Jump to content

It's a Small World

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's a Small World
Entrance logo sign and building of It's a Small World at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in 2014
Disneyland
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates33°48′53″N 117°55′04″W / 33.8147°N 117.9178°W / 33.8147; -117.9178
StatusTemporarily Closed
CostUS$1.5 million
Opening dateMay 30, 1966; 58 years ago (1966-05-30)
WebsiteOfficial website
Lightning Lane available
Magic Kingdom
AreaFantasyland (Castle Courtyard)
Coordinates28°25′15″N 81°34′55″W / 28.4208°N 81.5820°W / 28.4208; -81.5820
StatusOperating
Opening dateOctober 1, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-10-01)
WebsiteOfficial website
Lightning Lane available
Tokyo Disneyland
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates35°37′49″N 139°52′52″E / 35.6304°N 139.8812°E / 35.6304; 139.8812
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 15, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-04-15)
Closing dateSeptember 17, 2024 (temporary overhaul)
Replaced byIt's a Small World with Groot
Disneyland Park (Paris)
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates48°52′31″N 2°46′34″E / 48.8753°N 2.7761°E / 48.8753; 2.7761
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 12, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04-12)
WebsiteOfficial website
Hong Kong Disneyland
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates22°18′49″N 114°02′21″E / 22.3137°N 114.0391°E / 22.3137; 114.0391
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 28, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-04-28)
WebsiteOfficial website
1964 New York World's Fair
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 22, 1964; 60 years ago (1964-04-22)
Closing dateOctober 17, 1965; 59 years ago (1965-10-17)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeOld Mill
DesignerWED Enterprises/Walt Disney Imagineering
ThemeWorld peace and unity
Music"It's a Small World (After All)", written by the Sherman Brothers Composed by Bob Hammack (1964-1971), John Debney (1992-1993)
Vehicle typeBoats
Riders per vehicle16
Rows4
Riders per row4
Duration12–15 minutes
Propulsion methodWater jets, electric turbine
Number of lifts0
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

It's a Small World (stylized in all lowercase and in quotations or with exclamation mark) is an Old Mill boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks around the world. Versions of the ride are installed at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California; Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida; Tokyo Disneyland; Disneyland Paris; and Hong Kong Disneyland. The inaugural version of the ride premiered at the 1964 New York World's Fair before permanently moving to Disneyland in 1966.

The ride features over 300 audio-animatronic dolls[1] in traditional costumes from cultures around the world, frolicking in a spirit of international unity, and singing the attraction's title song, which has a theme of global peace. According to TIME.com, the Sherman Brothers' song "it's a small world" is the most publicly performed song of all time.[2][3] In recent years, the Small World attractions at the various Disney parks have been updated to include depictions of Disney characters—in a design compatible with the original 1960s design of Mary Blair—alongside the original characters.

Background

[edit]

Ride

[edit]

The ride was fabricated at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank as Children of the World, and created by WED Enterprises. It was shipped to the 1964 New York World's Fair, where it was housed at the UNICEF pavilion (sponsored by Pepsi), which featured at its entrance a kinetic sculpture, The Tower of the Four Winds, a 120-foot perpetually spinning mobile created by WED designer Rolly Crump.[4] The ride joined three other World's Fair attractions—Magic Skyway (Ford pavilion), Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (Illinois pavilion), and The Carousel of Progress (General Electric pavilion)—that Disney was already involved with. All were intended to be dismantled and rebuilt at Disneyland after the World's Fair had closed in 1966.[4][5]: 53–57 

Mary Blair was responsible for the attraction's whimsical design and color styling.[6][7] The scenes and characters were designed by animator Marc Davis,[8][9] who also choreographed the audio-animatronic figures' dances.[10] His wife Alice Davis designed the dolls' costumes.[9][10] The costumes were heavily influenced by other countries' clothing,[10] as Walt Disney had directed Alice Davis to "do whatever it takes to make these look like dolls every woman in the world would want to have".[11] Crump designed the toys and other supplemental figures on display, as well as the original attraction's facade.[8] The animated dolls were designed and sculpted by Blaine Gibson.[12]

Arrow Development was heavily involved in the design of the passenger-carrying boats and propulsion system of the attraction. Two patents that were filed by Arrow Development staff and assigned to The Walt Disney Company illustrate passenger boats and vehicle guidance systems with features very similar to those later utilized on the Disneyland installation of the attraction.[13][14] The firm is credited with manufacturing the Disneyland installation.[15]

Song

[edit]

"Children of the World" was the working title of the attraction. Its soundtrack, composed by the Sherman Brothers,[16] was originally supposed to feature the national anthems of every country represented throughout the ride; they were all played at once, resulting in cacophony.[11] Walt conducted a walk-through of the attraction scale model with his staff songwriters Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman, saying, "I need one song that can be easily translated into many languages and be played as a round."[17] The Sherman brothers then wrote "It's a Small World (After All)"[18] in the wake of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which influenced the song's message of peace and brotherhood.[19] When they first presented it to Walt, they played it as a slow ballad. Walt requested something more cheerful, so they increased the tempo and sang in counterpoint. Walt was so delighted with the final result that he renamed the attraction "It's a Small World" after the Sherman Brothers' song.[20] Recordings of the song were first sold in October 1964.[21]

The Sherman Brothers originally wanted to donate all profits from "It's a Small World (After All)" to UNICEF, but Walt Disney dissuaded them from doing so, telling the brothers that the song would become popular.[22] The Christian Science Monitor wrote of the song in 1967: "Visitors go away humming it as though they had made it up themselves."[23] Robert B. Sherman's youngest son, Robert J. Sherman, has said that this song is the single most-performed and most-translated piece of music ever produced.[17] In 2014, it was estimated that the song had played nearly 50 million times worldwide on the attractions alone, beating the radio and TV estimates for "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Yesterday", which were believed to have been played at least eight and seven million times, respectively.[2][24] On average, the song is played 1,200 times during a 16-hour operating day.[11][25]

A third verse celebrating the attraction's 45th anniversary was written and popularized, but not incorporated into the ride.[26] In 2022, a 1964 recording of "It's a Small World (After All)" performed by the Disneyland Boys Choir was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry[27][28] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[29]

World's Fair

[edit]
1964 World's Fair "It's a Small World" ticket, logo portion

The first incarnation of It's a Small World—which debuted at the 1964 New York World's Fair at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York, U.S.—was a last-minute addition. It was only announced in August 1963, eight months before the fair was to open.[30][31] The Ford Motor Company and General Electric had engaged Disney early on to create their pavilions for the 1964 New York World's Fair.[5]: 53–55  WED Enterprises had already been at work developing a crude audio-animatronic fashioned as Abraham Lincoln when the state of Illinois approached Disney to create the Illinois Pavilion.[5]: 56  Afterward, Pepsi approached Disney with a plan for a tribute to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.[32] Walt Disney Productions agreed to construct, maintain, and operate a boat ride for Pepsi-Cola,[33] which was called "It's a Small World – A Tribute to UNICEF".[30][31] Pepsi also gave UNICEF $100,000 for the construction of an exhibit next to the ride, as well as $200,000 in bonds.[34][35]

Disney seemed to be the showman to give us the package we want ... He's terrific. He's got his hands in more bowls than anyone I've ever seen, but he accomplishes what he sets out to do. — J. G. Mullaly, Ford's World's Fair program manager[32]

Operations

[edit]

The World's Fair opened on April 22, 1964,[36] and UN Secretary General U Thant dedicated It's a Small World three days later, on April 25.[37][38] Tickets cost 60 cents for children and 95 cents for adults, and proceeds from ticket sales were donated to UNICEF.[34][35] Despite the admission fee, it was still one of the fair's most popular exhibits, with 35,000 to 40,000 daily riders on average.[35] The attraction saw nearly five million visitors during the first year alone.[39][40] A writer for The New York Times wrote that the "wondrous boat ride" was worth riding multiple times,[41] and The Christian Science Monitor called the attraction "one of the greatest contributions to world peace ever shown anywhere".[42] The World's Fair version of the ride was also featured in the TV show Disney Goes to the World's Fair.[43]

The fair did not operate between October 18, 1964,[44] and April 21, 1965.[45] Between the fair's two seasons, the figures were refurbished at Disney's studios in Hollywood.[46] The ride remained otherwise unchanged, although the queue line was modified to increase visitor flow.[39] To accommodate the high ridership, the ride was operating 15 hours a day by mid-1965;[47] the attraction had recorded 10.3 million total visitors by the end of the second year.[48] After the fair ended on October 17, 1965,[49] the Walt Disney Company planned to send the ride to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, U.S.[50][51] Its high hourly capacity influenced future attractions; Pirates of the Caribbean had been under construction at Disneyland as a subterranean walk-through, but that design was changed to a boat ride.[52]

Description

[edit]

The ride was located on one of the largest sites in the fairground's industrial zone.[53] The 1965 Official Guide Book to the New York World's Fair described the ride as "a salute to the children of the world".[54] As planned, the ride was nine minutes long and could accommodate 54,000 visitors an hour.[55][31] Outside was Rolly Crump's 12-story Tower of the Four Winds,[56][57] an openwork structure made of aluminum.[58] The tower was a large sculpture measuring 120 feet (37 m) tall,[34][57] with depictions of animals that blew around in the wind.[59] Next to the ride was a store for UNICEF,[60] and there were also UNICEF exhibits that were managed by Disneyland staff.[31]

Entertainers dressed as the Seven Dwarfs roamed around the attraction's queue line, mingling with riders.[61] Silent jets propelled the boats through a winding track.[34] The boat ride depicted faraway locations where people could buy Pepsi-Cola,[58][39] as well as fanciful depictions of landmarks such as the Tower of Pisa, Taj Mahal, and Eiffel Tower.[34][62] Throughout the ride were audio-animatronic dolls of singing children from around the world,[55][39] placed on both sides of the ride.[50] There were 350 figures that sang the "it's a Small World (After All)" song in various languages.[16][62] Each of the figures was intended to be in constant motions; some figures sang, while others danced or played instruments.[10] Each section of the ride included figures from a different nationality, except at the end of the ride, where figures from every nationality sang side-by-side.[63]

Disneyland

[edit]
It's a Small World in Disneyland

In February 1966, Walt Disney announced that It's a Small World would be reinstalled at Disneyland as part of a $23 million expansion of that theme park.[64][65] The ride was installed at the northern end of Fantasyland,[56] opening on May 30, 1966.[66][67] One critic for the Chicago Tribune said the ride "captures the essence of Walt Disney as it shows the children of the world in joyous abandon".[68] Within a year, It's a Small World was one of the park's most popular attractions.[69] In 2014, The Providence Journal estimated that the Disneyland installation of It's a Small World had carried 290 million riders since its opening. The ride's popularity has been attributed to its design, the 15-minute ride time, the fact that the queues typically move quickly, and its indoor location.[25]

The ride building occupies a 1.25-acre (0.51 ha) site[66] and is four stories high, covering 65,000 square feet (6,000 m2).[70] The facade was designed by Rolly Crump, who was inspired by Mary Blair's styling. On the attraction's primary facade, Crump designed a clock with a smiling face,[8] located 30 feet (9.1 m) high.[64][65] Every 15 minutes, costumed wooden dolls dance out from the base of the clock.[71][72] When the ride opened, it was accessed by an oval pavilion surrounded by gardens and paths.[48][66] There were originally 70 ride vehicles.[48][66] The boats carry voyagers past representations of structures such as mosques, huts, and castles,[68] as well as figures singing "It's a Small World (After All)" together in their native language.[64][68]

1966–2008 changes

[edit]

When the ride was moved to Disneyland, the Tower of the Four Winds was scrapped.[56] In addition, representations of children from the Pacific islands and the Arctic were added to the attraction,[73] and the number of figures was expanded to 500.[72][73] The ride was originally sponsored by Bank of America.[66][67] It was an E-ticket attraction, which meant that only visitors with an E ticket—the highest tier of Disneyland admission ticket at the time—could ride.[74]

The facade was changed several times, the first major change occurred in 1978 where the clock tower had blue colors. Following the opening of another version of the ride at Disneyland Paris in 1992, the entire facade was given a pastel colored scheme in 1993.[75] In addition, the Bank of America canceled its sponsorship in 1992.[76] The toy company Mattel agreed to sponsor the attraction in late 1991[77] and built a shop at the ride's exit the next year.[78] The ride was also given a modified version of John Debney's soundtrack used at Paris. Mattel dropped its sponsorship in 1999 and closed its store at the attraction's exit.[79]In 2002, the original 1966 audio was brought back to the ride along with reverting the facade's colors back to the classic white, and gold scheme.

2008 refurbishment and aftermath

[edit]
Alice and White Rabbit (from Alice in Wonderland) stand inside It's a Small World in Disneyland since 2008 refurbishment

Disneyland's "It's a Small World" was closed from January to November 2008 (closed and reopening in a holiday version, skipping the summer season) to receive a major refurbishment.[80][81][82] The building's structure was improved, permanent attachments created for the "It's a Small World Holiday" overlay, the water flume replaced and its propulsion upgraded to electric water jet turbines, and the attraction's aging fiberglass boats redesigned in durable plastic. The refurbishment added 29 new Disney characters, each in their native land in a similar manner to the Hong Kong Disneyland version.[83]

New wheelchair doll (right) in the Disneyland version of It's a Small World since 2022 holiday

Osram Sylvania agreed to a twelve-year sponsorship in 2009.[84] The sponsorship was taken over by Sylvania's parent firm Siemens AG in 2014,[75] and Siemens discontinued its sponsorship effective October 2017.[85][86] The ride got another change during It's a Small World Holiday in 2022, in which two new dolls in wheelchairs (one in the South America scene and one in the Finale room) were added in the ride.[87][88]

Magic Kingdom

[edit]
It's a Small World at Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Florida

On October 1, 1971, a version of the ride opened within the Fantasyland section of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, U.S.[89] It was one of Magic Kingdom's original rides.[90][91] This version of the ride included over 600 figures with costumes.[92]

The attraction lacks the elaborate facade present on the Disneyland version of the attraction,[75][93] and it is also smaller in scale compared to the Disneyland ride.[93] For three decades, the Magic Kingdom version of the attraction underwent relatively few changes. Depictions of Chinese dolls were added in the 1990s, and a set of laughing African children with hyenas were removed in the 2000s.[22]

Kodak sponsored the attraction in the early 1980s.[94] The toy company Mattel agreed to sponsor the attraction in 1991,[77] discontinuing its sponsorship in 1999.[79] The ride was closed in May 2004 for refurbishment, which included a new entrance, a refurbished exterior, and a new sound system inside.[22] After the renovation was completed, the ride reopened in 2005.[95] In 2021, for the park's 50th anniversary, its facade was repainted in bright colors.[96] A doll in a wheelchair was added in 2023,[97][98] and further minor adjustments to the dolls took place in 2024.[99]

Tokyo Disneyland

[edit]

Another version of It's a Small World opened at Tokyo Disneyland in Chiba, Japan, on April 15, 1983.[89] The Tokyo Disneyland version of the attraction is identical in layout to the Magic Kingdom version except for these differences:

  • The facade's design is an almost-complete replica of the California counterpart under a different color scheme, resembling Disneyland's 1990s version.
  • It's a Small World at Tokyo Disneyland after the 2018 refurbishment.
    The loading area is split into two zones instead of one.
  • A Welcome room was added during the 2018 refurbishment, resembling the one at the California version.
  • There are scenes featuring various Disney characters redesigned in Mary Blair's style that were added during the 2018 refurbishment.
  • The Asian room features radically different sets and dolls for Japan and China compared to the Magic Kingdom version. A Mandarin-language track was added to the China section in the 2018 refurbishment.
  • The ride uses a different, more recent recording of the song sung in Japanese specifically created for this version instead of the original Japanese recording. The vocal track is used for both the Asian room and finale room.
  • The walls of the African, South American, and Oceanian rooms are painted in colors similar to the Magic Kingdom version before its 2005 renovation.
  • The Polynesian room has vocals singing in English.
  • The Goodbye room resembles the one found at the California version.
  • So far, this was the only version of It's a Small World that does not feature the wheelchair doll, while the Magic Kingdom version featured a wheelchair doll since 2023.

2018 refurbishment

[edit]

On March 1, 2017, Tokyo Disneyland's version of "It's a Small World" closed down for refurbishment for its first major update since the park's opening in 1983. Reopened in April 2018,[100] to coincide with Tokyo Disneyland's 35th anniversary, the attraction featured 40 characters from Disney properties including Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Aristocats, Brave, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Hercules, The Three Caballeros, Mulan, Tangled, Lilo & Stitch, Frozen, Finding Nemo, and Moana similar to its counterparts in California and Hong Kong.[101][102]

The attraction was initially set to be relocated to another area in Fantasyland with a new facade similar to the California counterpart as part of original expansion plans announced in October 2014 for the resort within the next ten years, before being revised and updated.[103] The transformed version of the attraction soft-opened on April 15, 2018, revealing an updated color scheme for the facade, a new tick-tock sound and parade music (similar to the ones used in Hong Kong and Anaheim), an entirely reconstructed loading area dubbed "Small World Station," a new Welcome room, an extended Goodbye room, rebuilt set pieces, and music tracks new to the ride including a Mandarin language track added to the China scene formerly exclusive to the Hong Kong version along with the aforementioned Disney characters.[104]

"it's a small world with Groot" overlay

[edit]

On March 27, 2024, Tokyo Disneyland announced that "It's a Small World" will receive a Marvel-themed overlay, called "it's a small world with Groot", closing on September 17, 2024 for installation.[105][106] The park did not specify when the overlay would end, but it indicated that the ride would reopen in 2025.[106] It was announced that the opening date of the overlay from January 15 to June 30, 2025 at Tokyo Disneyland.

Disneyland Paris

[edit]
It's a Small World at Disneyland Paris, which has a different facade design compared to the other versions.

A fourth version of It's a Small World opened at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France, on April 12, 1992.[89] France Telecom was the original sponsor of the Disneyland Paris version of the ride.[107]

The attraction at Disneyland Paris is a departure from other versions of the attraction. The facade features rearranged and slightly redesigned landmarks with a completely different clock tower. The exterior clock face features a wide-awake sun on its left half and a sleeping moon on its right half. Unlike all other versions of the ride, every scene is housed in one room with arches being used to define sections of the ride. The scenery design is a complete departure from Mary Blair's distinctive style, though the dolls used remain identical to all other versions. The ride also uses a completely different soundtrack composed by John Debney. This is the first version of the ride to incorporate a vibrant European room with dolls singing in French and German, a distinct Middle Eastern section with dolls singing in Arabic and Hebrew and a scene for North America with dolls representing Canada and the United States. In the Finale room, in addition to the song being sung in English, it is also sung in French. Also, the attraction had a post-show area called World Chorus that was sponsored by Orange S.A., which opened with the park in 1992 and then closed in 2010 to make way for the Princess Pavilion meet and greet area.[108]

2015 refurbishment

[edit]

As part of an ongoing plan to refurbish several attractions for the park's 25th anniversary, this version was refurbished for six months, reopening on December 19, 2015. The refurbishment included a different color scheme for the facade that is identical to the color scheme when it first opened, restored assets and special effects, refurbished boats, new LED lighting to replace the old stage lighting, and all 176 dolls in the ride being progressively replaced through 2017. The entrance and exit rooms have been completely revamped, being identical to the entrance scene in Hong Kong Disneyland's version and the exit scene in the Magic Kingdom and Hong Kong Disneyland versions (rendered in the Mary Blair style similar to the other parks). The soundtrack has been completely remastered with the base instrumental removed from the majority of the ride's audio except for the finale, making the soundtrack more similar to the original version. Additionally, new audio tracks are added including a new recording of someone yodeling to the tune of the song in the Switzerland scene.[109]

2021–2023 refurbishment

[edit]

Disneyland Paris's "It's a Small World" was scheduled to be closed for extensive refurbishments from November 2021 until May 2023.[110] After an additional nineteenth-month delay and during Disneyland Paris' 30th anniversary celebration and the Walt Disney Company's 100th anniversary celebration, the ride was officially reopened on May 5, 2023 and featured 3 new, added, disabled and handicapped, Wheelchair accessible dolls in 3 scenes: a German doll in the Germany scene, an Arabian doll in the Arabia scene and another German doll in the Finale scene.[111]

Hong Kong Disneyland

[edit]
It's a Small World at Hong Kong Disneyland

The Hong Kong Disneyland version of the attraction on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, opened on April 28, 2008.[112] It is located in the Fantasyland section of the park.[113] Hong Kong Disneyland marketed the ride using a Cantonese version of the song "It's a Small World (After All)" by James Wong Jim.[114] The ride is mostly modeled after the original Disneyland counterpart in that the boats travel through a canal. Some of this version's prominent and unique characteristics include:

  • 38 Disney characters (all rendered in the Mary Blair style) added to scenes where their stories originated.[115]
  • An expanded Asia sequence with Hong Kong, the Philippines and Korea represented with children singing in Cantonese, Tagalog and Korean, respectively, as well as an extended China scene with represented with children singing in Mandarin
  • A distinct Arabian room, and scenes for North America, similar to the Paris version
  • Extraordinary fiber-optic lighting effects in the Finale room not seen on any other Disney attraction[116]
  • Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Tagalog versions of the song that were specifically recorded for Hong Kong Disneyland. The finale is sung in three languages: Cantonese, English and Mandarin.
  • In Spring 2024, two new dolls in wheelchairs (a Mexican doll in the South America scene and a Swedish doll in the Finale room) were added in the ride, similar to the Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Paris versions.[117]

Holiday overlay

[edit]
It's a Small World Holiday
"It's a Small World Holiday" lighting display
Disneyland
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates33°48′53″N 117°55′04″W / 33.8147°N 117.9178°W / 33.8147; -117.9178
StatusOperating
Opening dateNovember 25, 1997; 26 years ago (1997-11-25)
Tokyo Disneyland
Name"It's a Small World" Very Merry Holidays
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates35°37′49″N 139°52′52″E / 35.6304°N 139.8812°E / 35.6304; 139.8812
StatusRemoved
Opening date2003
Closing date2015
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Name"It's a Small World Celebration"
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates48°52′31″N 2°46′34″E / 48.8753°N 2.7761°E / 48.8753; 2.7761
StatusRemoved
Opening date1999
Closing date2018
Hong Kong Disneyland
Name"It's a Small World" Christmas
AreaFantasyland
Coordinates22°18′49″N 114°02′21″E / 22.3137°N 114.0391°E / 22.3137; 114.0391
StatusRemoved
Opening date2009
Closing dateJanuary 1, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-01-01)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeOld Mill
DesignerWED Enterprises/Walt Disney Imagineering
ThemeWorldwide winter holidays
MusicJingle Bells and/or Deck The Halls (finale only) featuring "It's a Small World (After All)", written by the Sherman Brothers Composed by Bruce Healey
Vehicle typeBoats
Riders per vehicle16
Rows4
Riders per row4
Duration12–15 minutes
Propulsion methodWater jets, electric turbine
Number of lifts0
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

Starting in 1997, Disneyland has featured "It's a Small World Holiday" during the end-of-the-year Christmas and holiday season.[118][119] The Disneyland version of the ride has been redecorated nearly every year since then.[75] The attraction is closed in late October to receive temporary holiday decorations inside and outside and reopens in early November before the start of the busy holiday tourist season. After the holiday season, "It's a Small World Holiday" stays open until late January where it closes to remove the holiday overlay and return to classic "It's a Small World" in early February. Almost one million lights are included during the holidays.[120] In "It's a Small World Holiday", the main theme song is not played in full; instead, the children sing "Jingle Bells" and a bridge of "Deck the Halls" in addition to the main theme.[118][119] In addition, the ride has decorations and symbols that are based on the holidays celebrated in different parts of the world. A projection show introduced in 2005 plays every 30 minutes across the facade while playing a techno version of the Nutcracker suite.[119]

In 2003, Tokyo Disneyland introduced a version of "It's a Small World Holiday" called "It's a Small World Very Merry Holidays". Although having lights on the clock tower, the rest of the facade was covered in giant snowflakes. The inside of the attraction also had a modified soundtrack, the Asia room, and finale used Japanese vocals replacing the English dub used at Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. The 2011 season was skipped due to damaged props from the earthquake that same year. The Holiday overlay was removed in 2015 due to Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare having higher demand, and the two attractions being to close to each other.[121]

Disneyland Paris introduced a Holiday overlay in 1999. The first iteration of the overlay though was poorly made. The ride used an incomplete soundtrack mixed in with the ride's regular audio. The first iteration was removed in 2006. For the 2009 winter season, the overlay returned, and it received an official name of "It's a Small World Celebration". The ride received an overhaul including, new lighting, Holiday decorations throughout the inside, and the entire attraction now used the full "It's a Small World Holiday" soundtrack.[122] The clock tower was also given a Santa Hat worn until a refurbishment in 2015. Following that renovation, "It's a Small World Celebration" was planned to use an updated soundtrack originally set for winter 2016.[123] It was delayed for unknown reasons. "It's a Small World Celebration" returned for the 2017–2018 holiday season, featuring an updated soundtrack. Since then, it has not returned.

Hong Kong Disneyland implemented its own version called "It's a Small World Christmas" that highlights the Disney character scenes in Christmas fashion with an appearance of Santa Claus in the Arctic scene. Despite being heavily decorated on the outside with clock tower dolls displayed in Holiday attire, the ride was barely decorated on the inside. The audio also was a mix between the regular, and Holiday soundtrack that would transition at points. Hong Kong's overlay lasted only one season possibly due to poor feedback.[124]

The Magic, the Memories, and You

[edit]

As part of Disney's "Let the Memories Begin" campaign for 2011, a nighttime projection show premiered at the Disneyland version of It's a Small World on January 27, 2011.[125] The Magic, the Memories, and You show projected sequences of Disney attractions and characters set to Disney music onto the exterior facade of It's a Small World to fill its architectural features, personalized with exclusive photographs and videos of park guests taken that day by Disney's PhotoPass cast members. The show also existed in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, but was projected onto Cinderella Castle. As the Let the Memories Begin campaign drew to a close, the show ended its run on Labor Day, September 3, 2012, at both locations. The Florida version was eventually replaced by Celebrate the Magic in fall 2012 and later by Once Upon a Time in 2016.

The Magic, The Memories, and You theme song was later used for Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland as part of the Tokyo Disney Resort 35th Anniversary celebration that premiered at Tokyo Disneyland on July 10, 2018.[126]

In other media

[edit]
  • In the 1970s, a planned feature film was going to be a Cold War-tinged comedy adventure where the children of UN leaders try to get their parents to stop squabbling through faking mass-kidnapping, only for a war profiteer to try to take advantage of the fear and start a mass conflict.[127]
  • In the 2005 children's book Disney After Dark, the dolls from It's a Small World attack holograms of the main characters.[128]
  • An attraction titled "it's a small world" appears in Kinect: Disneyland Adventures.[129]
  • On November 26, 2013, Disney premiered It's a Small World: The Animated Series on Disney.com as an online-exclusive series, and the final episode was released on February 4, 2014.[130][131][132][133][134]
  • On April 22, 2014, it was announced that a feature film franchise about the ride was in the works, to be directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Jared Stern, and produced by Turteltaub, Stern, and Dan Lin.[135] The project was still in development in early 2016;[136] as of 2024, no new information on the film has been released.
  • In the 2015 movie Tomorrowland, the 1964 New York World's Fair version of It's a Small World is seen in Frank Walker's flashback.[137]
  • The Disneyland version of It's a Small World made an appearance in 2013 American independent horror film Escape from Tomorrow. According to The New York Times, the actors rode It's a Small World at least 12 times to get the scene right.[138]
  • The facade of It's a Small World made two cameo appearances in the Mickey Mouse's episode O Sole Minnie and Potatoland.[139]

Accidents

[edit]
  • On August 18, 1994, a 6-year-old girl from Miami fell out of one of the ride's boats while it was in the loading area. Orange County authorities believe an incoming boat then struck her after the fall. The girl suffered a broken hip, a broken arm, and a collapsed lung. Paramedics took her to a hospital and she was able to recover fully from her injuries. The ride was closed for an inspection and reopened the following day.[140]
  • On October 6, 2010, a Disneyland Paris staff member died when the ride restarted unexpectedly while he was working on it. According to police, the 53-year-old man was cleaning the amusement park ride due to an earlier incident with a child guest. The unnamed man, a sub-contractor of the park, was reportedly trapped beneath a boat on the ride when it started up by accident. He was severely injured and transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries.[141][142]
  • On February 28, 2015 during a renovation at the Disneyland version, a fire broke out on the left side of the ride's facade. The fire was sparked from a firework malfunction which burnt a small portion of the facade, a tree, and a construction tarp. There were no injuries, and the main show building was untouched.[143]

Other incidents and controversies

[edit]
  • On November 27, 2009, the ride broke down while a guest with quadriplegia was on the ride. The guest was stuck in the ride's "Goodbye Room", the final setting of It's a Small World Holiday, for 30–40 minutes before being evacuated. As he suffered from medical conditions that were aggravated by the "blaring Christmas carols" and was unable to exit the ride, the guest sued Disney for its inadequate evacuation procedures for disabled guests, and for not providing proper warnings for those who could not evacuate during a ride stoppage. On March 26, 2013, a jury awarded the man $8,000.[144]
  • On December 25, 2014, a 22-year-old woman lost consciousness after riding the attraction and later died. The woman had a pre-existing condition.[145]
  • On November 26, 2023, a 26-year-old man exited a boat, removed several pieces of his clothing, walked over several props and entered the flume, resulting in a ride stoppage. The man eventually wandered to one of the outside entrances in which he was seen fully nude. The guest was arrested and removed by the Anaheim Police Department.[146]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Montgomery, Allison (October 4, 2016). "QUIZ: '"it's a small world"' at Magic Kingdom Park". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Corliss, Richard (April 30, 2014). "Is This the Most Played Song in Music History?". Time. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Kubersky, Seth (January 7, 2014). "Fact-Checking Saving Mr. Banks with Disney Historian Jim Korkis". orlandoweekly.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "History of It's a Small World". Hunting Pixie Dust. June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Tirella, Joseph (2013). Tomorrow-Land: The 1964-65 World's Fair and the Transformation of America. Lyons Press. ISBN 978-1-4930-0333-4.
  6. ^ Reilly, Maeve; Seastrom, Lucas (May 28, 2024). "'it's a small world' turns 60: A Global Celebration at The World's Fair". The Walt Disney Family Museum. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Fanning, Jim (October 6, 2015). The Disney Book: A Celebration of the World of Disney. Penguin. p. 172. ISBN 978-1-4654-9541-9.
  8. ^ a b c Martens, Todd (September 9, 2018). "Disneyland's beatnik by design". The Los Angeles Times. pp. E1, E5. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Evans, Greg (November 7, 2022). "Alice Davis Dies: Costume Designer for Disneyland's 'It's A Small World' & 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Rides Was 93". Deadline. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d "'Small World' a Big One for Youngsters at Fair". The Evening News. May 5, 1964. p. 17. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Brown, Genevieve Shaw (May 7, 2020). "Take a virtual ride on Disney's 'It's a Small World'". ABC News. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Weber, Bruce (July 11, 2015). "Blaine Gibson, Sculptor of Figures in Disney Parks, Dies at 97". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  13. ^ US patent 3404635, Bacon, Karl W. & Morgan, Edgar A., "Boat amusement ride", published October 8, 1968, assigned to The Walt Disney Company 
  14. ^ US patent D204282, Morgan, Edgar A., "Passenger-carrying amusement boat", published April 5, 1966, assigned to The Walt Disney Company 
  15. ^ Gurr, Bob (November 27, 2013). "DESIGN: Those Were The Times – No. 23 1955 Arrow Development – Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon". MiceChat.com. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  16. ^ a b Fessier, Mike Jr. (February 12, 1964). "Vaudeville: Actors No Longer Safe From Robots As Disney Preps 'Lincoln' for Fair". Variety. Vol. 233, no. 12. pp. 72, 74. ProQuest 962663036.
  17. ^ a b ""It's a small world" by Disneyland Chorus". songfacts.com. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  18. ^ Smith, Dave (2006). Disney A to Z: The Official Disney Encyclopedia. Disney Editions. p. 354. ISBN 0-7868-4919-3.
  19. ^ Quill, Greg (August 21, 2009). "Parent trap, too: behind the hits". The Toronto Star. p. 43. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Small World, Big Message: The Music of "it's a small world" | the Walt Disney Family Museum". WaltDisney.org. August 22, 2017.
  21. ^ Laffler, William D. (November 6, 1964). "Adults Won by Doll Tune". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 23. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Shrieves, Linda; Matthews, Mark K. (May 1, 2004). "Small World memories loom large among all ages". The Orlando Sentinel. pp. A1, A4. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Hendrick, Kimmis (July 22, 1967). "'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'...: Disney's choice". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 6. ISSN 0882-7729. ProQuest 510996879.
  24. ^ Schneider, Caitlin (January 9, 2016). "The Most Frequently Played Song in the World is One Everyone Hates". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Martin, Hugo (August 6, 2014). "The back story on Disneyland 'Small World' ride at 50". The Providence Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Sights and Sounds of Disney Parks: It's a Classic Attraction. It's Turning 50. 'it's a small world!' Disney Parks Blog". Disneyparks.disney.go.com. March 25, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  27. ^ MacDonald, Brady (April 15, 2022). "Disneyland's iconic 'It's a Small World' song inducted into Library of Congress music registry". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Ulaby, Neda (April 13, 2022). "The Library of Congress is preserving these major historical recordings for posterity". NPR. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  29. ^ "National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022". Library of Congress. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Pepsi's Fair Site Done By Disney". New York Amsterdam News. August 17, 1963. p. 9. ProQuest 226776028.
  31. ^ a b c d "Vaudeville: N.Y. Fair Getting Walt Disney Touch". Variety. Vol. 231, no. 12. August 14, 1963. p. 59. ProQuest 1017107670.
  32. ^ a b Disney, Walt; Jackson, Kathy Merlock (2006). Walt Disney: conversations. Conversations with comic artists (1st ed.). Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-57806-712-1. OCLC 59360033.
  33. ^ "Disney Official's Answer: It Was Just a Business Deal". The Register. October 20, 1963. p. 18. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d e Crews, Watson Jr. (August 9, 1964). "The Big Kid Hit". Daily News. p. 5. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  35. ^ a b c "Advertising: Fair 'Hits the Spot' With Pepsi". The New York Times. August 21, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  36. ^ "World's Fair Opens To Picketing; Stall-In Fails: Johnson Foresees Global Peace Soon Rain, Racial Troubles Keep Crowd To 90,000; More Than 290 Integrationists Seized". The Sun. April 23, 1964. p. 1. ProQuest 540050678; "Rain Soaks Crowd; Sit-Ins Mar Festivities at Some Pavilions—Attendance Cut". The New York Times. April 23, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  37. ^ Lelyveld, Joseph (April 26, 1964). "Children at Fair Ride and Shriek; And Some Get Very Weary Sooner or Later". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  38. ^ "'Epoch-Making' N.Y. Fair Is Saluted By U Thant". The Baltimore Sun. April 26, 1964. p. 3. ISSN 1930-8965. ProQuest 540115498.
  39. ^ a b c d "Disney Fantasy Tour At Pepsi-Cola Pavilion". New York Amsterdam News. March 27, 1965. p. 56. ProQuest 226833259.
  40. ^ "Vaudeville: Soft Drink Workers Local Throws Pepsi Exhibit to Milk and Juice". Variety. Vol. 239, no. 7. July 7, 1965. p. 49. ProQuest 964064565.
  41. ^ "A Visitor's Guide to 5 Main Areas; Systematic Approach Will Cause Less Fatigue". The New York Times. April 22, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  42. ^ Smith, Everett M. (May 16, 1964). "Wonders of Tomorrow With Audio-animatronics At the World's Fair". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 15. ISSN 0882-7729. ProQuest 510567114.
  43. ^ "Walt Disney 'Goes to the Fair'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 17, 1964. p. 182. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  44. ^ "Young Employes Say Farewells Gather to Reminisce on Six Months at Fair — Few Expecting to Return". The New York Times. October 19, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024; Cassidy, Joseph (October 19, 1964). "Fair's Last Day Draws Crowd". New York Daily News. p. 67. ISSN 2692-1251. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Alden, Robert (April 22, 1965). "158,000 Open the Fair's Second Year; Paid Admissions Are 3 Times More Than First Day's in '64 158,000, Half of Them Children, Attend World's Fair on Crisp, Sunny Opening Day". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024; O'Neill, Maureen (April 22, 1965). "The Natives Return—They're Hardy Lot". Newsday. p. 91. ISSN 2574-5298. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Wiemer, Robert (November 30, 1964). "Fair Is Anything But Fair As It Awaits Snow". Newsday. p. 11. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 913625981.
  47. ^ "Pavilion Hours Are Extended As Fair Attendance Soars". The Central New Jersey Home News. July 18, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  48. ^ a b c "Disney's 'It's Small World' Makes Real Treat for Youths". Daily News-Post. July 4, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  49. ^ Abrams, Arnold; Smith, Edward G. (October 18, 1965). "Drunks and Vandals Close the Fair: They Dig the World's Fair on Its Last Day". Newsday. pp. 5, 79. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 914444914. Retrieved June 16, 2024 – via newspapers.com; Alden, Robert (October 18, 1965). "Vandalism Mars Last Day Of the Two-Year Exposition; Weeping Children, Sad Employes and Vandalism Abound as World's Fair Closes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  50. ^ a b Vernon, Scott (February 16, 1964). "Disney Puts His Magic in N. Y. Fair: Speaking Lincoln to Cave Men". Chicago Tribune. p. H17. ISSN 1085-6706. ProQuest 179386193.
  51. ^ "Pictures: Those Disney 'Dolls' At N.Y. World's Fair Part of 'Gnomobil' Film". Variety. Vol. 238, no. 12. May 12, 1965. p. 22. ProQuest 962973627.
  52. ^ Fanning, Jim (2009). Disneyland Challenge. Disney Editions. p. 28. ISBN 978-14231-0675-3.
  53. ^ Bennett, Tom (August 26, 1963). "Scope". Buffalo Courier Express. p. 17. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  54. ^ "Designing "It's a Small World" – The 1964 New York World's Fair". Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  55. ^ a b Ommerman, Betty (January 23, 1964). "UNICEF Aide Seeks Fair Volunteers". Newsday. p. 49. ISSN 2574-5298. ProQuest 914356109.
  56. ^ a b c MacDonald, Brady (April 22, 2024). "Disneyland Pays Tribute to Tower of the Four Winds During Pixar Fest". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  57. ^ a b Pearce, Celia; Schweizer, Bobby; Hollengreen, Laura (2014). Meet Me at the Fair: A World's Fair Reader. (Carnegie Mellon University) ETC Press. p. 410. ISBN 978-1-312-11587-3. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  58. ^ a b Stern, Robert A. M.; Mellins, Thomas; Fishman, David (1995). New York 1960: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Second World War and the Bicentennial. New York: Monacelli Press. p. 1044. ISBN 1-885254-02-4. OCLC 32159240. OL 1130718M.
  59. ^ Williams, Pat; Denney, Jim (2010). How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life. Health Communications Incorporated. p. 425. ISBN 978-0-7573-9446-1. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  60. ^ "Pepsi-Cola". The 1964–1965 New York World's Fair. December 27, 2022. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  61. ^ "Dwarfs at Fair Vie for Laughs; Young Men in Disney Roles Have Fun Being Funny". The New York Times. June 4, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  62. ^ a b "Disney World Of Fun, Fantasy Featured At The World's Fair". New Pittsburgh Courier. April 25, 1964. p. 20. ProQuest 371609254.
  63. ^ Raynolds, Ron (July 8, 1965). "Walt Disney for President". Bennington Banner. p. 4. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  64. ^ a b c Felton, Dave (February 3, 1966). "4 Projects to Give Disneyland New High in Fantasy". Los Angeles Times. pp. A1. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 155414141.
  65. ^ a b "Disneyland Sets $23-Mil Expansion; To Install N.Y. World's Fair Exhibits". Variety. Vol. 241, no. 12. February 9, 1966. p. 47. ProQuest 1032431899.
  66. ^ a b c d e "'Small World' Offered as New Disneyland Attraction". The San Bernardino County Sun. June 1, 1966. p. 21. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  67. ^ a b Rogers, Ray (May 31, 1966). "4 Projects to Give Disneyland New High in Fantasy". Los Angeles Times. pp. A1. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 155461224.
  68. ^ a b c Handley, Gayle (September 13, 1970). "Everyone's a Winner: Disneyland: Gigantic Game of 'Let's Pretend'". Chicago Tribune. p. N19. ISSN 1085-6706. ProQuest 169896760.
  69. ^ Hendrick, Kimmis (May 9, 1967). "Disney's new Tomorrowland: Future discussed". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 11. ISSN 0882-7729. ProQuest 510976178.
  70. ^ "4 Disneyland Projects Well Under Way". Los Angeles Times. March 13, 1966. pp. O2. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 155434662.
  71. ^ Strodder, Chris (April 11, 2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia: The Unofficial, Unauthorized, and Unprecedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Major Event in the Original Magic Kingdom. Santa Monica Press. p. 1950. ISBN 978-1-59580-798-4.
  72. ^ a b Horner, Tom (January 21, 1967). "Disney's 'Magic' Unchanges". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 6. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  73. ^ a b "Disney's Land Living Fantasy". Anaheim Bulletin. May 27, 1966. pp. D3, D5, D12. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  74. ^ Tashman, George (July 27, 1968). "It Began With Mickey Mouse". The Berkeley Gazette. pp. 23, 30, 31. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  75. ^ a b c d "it's a small world". D23. October 25, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  76. ^ Woodyard, Chris (July 27, 1993). "B of A Leaving Disneyland, Setting Up Shop at Knott's Marketing". Los Angeles Times. p. 1. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 282108779.
  77. ^ a b Woodyard, Chris (November 12, 1991). "Mattel, Disney Put Their Toys, Rides Together Agreement". Los Angeles Times. p. 8. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 281520933; Stevenson, Richard W. (November 12, 1991). "Company News; Disney and Mattel Expand Toy Alliance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  78. ^ "Mattel Carves Cozy Niche in Disney's Small World: Merchandising: Toy manufacturer builds shop next to Disneyland attraction as part of special licensing agreement". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1992. pp. SDD1. ISSN 0458-3035. ProQuest 1731043937.
  79. ^ a b "Mattel Pulls Sponsorship". Orlando Sentinel. November 15, 1999. p. 1. ProQuest 279367657.
  80. ^ ""It's a Small World" attraction page". Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  81. ^ "Disney's 'Small World' to get big retrofit". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. November 10, 2007.
  82. ^ "MousePlanet DLR Update". November 24, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  83. ^ "Every Disney Character That's Hidden In It's a Small World". MSN. April 17, 2024.
  84. ^ "Theme Parks: SYLVANIA to Sponsor Iconic 'it's a small world' at Disneyland Resort". Blooloop. December 17, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  85. ^ "Siemens ending longtime Disney sponsorship". News 13. May 14, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  86. ^ Skambis, Chip (July 1, 2017). "Siemens to end sponsorship with Walt Disney Company". WFTV. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  87. ^ Chen, Natasha (November 11, 2022). "Disneyland adds dolls in wheelchairs to 'It's a Small World' ride". CNN. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  88. ^ Galloway, Kayla (November 11, 2022). "Disneyland Adds Dolls in Wheelchairs to 'It's a Small World,' Representing Guests and Cast Members With Disabilities". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  89. ^ a b c O'Brien, Tom; O'Brien, Tim (1997). The Amusement Park Guide: Coast to Coast Thrills. Globe Pequot Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-7627-0048-6.
  90. ^ "What attractions were open when Magic Kingdom debuted in 1971?". FOX 35 Orlando. October 1, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  91. ^ Veness, Susan (2020). The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Adams Media. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-5072-1256-1. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  92. ^ "Meet the 'Cast'". The Orlando Sentinel. November 21, 1971. pp. 354, 355. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  93. ^ a b Handley, John (August 13, 1972). "Walt Disney World: Exploring Magic Kingdom, 100 Acres of Fun, Adventure". Chicago Tribune. p. F2. ISSN 1085-6706. ProQuest 170280226.
  94. ^ Garner, Jack (December 5, 1982). "Kodak adds imagination to Disney's dream". Democrat and Chronicle. pp. 1D, 12D. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  95. ^ Clarke, Jay (May 1, 2005). "New thrills abound as Disney party goes all-out". The Miami Herald. p. 962. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  96. ^ "PHOTOS: Repainting of "it's a small world" Continues at Magic Kingdom - WDW News Today". wdwnt.com. September 8, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  97. ^ Carter, Ashley (March 2, 2023). "Disney World adds doll in wheelchair to 'it's a small world' attraction". News 13. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  98. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (March 9, 2023). "Disney: 'it's a small world' change isn't big, but is notable". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  99. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (January 23, 2024). "Country Bear Jamboree's closing is latest Magic Kingdom rehab". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  100. ^ "Tokyo Disney Resort Event Calendar".
  101. ^ 東京ディズニーランドのアトラクション「イッツ・ア・スモールワールド」がリニューアル!さらに幸せな船旅に。 [Tokyo Disneyland's attraction "It's a Small World" has been renewed! For a happier voyage.]. Tokyo Disney Resort Blog. November 24, 2016. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016.
  102. ^ "All the Magical Art You Need to See for Tokyo Disney Resort's 35th Anniversary Celebration". Jocelyn Buhlman. January 24, 2018.
  103. ^ "Tokyo Disney Resort Expansions Announced". October 30, 2014.
  104. ^ "PHOTOS, VIDEO: "it's a small world" Returns At Tokyo Disneyland Loaded With Disney Characters". Jose Castillo. April 7, 2018. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  105. ^ Francis, Kate (March 27, 2024). ""it's a small world with Groot" Marvel Overlay Coming to Tokyo Disneyland - WDW News Today". wdwnt.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  106. ^ a b Taylor, Blake (March 27, 2024). "Groot and Marvel characters coming to Tokyo's Small World for limited time". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  107. ^ Scimone, Diana (May 1991). "Mickey Mouse Is Coming to Town: Euro Disney Resort to Open in 1992". Europe. No. 306. p. 17. ProQuest 222952320.
  108. ^ "France Télécom hangs up on "small world"".
  109. ^ "Beautified boats at "it's a small world"". Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  110. ^ Francis, Katie (January 10, 2023). ""it's a small world" Will Reopen at Disneyland Paris This Spring After Extended Refurbishment". WDW News Today. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  111. ^ denise (May 6, 2023). "More Photos of "it's a small world" at Disneyland Paris as it Reopens After Refurbishment". MouseSteps.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  112. ^ "Hong Kong Disney opens 'It's a Small World'". NBC News. April 28, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  113. ^ Cochran, Jason. "Hong Kong Disneyland's Hotels, Rides, and Food: Worth a Visit?". Frommer's Travel Guides. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  114. ^ Chu, Yiu-Wai (2013). Lost in Transition: Hong Kong Culture in the Age of China. SUNY series in Global Modernity. State University of New York Press. pp. 83–84. ISBN 978-1-4384-4647-9. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  115. ^ Hong Kong Disneyland 2008 promo on YouTube
  116. ^ "Three New Attractions in 2007 and 2008". Archived from the original on March 9, 2014.
  117. ^ "Dolls in Wheelchairs Added to "it's a small world" at Hong Kong Disneyland". WDW News Today. March 1, 2024.
  118. ^ a b "Magic Kingdom decks the halls". The Hanford Sentinel. November 23, 1997. p. 22. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  119. ^ a b c Herman, Jan (October 11, 1997). "It's a 'World' of Christmas". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 179, 184. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  120. ^ Eades, Mark (November 27, 2016). "How Disneyland transforms Small World for holidays". The Orange County Register. p. Local News 11.
  121. ^ Roberson, Benjamin (December 31, 2021). "it's a small world Very Merry Holiday Tokyo Disneyland full ride 2003 (courtesy of TAKAHASHI MAKOTO)". YouTube. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  122. ^ "It's a Small World – Celebration all-round!". DLP Today. November 18, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  123. ^ ""it's a small world" is reopening : interview with Tracy Eck from Walt Disney Imagineering". Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  124. ^ "Snowflakes Light Up A Sparkling Christmas – A Winter Wonderland A Season of Giving and Whimsical Fun Starts at Hong Kong Disneyland". November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  125. ^ "New Projection Show Turns 'Small World' Into a Big Canvas, for 'The Magic, The Memories, and You'". January 27, 2011. Archived from the original on January 28, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  126. ^ "ディズニー新キャッスルプロジェクション、ストーリー発表 噴水・パイロ・炎・イルミネーション...壮大なスケールに<Celebrate!Tokyo Disneyland>". modelpress (in Japanese). April 18, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  127. ^ Hill, Jim (September 29, 2003). ""It's a Small World" ... The movie?!". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  128. ^ "The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark". Kirkus Reviews. No. 16. August 15, 2005. ProQuest 917194081.
  129. ^ Mandy, Chaos. "Kinect Disneyland Adventures". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  130. ^ Amidi, Amid (February 10, 2014). "Disney Creates "It's A Small World" Animated Web Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  131. ^ "Design Behind the Scenes, The making of It's a Small World: The Animated Series". Disney Insider. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  132. ^ "Disney It's A Small World: The Animated Series & Trailer". Mommy Factor. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  133. ^ Sherman, Dina (April 17, 2022). "Just One Moon! Small World goes to China". Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  134. ^ "Disney Interactive Brings Families Around the World with Original Online Series, 'it's a small world: the animated series'". Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  135. ^ Fleming, Mike (April 22, 2014). "Disney Taps Jon Turteltaub To Direct 'It's A Small World' Feature Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  136. ^ McNary, Dave (February 26, 2016). "Disney Taps Writers for 'It's a Small World' Movie". Variety.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  137. ^ "Tomorrowland (2015) 1964 World's Fair Scenes". YouTube.
  138. ^ Barnes, Brooks (January 21, 2013). "It's a Grim World, After All". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  139. ^ "Disney Easter Eggs in Mickey Mouse (2013) - Season 1". AdamCOT. June 12, 2015.
  140. ^ "Girl Tumbles From Disney's "It's a Small World" Ride, Is Hurt". Chicago Tribune. August 30, 1994. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  141. ^ "Worker dies in apparent mishap at Disneyland Paris". San Diego Union-Tribune. October 6, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  142. ^ "Disneyland Paris cleaner dies after accident". BBC News. October 6, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  143. ^ "Fire quickly extinguished at Disneyland". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  144. ^ Peralta, Eyder (March 27, 2013). "Judge Awards $8,000 To A Man Who Got Stuck On Disney's 'Small World' Ride". National Public Radio. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  145. ^ Pedicini, Sandra (January 21, 2015). "Disney reports deaths after Small World, Toy Story rides". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  146. ^ Josh DuBose. "Naked guy spotted on iconic Disneyland Ride". Retrieved November 26, 2023.
[edit]