Tag: It’s a Small World

Thanks to the keen eye of MiceChat members, I was able to catch a news report on LA’s CBS 2, that talked about some of the planned changes to It’s a Small World.

If you weren’t able to catch the report, we have audio of the report available for direct download here!

From TMZ.com:

No, not our world, the Small one. According to the LA Times, the family of the woman who helped create “It’s a Small World” is begging Disney not to screw up the iconic ride with “idiotic” changes.

The ride has been closed since January to upgrade its boats – which some think was needed in order to accommodate the ever increasing weight of the general population. But now other changes are being tossed around.

MiceAge.com is reporting that Disney Imagineers are considering adding Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Peter Pan, Nemo and other Disney characters to locations throughout the ride while replacing the Papua, New Guinea, rain forest scene with an American tribute.

In an open letter to Disney execs, the family writes, “The Disney characters of themselves are positive company icons, but they do NOT fit in with the original theme of the ride. They will do nothing except to marginalize the rightful stars of the ride ‘The Children of the World.'”

Disney officials say some additions will be made to Small World but that no decision has been made on specific creative changes to the ride despite the speculation.

I find it funny that about 90% of the readers of TMZ think adding Disney characters to It’s a Small World is a bad idea. And it’s not even a Disney related website!

An “idiotic plan” to add Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters as well as an American tribute scene to Disneyland’s It’s a Small World represents a “gross desecration” that would “bastardize” the stylized artwork and “marginalize” the original theme of the boat ride, wrote the family of the classic attraction’s creator in an open letter to Disney executives.

Disney Imagineers are considering changes to Small World that include adding Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Peter Pan, Belle, Simba, Nemo, Lilo and Stitch to locations throughout the ride while replacing the Papua, New Guinea, rain forest scene with an American tribute, reported MiceAge’s Al Lutz.

“Ripping out a rain forest (imaginary or otherwise) and replacing it with misplaced patriotism is a public relations blunder so big you could run a Monorail through it,” wrote Kevin Blair, son of Small World creator Mary Blair, on behalf of the family.

Disney officials said some additions — known as “plussing” in Imagineering parlance — will be made to Small World but that no decision had been made on specific creative changes to the 14-minute ride despite the speculation.

“No one approaches our classic attractions with more reverence than Disney Imagineers who take great care when refreshing beloved attractions,” said Marilyn Waters, a Disney Imagineering spokeswoman. “As with all our classics, any enhancements made to It’s a Small World will be in the original spirit of celebrating the children of the world.”

Re-Imagineering, an unofficial online forum for past and present Disney Imagineers to catalog missteps and debate solutions, called the “egregious and downright disgusting” proposed Small World changes a “brutal dismissal” of Mary Blair’s “profound and enduring influence on the Disney aesthetic.”

“This is not a change at Disneyland to take lightly,” the Re-Imagineering editorial stated. “Letters should go out to all corners of the company pleading for a halt to the desecration of Small World once and for all.”

MiceAge’s Dateline Disneyland columnist Andy Castro has championed an online campaign to “Save the Rainforest,” urging Small World fans to call, write or e-mail Disneyland, Walt Disney Imagineering or Disney’s corporate headquarters to put a halt to the proposed changes.

Kevin Blair sent snail-mail versions of his protest letter to Disneyland President Ed Grier, Disney Imagineering’s Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter and Pixar chief John Lasseter.

Small World went down for a 10-month rehab in January to replace the original flume and fleet of boats used at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, where the ride debuted.

The Mouse still insists the Small World overhaul has absolutely nothing to do with the ever-increasing waistlines of Americans.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

We’re hearing of a couple of BIG RUMORS of what could be coming to It’s a Small World. Don’t let these upset you, as they are still rumors.

Over in Hong Kong Disneyland, they’re currently building their version of It’s a Small World, which is scheduled to open this Summer. What will be unique about their version is that it will actually feature Disney characters in their home countries. Imagineers are looking at duplicating this over to Disneyland’s version. I know for a fact that this will upset many Disneyland fans (myself included), & Disneyland is definitely not the place to do it (WDW is).

A (hopefully) less controversial change that may be coming is the replacement of the Jungle room with an American themed room, similar (yet on a grander scale) to the version in Disneyland Paris. In my opinion, a good idea for 2 reasons, 1) the room is a bit plain & boring right now, & 2) they’ll finally be able to do something with that room for It’s a Small World Holiday.

Also, some better decorations will definitely be coming to the Hello & Goodbye rooms.

Information from the MiceAge Al Lutz column “Monorail Blew”