005 float absolutely terrified me as a child, and caused reoccurring nightmares for years. I faintly remember seeing it at night/dusk and the cauldron glowing. I was probably about 9, and it was just so big in my eyes. Thanks for reminding me Dan!

[@emolgana]

the 2011 Ursala animatronic is GORGEOUS and i can't help but think if she was made today, it'd just be a projected screen face. i'm glad they put the effort on that one

[@rasmusdegn9690]

21:35 Another aspect is that it's less of a translation and more of a translation of a translation given how closely Ursula's based on Divine, showing someone Pink Flamingos and seeing how long it takes until they realize just how closely Ursula's modeled on Divine is a fun little game to play at movie night.

[@macweilman535]

My childhood best friend is plus-sized and Ursula was always her favorite character, seeing a face character actress in the parade and not an animatronic head made her so happy.

[@mathieurouchon3290]

I remember when I was 6 in 2007 in Disneyland Paris. Ursula was huge and beautiful and terrifying, I loved it

[@aspenlafever6414]

Dan!!! I swear I love all of your content, but the costume evolutions are always favorites, and this one is no exception!! I’ve been waiting for you to do Ursula since you did the creepiest costume characters! Also, we love to be on the lookout for what changes on your desk and the shelves behind you (waiting on the return of Big Al :) ) Awesome as always!!

[@DistoryDan]

He will be back. promise.

[@bluecityempiresports1468]

@@DistoryDan we need Disney on ice 🧊 you promise lol

[@DGCpicturesEntertainment]

@@DistoryDan completely unrelated to this vid but, could you at some point plz do the evolution of Godzilla? Also, awesome vid. 😁👍

[@darkstrifequeen1458]

I just can’t stop laughing about how hilariously terrifying Ursula looks😂😂😂. Looks like she’s the real “poor unfortunate soul” in this case!

[@princejohnneyfan]

The desktop background and room matching the character evolution is such a nice touch to every video. Cool merch!!

[@saltysunflowersugar7826]

My eighth grade production of The Little Mermaid took an...interesting approach to Ursula where they had her in this big wooden podium on wheels that covered her waist, and there were tentacles made out of cut-up pool noodles on strings with like, four people controlling the tentacles with sticks, it was really cheap looking but still kind of a cool effect? I can't really say for certain because I played a background character and never really got to interact with Ursula that much, what makes this funnier is that they chose the tiniest girl in the cast to play Ursula, so the cart just blatantly looks like a cart, like they didn't even try covering it with some fabric or whatever IDK, I just wanted to bring up my own example

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

The Ursula in the clamshell float in Paris sort of looks like Divine, and I really can't fault that. It's a look, at least

[@ghostmemeboi]

ursula was based on divine

[@Ireton06]

Excellent episode, didn’t expect Ursula, lookin forward to the next 1.

[@Ummmmmmmm6no]

For Ursula’s next video, you have to show Queen Latifah in the Fantasy photo shoot they did a long time ago when they had a bunch of celebs recreating Disney characters. Her photos are beautiful.

[@MartinKSmith]

So I did a tour at Magic Kingdom a couple years ago and I'm 99% sure they explained the hoverboard-type costumes on that. If memory serves, the scroll Ursula is holding (and the wants the fairies have) are like remote controls that start and stop them, maybe forward and back, with either weight or pedals for turning.

[@NathanSpies]

I have an idea for a costume evolution video, it’s interesting... The great wolf lodge mascots, or just the main one Wiley the Wolf

[@violetcupcake]

17:13 Wow this one actually really amazing I really appreciate how movie accurate as well as just so mesmerizing the movements of this costume is and looks like!! They did all the proportions spot on too! 😃

[@Emthe30something]

Okay, gonna watch this twice. Once in the car, audio over speakers, because I can't wait. And again when I'm home to enjoy all the visuals.

[@bobgavemeabiscut]

what I find most interesting about Let’s Get Wicked is that the Ursula doesn’t have purple skin but rather just the skin tone of the actress and purple gloves. i think that’s a super cool and efficient way to do Ursula!

[@shinyagumon7015]

Fun Fact: The composer of The Little Mermaid Howard Ashman specifically asked the animation team to base Ursula on the Drag Queen Divine.

[@brandoniswhoiam]

SO ICONIC!

[@shanicecheng2971]

Hong kong Disneyland is finally getting legit recognition💕💕💖💖😭😭 I watched all those Hong Kong Disneyland shows with Ursula in them as a person who lives in HK!! So exciting to yall talking abt em💖💖

[@sakuranokunoichi]

almost spit out my tea at surprise Kite Tails! (... maybe they could have used the extra air...)

[@carlinerey7988]

Sometimes I couldn't care less about the costumes and just watch for Dan's commentary. Never fails to crack me up.

[@darkstrifequeen1458]

It’s funny that Ursula herself is the poor unfortunate soul of this video. I just can’t stop laughing about how terrifying she looks as she evolves.😂😂😂

[@redwillow311]

My sister worked for Disney on the night parades and oh my god! The Ursula is on a Glorified Roomba that is controlled by different cast members along the parade route!! You feel bad for whoever was inside there as more often then not the person would end up with horrific motion sickness from the unexpected spins and fast stops!

[@seaofstars3540]

Talking about decades of therapy: Imagine being stuck on the "It's a small world" ride at Disney land While I was on the ride it got stuck and I got stuck in the same spot for 10-15 minutes, I mean the worst part was the always looping song. It isn't too bad until you get stuck listening on it for a loop. It did start working again so we didn't have to go and get out of the boat things luckily. But one of the good things was that you had the chance to see all the effort and work put into the ride, I was just tuning out of the music best of my ability and looking around, and I'm sure I didn't see everything

[@memethyst]

having a meet and greet ursula as a face character would be awesome... maybe they could do something with that at the dca halloween party like they had for maleficent and the evil queen before [and sid and cruella this year]

[@Disneylover2023]

I have always loved queen Ursula and wow some of these variations of her are just gorgeous!!!!

[@pascalfigura]

Great Video as always ! Ursula is one of my fav. 12:14 I saw that one live during the Halloween Season in 2004 btw

[@lionheartsplace]

The “Let’s Get Wicked” costume reminds me a lot of Defying Gravity costume in Wicked. I find it very coincidental.

[@joshwilliams4976]

Ursula what a great villain. I love when she’s giant because it reminds me of Kaiju’s🖤💜☠️.

[@samsstudio9913]

am i obsessed with ursula? yes. -that’s it. -just, yes.

[@averyjeanne]

I think I actually prefer the live face actor interpretations of Ursula. They have this fun over the top camp and are often more creative. Ursula was inspired by a drag queen, so why not embrace those elements.

[@user-vt8kz1ll7b]

Honestly, I would LOVE for there to be a film with such animatronics as that Ursula (and the ones from the Beauty and the Beast ride) in a similar manner to something from Jim Henson.

[@JanetFan-oz7by]

I love Ursula she’s one of the best Disney villains .

[@e.6370]

Dan was gettin his life with that Ursula costume at 12:43 yo👏😂

[@brandoniswhoiam]

Could you review Cruella DeVille’s outfits? Also, Ursula is inspired by the ICONIC drag queen named Divine!

[@DiabloSandwich59]

This may be jumping the gun but I can't wait for the Totally Minnie Parade video.

[@tfromcleveland3741]

Does anyone else imagine that when you enter the End-of-Raiders warehouse that is the Disney vault there’s just two arrows painted on the floor pointing in opposite directions, one says fun, the other says scary?

[@AdventuresWithParker]

Ursula is my fave Disney villain of all time, but I find that she’s one of the hardest characters to capture in the parks 😂 It’s hard to identify a “perfect” iteration of Ursula, but it sure was cool to see how her look has evolved over the years. I have to say that I love seeing her as a face character. Her costumes in Villains Night Out and Let’s Get Wicked give major Broadway vibes! 🐙💜

[@mochiemy]

Ursula is a unique character and The live face character looks very amazing😃 I love going to the Disney Parks😊

[@jarisip]

Back in 2007 my parents and I went to Disneyland Paris and they used the float at 13:02 and I remember seeing Maleficent in this fire like costume (halloween had started that day) but I remember sitting there waiting to see Ursula and it was so magical because you first saw a bunch of bubbles coming your way and then as the float passed you saw that big gorgeous Ursula sitting at the end! And boy was I mesmerised 🤩 good times.

[@hannaholson4999]

This has got to be one of the most intriguing costume analyses yet. Fantastic work!

[@SpenglerExtreme]

Ooohhhh hoo hoo! I can’t wait to see you tackle the inflatable Disney on Ice Ursula! The Ursula from Rockin Ever After is possibly my favourite costume

[@sleepylionking1103]

You always make me smile no matter how much of a bad mood I’m in lol

[@pink-a-palouza7888]

Love this videos can’t wait for the next video with the rest of Ursula costume

[@RPena98]

Just this intro alone was amazing! Great work like always dude!

[@IndianaJoanie]

I always love a new Disney Dan evolution video. The intro song was great. 😄

[@KC-Mitch]

Man, your intros and overall editing work have improved so much! You (and any team you might have) should be proud of the work you do and the skills you all have learned.

[@lilyrosebee8996]

Ursula looks terrifying . . Love your content! Always brightens my day :)

[@freckle_face2254]

Love your videos! Cant wait for part 2 :)

[@tiap.3640]

Dan, thank you for being so entertaining! Idk how you can make costume breakdowns so fun, but they are 😄

[@dee8722]

Love it! I don't know if Ive said this before but I really love that you dress the room up to match the subject your talking about. I have so much fun looking around the room each time it flicks back to you and trying to spot everything you've put out or changed for this episode. 😃

[@Forgotten_Cfund]

I love your videos Disney Dan keep up the amazing work

[@houseofvanity8]

I swear I could listen to you all day 🥰

[@kevindavis296]

All villains especially the popular ones have a meet and greet. Ursula never had a meet and greet. Maleficent, Dr Facilier, The Evil Queen, Jafar, Gaston all have meet and greet. Even an underrated Disney villain had her first meet and greet at Disney World last year 2022, for the first time. It was Mad Madam Mim

[@nikkiaseltine]

I watched this video with my 4-month-old, and every time you laugh, he laughed too. This channel is the best!

[@samuelking9343]

7:45 Yeah Dan apologize or this -"Oui need our a-own-a Fantasmee"!LMAO

[@ageorama]

these videos make my day every time. love u DAN!!!

[@janessaflorian]

I was Ursula in my 8th grade musical so I am very passionate about all things Ursula. Which basically makes me an Ursula professional.

[@lizzardgamer7146]

That ending explains a lot. I enjoy your laughter as it makes me laugh too. But it really does explain a lot.

[@danielkushner5963]

You should do a collaboration with Joe Scott. You're basically the Joe Scott for Disney and Joe Scott is the Disney Dan for Science

[@danielkushner5963]

Oh, what about "top ten Tomorrowland predictions that went horribly wrong"? You'd get so many views that you'd break youtube

[@catherinekeena4657]

I was sad that Ursula wasn’t on the float for the Boo bash. It’s the same float as for the other parade but it didn’t have Ursula at all. It had Dr. Faciliar, Jafar, the giant Charniborg and the evil Queen/ Queen Grimhilda. The also had Cruella, Bowler hat guy, Captain Hook and the Red Queen walking in front of the float.

[@fusetunes]

if you're ever looking for new video ideas, i'd be super psyched to see one on the various haunted mansion bride character costumes that have popped up (or maybe just haunted mansion characters in general)! i think it's really interesting that each park has their own specific take.

[@samuelking9343]

That reference to "Fiddler on the Roof" had me cackling Lol

[@candycoatedoom]

No one: Absolutely no one: No one on earth: Disney Dan: ~wheeze laugh~

[@MissTrish1993]

They really did Ursula dirty with some of those costumes. Can we get an Evelution of the Evil Queen from Snow White if there isn't one already? She's my favourite villain and some of her costumes I've seen were a choice to say the least.

[@user-jg4xi2oz2m]

Love this video !!! You’re honestly so funny

[@steventuscano9233]

Yay! another Evolution Costume 😍😍 Ursula is my Top 3 Favorite Disney Villians

[@jessicasmith1611]

Ursula is my favorite Disney villain

[@littlewolf238]

Even from a young age I’ve had a huge crush on ursula

[@Asoradream]

As a Disney fan and living in Hong Kong , I LOVE the Ursula costume in let’s get wicked. It’s probably inspired by concerts here since hk singers do that a lot

[@kylelien7810]

Ursula from the villains night out parade in Hong Kong Disneyland would make an awesome meet and greet character

[@RetroVintageDisneyDev1971]

I always stay till the end to see if there is anything as amazing like that at the end!

[@MoonFairy929]

I’ll be waiting for that Ursula on ice vid!

[@kkstar1297]

Did they seriously shut down Voyage Of The Little Mermaid?! THAT WAS MY FAVORITE ATTRACTION OF ALL TIME!😭😭😭

[@lilhein15]

“What is this fiddler on the roof!?!” Omg LOST it 🤣🤣

[@squeeshmallow7281]

Dan I love your vids! Big fan!

[@leinaeleina9686]

I'm not surprised Hong Kong Disney (2017 & 2019) knocked their Ursula interpretations out of the park. Definitely my favorites!

[@breakingtheicepogo]

Dan’s killin’ it with the puns today. Get it!

[@chattycatty3336]

OMG URSALA IS A SQUID!!!! THATS WHY HER HAIR IS LIKE THAT😳 i was always bothered by its shape, i thought "if shes supposed to be an octopus, why not give her hair a rounder shape? Why make it so pointy?" ITS BECAUSE SHES A SQUID!!!! Thats amazing. Thank you for pointing out the number of tentacles she had.

[@ermagerhd6140]

I saw a video of this really cool Ursula Cosplay. I remember what it was called but the person was either singing or Lip syncing the “Poor Unfortunate Souls” song. The tentacles were like this cool open skirt looking thing and at the end of the song they grab the skirt, lean forward, and the skirt lifts up to look like those cabaret peacock feathers but instead it’s Ursula’s huge tentacles and they display and fan out behind them and it was stunning.

[@farmfam9192]

this is the first time I’ve seen one of your videos and I freaking laughed the first five seconds. subscribing.

[@allenmovies]

The Parade of Dreams & the 2016 Disneyland Ursula were the best!

[@ariannemckiernan7926]

watching this in 1.75 speed makes it seem mildly unhinged and I love it

[@danderson8431]

I got one of those expensive Ursula rings for Christmas. I absolutely love it.

[@bradleyh7582]

More please!! I don’t know if I love these videos or if I just love Dan?

[@michaelangus5602]

Tbf the original inspiration for Ursula Divine used to do that arm shaking shimmy type thing so I'd like to think they took some notes from that when they were performing

[@perthhorrorfans7659]

Really looking forward to your Disney On Ice Ursula video!!!!!!!!!

[@saramahaney4377]

I always enjoy the evolution videos-- they're always so interesting! Side note: Molly from AllEars would be screaming rn lol

[@CHARMING_PLAYBOY_007]

Hey pretty fascinating stuff thank you!

[@katiejernigan2994]

I was having a panic attack and this video REALLY helped calmed me down 🙂

[@lollybowser]

Hope you're doing better

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

OMG! The 1992 MGM Studios Live Ursula is NIGHTMARE FUEL! 😨😲😱 I hope that Disney offered free therapy sessions to the children that had to be carried out by their parents in an intense moment of fear! 😂🤣