Disneyland to add ‘Alice’ to Small World ride
Disneyland plans to incorporate stylized Disney characters into It’s a Small World in keeping with attraction creator Mary Blair’s original designs and color palette, Walt Disney Imagineering officials confirmed.
Cast your vote: Should Disneyland change It’s a Small World or keep it the same?
An “Alice in Wonderland” doll wearing a blue dress and a white rabbit in a playing card tunic based on illustrations created by Blair while working on the 1951 animated movie will be added to the England segment of the classic boat ride, officials said. The Alice and rabbit characters will be added near a chessboard and red rose tree already existing in the Small World attraction.
Officials confirmed that Alice is one of several Disney characters that will be added to Disneyland’s Small World in a controversial plan that has infuriated some purists. Officials have insisted that Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will not appear in the Anaheim attraction.
The major rehab, which has been in the works for eight years, will “respect and honor the original creative intent” of Blair’s iconic work while adding “new richness, excitement and relevance,” according to an Imagineering official. The renovated ride will not be a “carbon copy” of the new Small World attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland, officials said.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the
Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Image: Mary Blair/Disney]
47 Comments on “Disneyland to add ‘Alice’ to Small World ride”
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March 25th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Great job Disneyland. Thanks for insisting to ruin the park that so many people love.
Keep up the great work! You should tear the whole thing out and add another time share kiosk!
March 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
WTF, over?
The concepts of adding “new richness, excitement and relevance,” and “respect and honor the original creative intent” are mutually exclusive.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I for one welcome the new changes. So many people complain and loath the attraction. But change one thing and everyone cries foul! Mary Blair was NOT the only one who worked on the attraction, the talents of many at WDI put just as much effort as she did. Nobody cried when they replaced the Tomorrowland murals by Mary Blair. The majority of the characters begin added are those that Mary Blair designed herself, so I see no reason why all the fuss is about.
March 25th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Thank you WDI spin doctors for working your magic of cover-up another bad idea yet again. It was a nice touch to use a vintage 1950’s piece of Mary’s art to distract me from the reality of this unfortunate concept. A look at the long list of characters you are forcing into small world quickly shown me Mary Blair and her design have nothing to do with this concept. Unfortunately she was not alive when the majority of the characters were created, which makes me wonder why would you do this? (Characters are to be included but not limited to Peter Pan, Alice, the White Rabbit, Cinderella, Jaq, Gus, Aladdin, Jasmine, Simba Timon, Pumba, The Little Mermaid and all her sisters, Mulan, Mushu, Stitch, The Three Cabalerros and the list goes on along with Yes WDI management, it is a sad statement when the guest of Disneyland, who provide you with your paycheck, have more respect for the park, its attractions and design intent than you actual Imagineers. Some of us have been witness to your level of “respect and honor for the original creative intent” at Tiki Room attraction in Florida. Now labeled “The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management,” one viewing of this show presents us, your paying guest, with jokes and insults towards the genius of Walt Disney and the original WED Designers. Wasn’t this “new richness, excitement and relevance” for the Tiki Room show created by you WDI? And since when has “it’s a small world” lost its relevance for me as a guest of Disneyland? Interesting how the appearance of Disney characters will suddenly make “it’s a small world” relevant to me again, even though I wasn’t aware its relevance was lost. I also want to thank the WDI spin doctor’s for making me, the paying guest of Disneyland, feel like a stupid fool for ever questioning WDI’s creative genius and intent when it comes to the park(s). I’m sure when I see the simple message of unity through the eyes of children overshadowed by the appearance of 40+ Disney characters in toy form, I will realize, in my attempt to understand the now convoluted message of the attraction, how amazing all of you WDI designers truly are. I bet I will even be brainwashed to buy each and every one of these 40+ Disney character “toys” in the giant small world shop you built at the exit of the attraction. Oh forgive me WDI for ever doubting your integrity and thoughts regarding this addition of “relevance” to small world. Forgive me in thinking it had anything to do with merchandise, ego, or commercialism rather than the integrity of Mary Blair, her brilliant design and the simple message of unity I’ve always found in it’s a small world. 8 years of planning or not, thank you WDI for ruining yet another Disney classic to justify your existence.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Alice is very English. The original stories originate from England as well and given the fact that the Alice stories are a part of the English heritage, I don’t think I will want to complain about the Alice doll, particularly if it is based off of Mary Blair concepts.
But, there are a lot of other Disney films that Mary Blair did not make character studies for, and they’re going in, too.
The intent is not to embrace the original intent of the attraction, but to dilute the message to become another Disney marketing scheme. That is what is really upsetting.
Disney, the public sees through your scheme. We know giant billboards when we see them-the public is not as stupid as you may think, at least in terms of advertising. Disney characters will not make the message of universal peace more understandable!
March 25th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
A “Save the Rainforest” website has been launched –
http://www.savethesmallworld.com
March 25th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Why do people have so many issues with change? We all change - grow older - some of us get wiser :)
So,.. why can’t people cope with changes in Disneyland. That’s life, things DO change. And knowing the Disney people, it will be done in a tastefull way - after all it’s their image.
With out change their wouldn’t be butterflies! - Grow up - adapt - and enjoy life without complaining!
Go Disney! - !!
March 25th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Anyone that agrees with these changes is completely naive to the fact that the Disney company has taken their theme parks and turned them into advertisements and money-traps for their own brand instead of profitable places of creativity and enjoyment.
The placement of Disney brand characters into “it’s a small world” takes away completely the original theme of world peace that the ride was developed with. The purpose of adding characters to the ride, in the eyes of Disney, is not honor the artisitc style of Mary Blair or to “freshen” up the forty-plus year old attraction…it’s to sell more plush and merchandise at the ride exit. For once, won’t people open their eyes and realize that the Disney company is finally starting to outstretch their own self-boundaries and will be stripping away not only a piece of the attraction, but one of Walt’s dreams and original attractions.
Disneyland’s version of “it’s a small world” is the version that appeared at the 1964-65 World’s Fair as an attraction sponsored by Unicef. It’s main theme and purpose was to inform a troubled world that we become globally aware and work for peace. By degrading the attraction through “additions”…Disney is abandoning that dream for quick cash in the pockets. The US economy has fallen to its knees because of this principle of short-term profit over long-term investment.
Attractions such as “it’s a small world” and “The Enchanted Tiki Room” grow stale not because of their ideas, but because the company neglects them. Imagine the Tiki room was upgraded, same soundtrack, but all 21st century Audio-Animatronics that were far more believable than their 1963 robotic ancestors. Disney, and Disney Imagineering, should be ashamed and disgraced.
This is the last straw. I’d rather spend my money at Six Flags than pay to see Disneyland become the ignorant, foolish, and historically uncaring place that has become over the past decade.
You want to “freshen” something up, save your character dolls for Disney’s Crappy Adventure across the way.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Im up for changes to its a small world and this looks great. I can’t wait to see it.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:56 am
there is a war going on and yet people are fussing over a few dolls? really? REALLY?
March 26th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Get a life people! We’re talking about a 40-y.o. attraction. They’re adding to it, not ripping it apart.
And what’s wrong with Disney Characters? They belong to Disney don’t they? Had you ever thought that with Cartoons, as long as they’re being used, it helps with any Copyright issues?
And who is this ride REALLY for? Kids! And just how many memories of this ride do they have? Just a few because of their ages. Maybe they would LIKE to see their favorite animated characters added?
Of course if it wasn’t for all of the FAT people here in America, this redo may not have even started (So, blame yourselves for giving Disney the opportunity).
Regarding the comment about DCA - I can tell you’re SO informed. As a matter of fact, DCA is getting almost a BILLION DOLLAR make over.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Quite frankly I am pleased to see WDI make changes to Small World. It is a tired attraction, almost 45 years old and well in need of a major rehab.
Even though I worked on the attraction for 4 years (in California), I am amazed at passion expressed by bloggers. Are there not more important issues on which to focus: the environment, the Sudan, Iraq, not to mention the U.S. economy and the pending election? WDI - have a grand time with your rehab of Small World, I am thrilled you are interested in the future viability of this attraction.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I’ve lost a lot of respect for imagineers. They once took us to the moon and back in time.
Now it’s putting Disney characters in a pre-existing ride.
Things have certainly changed.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Bravo Disney. Do we really expect to never change a thing at a 50 year old park? Disney is about change and innovation. Walt himself was about change. Imagination is a dream about change. These wonderful charactors are a great way to bring this attraction to a new young audience.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:21 am
All my life, I have considered it an unparalled honor to have been among the first to experience It’s a Small World at the New York Worlds Fair in 1965. So compelling was the experience for me that in the years afterward as I was growing up, should I chance to hear the Small World theme I would instantly burst into tears.
That Disney would take steps to preserve the ride for future generations meant more to me than I can say.
To the proposed changes, I can only beg: Please, no.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Blue Sky Disney says:
“This is where Disney Geeks need to realize the power they have as ‘Virtual Shareholders’… if you want attention to something, a poll over at TMZ may have a minor effect, but phone calls, letters or more importantly, complaints at City Hall do much better…
If you want to make your voices heard my friends, then complaining on message boards and filling out polls is not the direction to head. If you want to be heard the path to do so leads to Anaheim and Burbank.”
March 26th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
not sure if anyone has mentioned it but the original design work for this attraction that was built for the worlds fair included Disney characters.
Mary Blair herself suggested that they eb included and actually designed many of them for the attraction.
They never made it due to budget restrains and to avoid having Disney characters within the attraction at the worlds fair.
So this addition is nothing new
March 26th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
As a Disney lover who considers Disneyland to be Neverland where I can go and leave the world behind I cannot believe the negativity here. I find it amazing that people convienently only remember parts of Walt Disneys vision. I think a lot of people here need to rewatch Walts speach at the opening of Disneyland. Remember when Walt said that Disneyland would be ever changing, that seems to be forgotten while we try to impose our own vision over his. Without change we wouldn’t have Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana jones. I loved the rides at Disneyland when I was a kid and was sad to see some of them go but those that were added in their place are now considered classics. How convienent it is to cry foul and what about Walts original ideas, Marys original concept out of nothing more than our own desires to keep the park not for those who will enjoy it for years to come but only for ourselves.
Not every move that is made is made for commercial reasons, if you think that Disney is some evil commercial empire that cares only about money and that money is behind every change to sell more stuffed toys then don’t give them your money, don’t buy park tickets why cause yourself more grief.
love Disneyland for what it is, Neverland for all who enter her gates and leave the world behind. Look at the light in Walts window at night and see the treasures he inspired and the new ones that would make him smile.
Changes to small world won’t destroy Disneyland but we can if we let the magic dissapear and never grow. I love small world as it is but will love it even if it changes.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
The changes will only give guest a new reason to “re-experience” the attraction. It might even captivate a new audience of guest to appreciate it just as much as the rest of us. I have seen pictures of the dolls being added to the HKDL version, and I think they look incredible. Only the “Heavy Users” of the Disney parks would notice the differences. The rest of the world, I mean the first time visitors to the resort would and will love it, just as much as the rest of us who appreciate change. If you really knew how many of the Disney attractions have been changes over the years your jaw would drop. No one has issue with the Haunted Mansion’s changes every time it goes down after the overlay has been removed. I didn’t see an outcry of support for the Pirates changes. For the artist who inspired the attraction, well guess what she worked for Disney at the time. Anything that was done was for Disney. Other than that, enjoy the park and welcome the changes.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I personally think that if WDI keeps these additions as stylized and in a similar color palette as Mary Blair’s original works, I do not see a problem. I do however think that any additions should be from classic Disney films and should never include newer film characters simply for the sake of promotion (i.e. “Chicken Little”).
It’s A Small World has long been the brunt of many jokes for it’s monotony. The addition of some new well placed and appropriately designed characters could inject somw new life into the attraction while still keeping it’s original feel and message.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Back in the Spring 2006 a limited edition pin set released at Walt Disney World explored the idea of the Disney characters as part of it’s a small world. You can still view images from the pin set http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=15478
Unfortunately the framed set image is small but the individual pins listed at the bottom are larger.
According to that site the pin set was based on “a concept originally planned for the Walt Disney World® Resort. This proposed Walt Disney Imagineering concept introduced characters from classic Disney Animated Features into the “it’s a small world” attraction. Each character would have been depicted in the style of Mary Blair, the Disney Imagineer who was instrumental in the design of “it’s a small world” for the 1964 World’s Fair.”
March 26th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I am all for the change. People are tired of the ride…it is stale. People are acting like someone just spit on the Mona Lisa!! Disneyland is a business people!! Everyone cried about Haunted Mansion Holiday being put in… then it turned out to be EXTREMELY popular with huge crowds. The paying public wins!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I love change at Disneyland. It’s too bad that the vast majority of changes at the park (including changing the parking lot into DCA) over the last decade have been inferior to Disney’s past work.
Winnie the Pooh? New Tomorrowland? DCA? When Walt talked about Disneyland never being complete he also mentioned imagination. Today the philosophy is more like, Disneyland will never be complete as long as there are opportunities for synergy!
Disney used to stand for quality. Now it stands for “cheap”.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am
i for one tend to think that Walt knew way more then any of the current imagineers - there isn’t one amongst them - or the pathetic executives - that come anywhere close to what Walt achieved. fact is that its a small world is still a hugely popular attraction as is most of the attractions that Walt had a hand in. for the company to now come thru and think this is a plus are obviously just playing the corporate game that the morons that run corporate america expect. everything they’ve touched - subs, pirates of the carribbean, lincoln all suck! Walt said that Disneyland would never be completed as long as there is imagination - i think its time to call it complete because the only imagination that still exists is all geared towards kissing executive butt!
March 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I think it’s a great idea! Walt would have done it himself if he were still here. He said Disneyland would never be finished and would continue to grow and change. These small changes are in keeping with his vision. Way to go, Imagineers!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 10:04 am
IF YOU DONT LIKE IT DONT GET ON THE RIDE. OR DONT GO TO DISNEYLAND AT ALL…. IM SURE THE KIDS ENJOYING IT WILL NOT WANT TO HEAR YOU TALKING … IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIDE.
March 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
While I still would rather these changes weren’t happening at all, this new description sounds like something I can live with. If the designs really do stick closely to the signature Mary Blair style and the characters are a small part of the ride, but not overpowering the children of the world idea, I don’t think the ride will be ruined.
Pulling out the rainforest and replacing with America is still a dud of an idea, Blair-styled or not.
The conspiracy theorist in me can’t help but wonder, though, if the worse changes were leaked on purpose to make the real changes easier to swallow.
March 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
“it’s a small world” was not created to be a colorful but meaningless display of animated fantasies. It was a charming portrait of the lower-case real people who inhabit our REAL WORLD. Walt Disney chose children both as an innocent metaphor for adults, and also as a representation of our surest hope for the future.
The point was that we all live together on a small planet, and we need to live in peace. The dolls have identically stylized bodies: only facial features and ethnic costumes differentiate them from each other. Their equality and commonality was essential to the vision of a harmonious human world that Disney was creating.
(Someone noted above that there was a suggestion originally to include the characters. Walt Disney wisely resisted that proposal as incompatible with his clear vision and intent for the project, in concert with UNICEF.)
The Disney Chracters are UPPER-CASE STARS! They come in various sizes and shapes, with richly developoed back-stories, unique facial expressions, memorable gestures, distinct postures, and vividly delineated personalitiy traits.
They are NOT HUMAN. They are animals, amphibians, playing cards, royalty: all fictitous inventions of the Grimm brothers, Mother Goose, Walt, and the Disney Imagineers. Once they invade this attraction, the whole point and balance of humanity, similarity and equality goes overboard.
The Mary Blair dolls then become supporting players, background, or “extras,” in a pageant of personalities saluting the famous CHARACTERS. (The left-behind dolls - the people of the world - are not for sale. That they are now being used, or mis-used, to sell toys - if that is true - is sadly unworthy of Disney-Iger 2008.)
Now, rather than presenting the hope-filled vision of a unified human world, ths show becomes a background for Character-spotting: “Look! Mommy, MOMMY, there’s ALICE! Look over there. See? STITCH! Look what he’s doing, daddy!! That’s SO funny!!!” The national dolls will be be, very literally, overlooked: present but just filler. The opportunity for a parent to explain the that the dolls express the equality of children all over the world pretty much evaporates. They aren’t even equal to the imaginary CHARACTERS on display! They are nameless bit players.
The beautiful Finale White Room, once arrestingly symbolic of world harmony, will now have no more meaning than the happy Christmas window of an upscale toy store (Disney Toy Store?).
And the exit tunnel with the word “Peace” in many languages? That will make no sense at all, other than a seeminly arch or lame “Goodbye.”
This is a sad misstep for Disney. I earnestly hope that it will not be repeated in the Florida park, or even better, that it will be re-thought, and put on (permanent) hold in California.
Why waste the CHARACTERS on an ill-conceived re-hab? Save them for their own really fabulous atraction: “A VOYAGE THROUGH DISNEY’S MARVELOUS REALM!” in suspended rising and falling hot-air balloons, with key-note music and extravagant scenery from all the beloved films. Now that would make lovely and loving sense!
March 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Walt Disney himself said ” As long as there is imagination in the world Disneyland will never be complete” Add on to old and create new and different things to whatever you want Disney. If you dont like it dont go they wont miss you ! Look at the results of Priates. Everyone complained then and now it is forgotten and an amazing ride. “GO DISNEY”
March 27th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Walt Disney’s “it’s a small world” was created in conjunction with UNICEF to suggest the possibility of an ideal world in which all people could live together in peace.
Essential to that concept is a recognition of the similarity and equality of all people, regardless, race, nationality or place on the globe.
Disney chose to feature innocent children in the attraction, both as a metaphor for adults at their best, and as a reflection of our best hope for the future.
Mary Blair and other Imagineers crafted an array of dolls virtually identical in body, and distinguished only by the ethnicity of their facial features and the variety of their native costumes. When someone suggested that the Disney characters appear in the show, Walt Disney wisely rejected the idea as incompatible with the whole idea of representing humanity generically.
The theme of peaceful coexistence, embodied in innocent children, was powerful and touching.
The intrusion of the DISNEY CHARACTERS into this harmonious “small world” defeats the cohesion, and destroys the focus of the attraction. The CHARACTERS are notable for their humorous or emotion-filled back stories, individual characteristics, distinct facial expressions and defining gestures and postures.
The dolls are intentionally homogenous representatives of real living people. The CHARACTERS are not. The CHARACTERS are fantasy animals, amphibians, personified playing cards, princes, princesses and fairies. They are the creations of the brothers Grimm, the rhymers of Mother Goose, and the genius of Walt Disney. The thousand nameless dolls cannot compete for attention with these highly personified and lovingly extravagant creations.
The presence of the CHARACTERS necessarily makes the Disney-Blair dolls into “extras” providing background for the STARS. The ride then becomes a celebrity-spotting sport: “Mommy. MOMMY, look! TIGGER! STITCH! Daddy, look what Stitch is doing! He’s so funny!!” The dolls are inevitably overlooked as they fade into the scenery.
The people of the world are not for sale, but humanity is sold short in the reinterpretation of what “a small world” was all about. If the suggestion that the change is partially meant to advertise the characters and plug their merchandise, that is truly unworthy of the Disney brand.
When Michael Eisner brought the concept of “synergy” so strongly to bear across all the divisions of Disney for bottom-line gain, surely he did not foresee a mindless homogeneity. Hopefully Iger-Disney 2008 does not believe that every park attraction must be denied its individuality in order to lure patrons with familiar faces, or to serve as promotional vehicles for films and plush dolls and Princess Make-Over Salons.
Why not save the CHARACTERS for their own wonderful attraction? “DISCOVER DISNEY’S CHARACTER DREAMS!” Ride in suspended “hot-air balloons” which rise and fall, as you meet all your favorite characters in elaborately detailed scenery with appropriate theme music.
That would be an attraction!
March 28th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Apologies for the repeat post. I’m not familiar with the system here and it looked as if my first one did not go through.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:39 am
All Small World needs is a new paint job, some cleaning and some good TLC.
Adding characters and removing show scenes is not what is needed. I cannot believe how much money WDI MBA executives have put into 8 years of planning and development for this (according to your WDI employee quote) I wish the eatives would make decisions instead of the MBA’s.
Sad, so sad. Sell more plush toys at the exit of the attraction is the goal from the world most expensive mall. $70+ dollars a day for a single persons entrance not including the $30 on food and drinks and $15 on parking and Still that cannot even just refurbish attractions without justifying some multiple MBA spreadsheets. Gotta sell more plush dolls to afford all the MBA salaries I guess so let’s add some disney Characters into small world and call it the smaller world and remarket it. Great idea, great idea. yeah right.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I think this will be a great thing, remember how everyone complained about the updates to Haunted Mansions and Pirates of the Carribean? Well, they turned out great, wait until the end product gets here, then if it doesn’t work it will get tweaked, changed or removed as is appropriate.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Does anybody know any great place for
Caribbean vacations? I use to go to charlisangels adult vacations now my friends want to visit someplace new,
but we would like it to be just as nice as charlisangels, with great escorts and beautiful front beach villas at an all inclusive packages.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:21 am
I’ve been coming to Disneyland for over 40 years now, and IASW has always been my favorite attraction of all. The joy of the visuals, the song, and the message of peace on earth are such that they do not need updating to remain relevant.
I rode this attraction in Paris in 2006, and cannot express the joy and comfort I felt when I saw the Twin Towers were still standing in the American portion of the ride. Classics don’t need improving. Remember New Coke and how that went down with the public? This will be more of the same.
By all means, revamp the boats so fat people can enjoy the show like everybody, but don’t turn this joyous classic into another opportunity to pimp your toys on an unsuspecting public.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I don’t see a major problem with adding in the disney characters as long as it makes sense. Stitch in the Polynesian works, Alice in England works, but if it is like Dopey in Australia, which doesn’t match up then I don’t think so. This ride is about kids, and how the kids of the world are all connected and how important they are, and cartoons and imagination is a big part of being kids. As long as it is done tastefully then I’m all for it!
March 31st, 2008 at 1:18 am
I cried when the Tomorrowland murals were damaged and covered. I love good change…not bad. Disneyland is an absolute mess.
April 1st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Ugh…
Has anyone else noticed that every time the Disney execs refer to “relevance” it is a warning that something awful is about to happen?
Tiki Room: Under New Management is an unmitigated disaster. Even my “train wreck” curiosity could not prevent me from regretting the time I spent sitting through it.
The Country Bears were removed entirely (couldn’t they at least have gone to DCA?) to put in a “relevant” Winnie the Pooh ride. (which is terrible, btw… not even C-ticket quality)
The already E-ticket Pirates was updated to include Jack Sparrow AA’s, and rather than fit the figures in with the stylistic aesthetic of the attraction (charicatures) they went with “realistic” characters. They’re great individually, but simply do not fit in with the styling of the classic attraction.
Don’t even get me started on the rainforest rumor. I know the rainforests are disappearing from the face of the planet, but is this really a “relevance” we want to reflect?
This is a Florida-quality idea, and they should dump it on the Florida park. Leave Disneyland out of it.
For the record, many were upset when the Mary Blair murals in Tomorrowland were covered/damaged. It IS very good art, and a shame that more of her artwork is being lost to the ravages of time and the ignorance of MBAs who don’t comprehend the legacy they oversee.
Yes, the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay on the Mansion is good, and loved. It is also TEMPORARY, and the classic Mansion is restored to us every January. This is also why the It’s A Small World Holiday overlay (which gets to be less and less every year - yes, we notice) goes over well. It’s an “update” to a classic attraction that does not erase history completely.
You know, it’s not like nobody ever wants ANY change - it’s just that the last decade’s worth of changes SUCK.
What reason have we been given to trust the “vision” of today’s planners and imagineers?
Peoplemover & Circlevision - removed to put in Rocket Rods, which was a dismal failure and eventually replaced with (plywood cutout-filled) Buzz* and … nothing. That’s right, because Rocket Rods damaged the structure of the Peoplemover track so badly that it can’t even be returned.
Country Bear Jamboree - removed for a plywood-cutout fantasy worthy of anyone’s front yard at Christmastime. A ride meant for children too small to ride alone, but with seats too small to hold their parents. Go Disney.
Rocket Jets - replaced by the Astro-Orbiter, which being on the ground, is no better than Dumbo (the height is what made Rocket Jets great). Not only that, but it made Tomorrowland the only land whose theme imposes itself unnaturally on the still-Main-Street theming of the hub. Notice that Adventureland and Frontierland’s gates are set back from the hub, whereas Tomorrowland intrudes obnoxiously.
How about discontinuing “updates” to already well-loved attractions, and putting in “new” things that are actually “new” or replacing things that are already gone? The Motoboat Cruise canals would have been a great place to put Pooh, or even a character-filled attraction to satisfy the MBAs’ needs to sell plush?
(* Buzz, I grant you, has some very good elements to it - but it is still LESS immersive than the Fantasyland C-tickets. And it was still a “rescue” of the space used by the failed Rocket Rods)
This change to IASW is right on par with the dreck-to-video (intentional misspelling there) animated sequel releases of late. “Bambi VII: Feline Gets A Restraining Order” or whatever they’re coming up with these days. Perhaps a previous commenter was right - maybe there IS no imagination left in the world.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:07 am
um…er… who is going to see these additional characters…? i think by the time a patron works his way thru the park to IASM, stands in line for the ride for an hour with that song in their head, i think they would have already figured out,,, they ALREADY are IN Disneland! Disneland is there to make MONEY and why not put their characters to work. why stop there, why not strip everyone entering the ride of their disney paraphenalia before they enter. that way it wont contimate the experience.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
i think it is a good idea to add new characters to it’s a small world. it hurts when people say that disney is destroying it’s a small world. my grandma loved it’s a small world and would have loved to see some good changes. she died 4 years ago and every time i go on that ride i cry because i remember her. so please if youo think it is a bad iodea to change it’s a small world then look around you. nothing can stay the same forever. everything changes.
July 27th, 2008 at 1:40 am
I feel that the addition of some mary Blair characters from Disney features would be acceptable, and not damage the original message. Especially one’s that are Known to come from each countries cultural stories/heritage like alice. But after reading that they plan to add new untraditional characters not designed/or ever conceived by Mary Blair, that is a bit much, & is clearly another marketing scheme!!!! We seem to lose some of the best attractions to a new shop or place to eat so often…. Unless they can incorporate selling something & the attraction into the original space allotted.
As often as I go to DLR and am immune to it’s a small world & many other attractions messages, they still often brings me to tears! ( especially when I ride alone..)
If we let Disney continue like this without thought(from true Disney Fans) The only original attraction left will be the Train!
August 16th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
While I am not against changes that will improve the park (like adding new attractions to a dying frontierland, as well as bringing the can can girls back to the horseshoe) I just dont feel that these changes are in line with the original intent that Disney created this ride with. I am not saying the park should be left stagnant, I am just concerned with the fact that Walt denied the characters added to Small World for a reason. If Walt thought it would compromise the integrity of the ride, then why would the company continue on with this obvious marketing scam? Think about it. I can handle the changes to Pirates, and the Mansion changes are excellent. Im just nervous about the changes to IASW.
February 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I… died inside. I mean the park has been changing it since 2000– I think. But, this is rediculous. Who ever said they should change the rides should be shot or left for dead…
February 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Makin changes is what makes ‘merica great! If you don’t believe me, ask all them indians living on those reservations out west. Or is it those indians having reservations out west? Ahh well, what’s the difference??
February 17th, 2009 at 4:35 am
I think, your article “Alice in Wonderland” is good for Disney world visitor. I also love all thing of Disney theme park & enjoy with my family in disney theme park.
April 4th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Really Disneyland is very attractive and funny place. Your article tips are good for Disneyland visitor.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:36 am
I was in Disney last Christmas.
And the attraction that I never expected to change - Its a small world - was just one big Christmas show.
I was shocked - it is completely not in the spirit of the exhibit, which is about the world - the Moslem World, the Buddhist, etc.