It seems that Eric was her main motivation to me, but maybe she still would have.

This question isn't fair. Her daydream about Eric wasn't doing anything. Ariel hadn't acted on it! King Trition came to her grotto and DESTROYED the contents of her entire collection. THAT was the main motivation for Ariel to go see the sea witch.

^ Then you could say she WOULD still go, because you said Eric wasn't her main motivation.

yes, because the main reason was the fight with her father , the moment where he destroyed her whole collection that i imagine has taken her ages to assemble...

8804, No, I'm just asking a question here. I may dislike Ariel, but I'm not trying to hate on her here.

At some point, I'm sure.

After all, she "want[s] to be where the people are," and Ursula wants to use her as leverage against her father. If it wasn't the prince, Ursula would have used some other hook to reel in the dumb fish and Ariel would have bit; hook, line and sinker.

I'm clearing up my own confusion. That's why I asked that question. There's hate aplenty for Ariel on Fanpop. I just was curious about why you asked this question. But it's fine. You do know my opinion, anyway. ;)

^ I asked the question because I like asking random questions that nobody cares about, xD.

Ursula would have found another method to lure her in.

Eric was the heart of the deal, however, Ursala is very manipulative and would have gotten her somehow.

Sooner or later, her dad would have discovered her trove, destroyed her stuff, and she would have been compelled to do it.

Eric DID help with her motivation to go to Ursula, but she's wanted to explore land herself since forever. It would've happened eventually.