Buzz: Riders too fat for Disneyland’s Small World
The big buzz on the Internet at the moment is over Disneyland’s plans to rehabilitate the classic It’s a Small World water ride to better accommodate overweight America.
A number of websites picked up the original MiceAge story and turned the topic into a tempest. (For background, you can read our original post.)
A Calorie Lab story on the subject garnered 1,453 Diggs. A Consumerist post generated nearly 100 impassioned comments. And then Boing Boing jumped in.
Said one Boing Boing commenter: “Sadly I witnessed this at Disneyland this past June. A woman who had to weigh at least 375 got ‘stuck’ in one of the boats and held up the on/off flow for a good 20 minutes. We all felt sad for her, but equally annoyed.”
The Fat Lady’s Guide to Disneyland (no, we’re not making this up) recommends…
riding Small World side-saddle: “And take up the whole seat.”
A Disney spokesman told the New York Times’ What’s Online column that the repairs “have nothing to do with weight.”
Should Disneyland supersize seats or should America lose weight?
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Photo: Disney]
10 Comments on “Buzz: Riders too fat for Disneyland’s Small World”
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November 6th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Looks like Disneyland will have a PR nightmare on its hands when the rehabbed Small World reopens in 2009.
Add HuffPost and Wired to the list of websites picking up the It’s a Fat World story.
– Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer and Theme Park Blogger
November 8th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
“Should Disneyland supersize seats or should America lose weight?”
Um, my guess would be to lose weight. Those poor boats. Maybe Disneyland could charge a surcharge for those who occupy extra seats, similar to some airlines.
Now please pass the Krispy Kreme.
November 8th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
“Though our a**es be toooo wiiiiidddeeee
For these a-muse-ment riiiiiddeesssss….”
November 8th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
LOL.
I know those boats aren’t big but they’re not small either, I remember the IASWAA attraction riding as a kid and it was so much fun, what a weird, odd and funny story. Come on you aren’t going to suggest that large people didn’t exist years before? I’m sure there have been hefty passengers over the years since Disneyland opened back in the days. Maybe it’s that they are more common now? who knows, poor hefty people that bring the boat down. I’d be embarrassed too, bu t I really do feel for them.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Just read the facts… American’s are fatter today than they have ever been. Read Fast Food Nation or any medical journal and you will clearly see how there is higher rate of obesity in this country than ever before. I do not feel sorry for people that chose to over eat and not exercise. Disneyland should restrict weight on their rides much the same way they restrict height for children; it is a safety concern. In the children’s situation, the height restriction is put in place so no harm comes to them. With Adults who chose to over eat and become obese, the restrictions would be in place to protect their safety as well as the safety of other passengers. Why do American’s in general feel like they have to make excuses, make special arrangements or entitlements for people who have chosen a lifestyle that puts their own life at risk? Put down that tub of popcorn and take a walk. Stop making excuses for over indulgence and look in the mirror. The only way these individuals will get help with their weight is if they take control of their life, it is called lifestyle changes, not by altering a ride to accommodate America’s overindulgence.
December 21st, 2007 at 11:29 am
Disneyland’s Small World/Fat World story ranks 13th in Money Magazine’s year-end “101 Dumbest Moments in Business.” (Hat tip to MiceAge columnist David “Darkbeer” Michael)
— Brady MacDonald / Los Angeles Times Staff Writer + Theme Park Blogger
March 19th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
[...] The Mouse still insists the Small World overhaul has absolutely nothing to do with the ever-increasing waistlines of Americans. [...]
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
America needs to lose weight…not only would Disney save money, but we wouldn’t have the diabetic epidemic we have now.
Put down that in and out burger and go for a walk.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
At the same time, Disneyland (and presumably WDW) is revamping its menus to offer healthier choices, so it hard to not see the connection. I’m pretty glad about that. Not only do I not like crappy junk food, but eating a big, greasy meal on a really hot day is gross. Fresh, healthy eats like salads and deli sandwiches can be found in DLR, but you have to know where to look.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Small World issues are more obvious. Politics. Plain and simple, the original creator, under the direction of Walt Disney himself, setup the ride as a world fair exhibit for global unity. As you know, the ride was such a hit, Walt Disney requested to have it established a permanent home at the happiest place on earth. The politics are new imagineers want to set-up, segregate, a new section especially highlighting the United State of America. The family of the orignal creator will not allow this to happen, but will allow the ride to be modernized as long as the orignal theme is not altered and the ride is not transformed into something that it was not meant to originally be.