Take the legendary boat ride around the globe on this musical tour of nations!
Hundreds of international dolls sing and dance to the famous "it's a small world" medley!
But after it's over, just try to get that tune out of your head...
The ride features a multitude of audio-animatronic figures in the style of children of the world singing the ride's title track which has a theme of global peace. The little boats travel through a tunnel into the show building, which is much larger than the facade, on a 15 minutes world tour. About 400 of the cutest dolls ever will charm you with their wooden-stiff movements, very 1960's, through a very psychedelic-looking Willi Wonka world.
In 1956, Walt Disney attended a conference, along with many other notable celebrities of the time, at the invitation of President Eisenhower. The conference was about founding a national organization to help promote world peace through international civilian travel. Inspired by the ideas from the meeting, Disney returned to California and set to work, creating the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland.
Like several other Disneyland attractions, "It's a Small World" originated with the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. After the fair closed, the ride was transferred to Disneyland along three other attractions from the fair that year. The attraction's design was by Mary Blair, who was also an art director on several Disney animated features (including Cinderella and Peter Pan). Like many Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, scenes and characters were designed by Marc Davis, while his wife, Alice Davis, designed the outfits of the dolls. Many of the dolls were created by Joyce Carlson who is honored with a shop window along the Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. The name of the ride was originally "children of the world". When Walt Disney demonstrated it to songwriters, the Sherman Brothers, the ride's soundtrack featured numerous national anthems all playing at once. Disney said, "I need one song." In response, the brothers wrote what would arguably be one of the catchiest songs ever: It's a Small World.
Like several other Disneyland attractions, "It's a Small World" originated with the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. After the fair closed, the ride was transferred to Disneyland along three other attractions from the fair that year. The attraction's design was by Mary Blair, who was also an art director on several Disney animated features (including Cinderella and Peter Pan). Like many Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, scenes and characters were designed by Marc Davis, while his wife, Alice Davis, designed the outfits of the dolls. Many of the dolls were created by Joyce Carlson who is honored with a shop window along the Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. The name of the ride was originally "children of the world". When Walt Disney demonstrated it to songwriters, the Sherman Brothers, the ride's soundtrack featured numerous national anthems all playing at once. Disney said, "I need one song." In response, the brothers wrote what would arguably be one of the catchiest songs ever: It's a Small World.
Disneyland (California) plans to temporarily close the ride in January 2008 for 10 months to refurbish the ride as well as deepen the boat channel due to multiple layers of fiberglass repair patches that have caused boats to bottom out and get stuck during portions of the ride. It will also feature the original boats, a fresh coat of paint, and the original spires. Despite rumors to the contrary, Disneyland does not blame the issue on overweight tourists (yeah, right).
It's a Small World is also a feature ride in all Disney's parks around the world, with small changes from place to place. Very Kawaii!!
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