Why did Disney bother making this sequel?

Starting with Cinderella II Dreams Come True it seemed fashionable for Disney to make sequels based off their classic movies The Little Mermaid is one exception but I don't know why The Little II Return To The Sea was made. From the time it was announced I think Disney wanted to cash in on the popularity of The Little Mermaid still and so when the sequel came out I preordered it and got it. But I felt that some things could be improved on it like how come Melody is a baby for a few minutes into the film then suddenly ages from a baby to a 12 year old so fast? If they could've had Melody as a baby a lot more it would've been great. But what I don't get is why was a wall needed to keep Melody out of the sea? Because I felt that was wrong that Ariel and Eric wanted to keep Melody prisoner in the castle and not have the chance to meet her grandfather and her seven aunts and in a lot of ways Melody reminded me of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin. But what surprised me is that Disney brought back Pat Carroll to provide the voice of Ursula's evil sister Morgana who shares the exact same identical voice as Ursula and I had thought Pat had retired. And Prince Eric now sounds like Dax Shepard and I thought Prince Eric sounded weird when I watched the movie. Disney should've brought Christopher Daniel Barnes back to reprise his role as Prince Eric and that should've been a whole lot better. And the new characters Tip And Dash do nothing to help out the film but despite being voiced by the late Stephen Furst and Max Casella I think they were like Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. But other than the new songs added for the film the one main song that really is nice is Chely Wright's version of Part Of Your World that is the most soothing version i've heard. But even with few merchandise such as Nintendo games and a soundtrack couldn't make Disney promote it more. But had Disney promoted The Little Mermaid II Return To The Sea more it would been an awesome movie