Disneyland’s Small World set for big rehab
This holiday weekend marks your last chance to ride It’s a Small World at Disneyland before the beloved boat ride undergoes a major overhaul.
The classic attraction goes down for a 10-month rehab starting Jan. 22, 2008, to replace the original flume and fleet of boats used at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, where the ride debuted.
Disney Imagineers are still trying to decide what — if any — changes and additions to make to the characters and scenes in the 14-minute show. The new Small World ride at Hong Kong Disneyland adds 30 Disney characters to the attraction (including Mulan, Peter Pan and Aladdin).
The Anaheim ride’s long hibernation is scheduled to end Nov. 28, 2008, according to Disney officials.
The Mouse still insists the Small World overhaul has absolutely nothing to do with the ever-increasing waistlines of Americans.
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: Disney]
44 Comments on “Disneyland’s Small World set for big rehab”
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January 17th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Newsflash… many visitors to Disneyland are foreign tourist. So don’t just blame heavy Americans, I realize some people cant resist bashing Americans though.
January 17th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Mike don’t be so neurotically sensitive. Of course Americans have bigger rumps than before, look around…and round…and…
Well, the point is anyone at D’land can see for themselves how the water disperses when certain shapes enter a boat. It’s like doing a water wheely if the person sits in the back! I’ll take the average weight of a Japaneese tourist to any of us Americans. Tony S. (205 lbs.)
January 17th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Despite what our friends over in Anaheim claim, “It’s a Small World” is getting a 10 month makeover because the boats, designed in the 1960’s, can NOT handle the increased weight of the average American. The boats constantly get “stuck” throughout the ride, which shuts the whole ride down.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
As an American living abroad, the first thing I notice when I come back “home” to America is “wow, everyone here is SOO fat”. This is in health-conscious LA mind you!!! I am quite certain this 10-month facelift is due to “fat” Americans. Lets face it, we’re in a country where it’s not uncommon to see people tipping the scale at 200/300 and even 400 lbs!!! It’s not to bash Americans, it’s just that we as a nation need to make dramatic changes to our diets and lifestyles and start making healthier choices.
It’s probably also to slightly modernize the ride and make cute changes too. :)
January 17th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Although I love the ride as a kid and was fortunate enough to bring my own two boys for the first time, the overhaul is long overdue. The Christmas holiday theme makeover also makes one realize how much better it could be. I hope they update the characters with better technology like they did with Depp’s character on Pirates of Carribean.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I think they should change the name of the ride to “River of Cultural Stereotypes”.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Disneyland is a lard magnet. Fact: Disney cast members are taught to spot and assist corpulent guests so as to avoid embarrasements. Almost all of Disney’s attractions are accessible to the grossly obese, try squeezing Olaf and Mildred from Minnesota’s combined 102 inch waistlines into Magic Mountain rides. I hate Disneyland, nothing’s more disgusting than sitting on a greasy, sweaty seat some shamelessly fat person left behind. Bleech!
January 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Silly geese - the problem is the flume. It’s old. It leaks. And as it gets repaired and patched, the fiberglass builds up and makes the flume shallower in certain problem areas than originally designed. If the “fat tourist” claim were true, they would have had much bigger problems with the bloated boats knocking out the water jets that line the bottom of the flume to propel the boats through the attraction.
Al Lutz - like all of us - aren’t always right.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Every time my wife and I go to Disneyland we inevitably discuss how fat people are. My friends come down from Washington and they say the same
thing. There are a lot of fat people here. Anyway every time I get off the ride I sing “it’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all” for three days or so –but I guess it’s not so small after all:)
January 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i wonder if vanessa is enough of a beauty to justify such a bad statement
January 18th, 2008 at 1:59 am
I live on the East Coast, so when they renovated the ride at Disneyworld in Florida in 2004 i missed out on it. But when they did it back then it wasn’t because people were too fat. It just goes to show how bad this situation has become with obesity in this country.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Amazingly enough, the last time I rode the D’Land version of this ride was at the ‘64-’65 Worlds Fair in Flushing, Queens,New York City.[Yes, Flushing]I have very fond memories of the experience and “that song” was stuck in my head right up until my parents took me to the next big East Coast event, Woodstock.
I guess I should run down to Anaheim and get one last ride in. Woodstock would be a much harder experience to recreate.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am
For 17 years, I was a Disneyland foreman and later a supervisor. Much of that time was spent on the Small World attraction. Even from the late ’60s the attraction suffered constantly from boats jamming along the flume. From the beginning the attraction required constant maintenance on the boats, the flume, and the characters. It about time they were all rebuilt and replaced. It is still the best attraction there.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
As a season pass holder to the park, I for one will enjoy the hiatus. The ride is completely dated, and needs to employ newer technology. Many of the animatronics that wowed people in the ’60s are so outdated, that my kids’ toys at home are far more advanced. While it might be fun for older visitors to reminisce about their childhoods, most kids seem to not get it. And believe it or not, D’land was intended for K-I-D-S (Ironically, D’land seems to be a Mecca for adults with a “Peter Pan Complex).
As for the fat people, all you need to do is look at the armada of “little rascals” for rent at the front of the park to know America has problems. I remember when wheelchairs were strictly for the disabled and not the lazy. The one chance these slugs actually have to go for a walk, and they are scooting around with their front basket filled with Churros and turkey legs.
It’s depressing.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Here’s hoping the urge is resisted to add Disney characters to the attraction. That would ruin it. Keep Mary Blair’s design as pure as possible. I used to work that ride, and when I really got to know it well, my appreciation for it went way up. While it’s down for rehab, how about returning the flag room (second room, just before north pole/scandinavia) and return the queue to its original flow (so guests enter at the entrance and come down the central staircase to the docks). The current queue setup is lame. And while we’re going fully retro here, remove the English language overlay on the soundtrack that now is throughout the ride. The real soundtrack is much less maddeningly repetitive than the current version.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Did you hear that Disneyland is running out of space? They are going to combine some rides. First up, the “Frontier Shooting Gallery” will merge with “It’s a Small World”. Guests will be able to pick off the tiny singing dolls for 25c per ride. Disney spokesperson Sarah Riddle said that “This way, It’s a small World will attract more male riders. We aren’t sure if the dolls will shoot back.”
January 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Welcome to the Fattiest Place on Earth!!
January 18th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I will take Al Lutz’s word every time. He has consistently scooped the mainstream So Cal media — and amazingly enough — always turns out to be right. Further, if you look at the obesity stats over the last 40 years, it’s very easy to understand how he is right. The average weight per boat has been climbing dramatically for many years.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Mary Blair was a genius, Small World is a slice of Disney history that should be PRESERVED not EXPLOITED by *adding* anything. Though it does need to be maintained, I hope to God they don’t ruin it like everything else there….by shoving their licensed *Disney characters* down our throats so they can sell more crap. I actually *HATE* that they replaced the original *Blackbeard* (whom my daughter actually recognized from a **historical** trip to the NC coast) with Johnny Depp??? YIKES.
January 18th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Our family had annual passes until we moved out of state recently, and we could NEVER get over how severely OBESE the people at the park were. I am sure they are just a cross section of the average American. It STUNNED me. In a recent poll of parents whose children were considered medically *morbidly obese* 80% of the parents rated thier children as UNDER WEIGHT! It’s much worse than just being heavy….these folks don’t even KNOW they’re heavy! It was sad and frightening that this is where our country has gone. What in the H— are we ever going to do if we’re invaded…God forbid, everyone will just waddle out the doors with their bags of chips overhead.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Dear Pismo Clam:
Of course the ride is a “River of Cultural Stereotypes”. It’s a cartoon.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I’m glad that they’re revamping the ride. Because it’s boring.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
why does everyone care so much? The reason the boats stop in the ride is not because people are fat, its because the people working the attraction and loading the boats can’t balance them out correctly. Disneyland would have to undergo a MAJOR overhaul too accomodate their larger guests including redoing all of the queues, turnstiles, and other water attractions. Ever notice how Pirates of the Carribean is pretty much the exact same ride system? They got new boats a few years ago and no one said anything! Why? Because it had nothing to do with people being overweight. Just like weight isn’t an issue at Small World.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
For example the entire American Girl world that little girls love so much also simplifies various culture’s attires and byways. Better for children it is done in Disney’s spirit of acceptance and love in its innocence than just left for Jr high students to fill in while smoking in the bathrooms.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Kate - Read about Mary Blair and you won’t find Small WOrld *boring* at all. There is a wonderful book about her and her art that was recently published. She was Disney’s *favorite* artist and influenced just about EVERYTHING Disney. She was a genius and you will have a whole new appreciation and look at SM, and Disneyland in general through new eyes.
January 18th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Theresa, you are in denial. If it was only a “balancing” issue, then some improved ride operator training would solve the problem. Why would they spend millions to rennovate a ride if all it took to fix the problem was a little training?
Want proof? Here’s the bad news from the CDC (Center for Disease Control):
A) among adults aged 20–74 years the prevalence of obesity increased from 15.0% (in the 1976–1980 survey) to 32.9% (in the 2003–2004 survey).
B) For children aged 2–5 years, the prevalence of overweight increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%.
Net) Double the number of obese adults and triple for kids.
As for the POTC ride, have you noticed that most of the time, even on extremely busy days, they don’t load to stated capacity of 20? Why do you suppose they do that?
Now, remembering that the ride was designed a full decade BEFORE these surveys were done the first time, the reality is even worse than this.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Maybe they should weigh everybody before they can enter Disneyland. I’m sure that is what Mr. Disney would like. Just let the me age people into the park. The ride simply needs refurbishment and nothing more. Don’t people take there cars in for oil changes. Please quit blaming the rides age on anything else.
January 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
We are the ONLY country in the world who believes a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and lean proteins is *Deprivational*! Any other country in the world would consider our year round access to such foods a priviledge, but not the Americans! Oh No! If you can’t stuff your face with soda, chips, ice cream and fast food everyday, you are being *deprived*! Isn’t that what diets are all about?? OH, I’m on a diet, I HAVE to eat fresh fruits and vegetables regularly now! D.O.T. - what exactly do you mean by “me age” people? I am 41 and my husband is 47 - neither one of us are spring chickens, but we both eat a very healthy diet and are much trimmer than any of the younger people we know - if that’s what you mean.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
IT’S THE SUGAR STUPID.
January 18th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I agree with the lovers of Mary Blair. There are plenty of rides with modern technology if that’s why you are there. The influence of Blair on the park has been diminishing over the years and it suffers as a result. If they have to redesign the boats for fat people or poor engineering, so be it. Don’t touch Mary Blair’s masterpiece though. As Disney likes to say, “once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
January 19th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Rob - I couldn’t agree more. People who don’t know of Mary Blair…who she is, how much influence her work was throughout Disney, the park and the movies, don’t understand the loss. The Europeans don’t walk into a building and say “Oh, a Picasso mural…let’s tear it down and put up something else.” There is also a beautiful mosaic of hers that was preserved *underneath* one of the space murals in Tomorrowland. I am an art director, went to Otis in LA, and worked in animation for years and still, somehow, didn’t even know about Mary Blair until just a few years ago.
January 19th, 2008 at 8:53 am
To David who said: “try squeezing Olaf and Mildred from Minnesota’s combined 102 inch waistlines into Magic Mountain rides.”
Next time do your research before you make snarky comments about other parts of the country. I assume you’re from CA and if so, the obesity rate in CA is nearly the same as that in Minnesota.
January 19th, 2008 at 9:46 am
If Disneyland was really interested in the “ever-expanding” waistlines of Americans, they have to change their menues, less on the fats, more on fruits and vegs, not to mention how they prepare their chicken. I do have the “ever-expanding” waistline of the typical fat (yes, I can say it, since I AM!) American (born in Downey, CA!), and didn’t listen to all those critics about diet and exercising. Now, I’m paying the price for it. Disney should try to accommodate, but, they also should try to educate about good nutrition. Having fast food restaurants on and outside the park is just too dangerous for those who have severe cravings for fat and grease. I know, I have them. It’s not easy to change bad habits, but, forcing a company to change to accommodate us is crazy. I can say for myself I am crazy for asking Disney to do this. Either I lose the weight, and live, or, have constant health problems that I force others to pay for, in many ways. It should be an easy choice, but the way the mind works, I might as well solve the universal problem of how the universe was formed, and decypher its operating system. Not that easy, even with my mind. Living is better, and being a few pounds lighters doesn’t hurt, either.
January 19th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Disney should scrap this relic of yesteryear and go bold and become a part of the 21st Century.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Food brought into the park is not allowed. In the 1960s my family had to rent a locker just outside the park to stor our lunches. Disneyland has made a fortune on just the fees it charges fast food vendors. No wonder people have weight problems.
January 20th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I hate to break it too all you self-loathing, obese-American-bashing Americans but the rest of the developed (and developing) world is fattening up as well. Heck, the tony pedestrian mallin Shanghai, Nanking Road, has a packed McDonald’s or KFC on practically EVERY block.
January 20th, 2008 at 10:02 am
My family and I boarded a boat for It’s a Small World just prior to the Holidays. As we were about to depart the boat ahead of us got stuck. The employee’s quietly removed an overwieght couple and proceded to board them on our boat which still had plenty of room.
January 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
All I can say is, I hope they don’t “improve” Small World like they improved the first third of “Piratea” - through that cave - what a dud - that’s one ride they should have left alone. Their Christmas makeover was great. They have improved many of the other rides in Fantasyland with improved colors and animation; if this is what they have in mind, we might be able to call these wise improvements. I would still be cautious if their intent is to remove the unique nature that is It’s a Small World. And for goodness sake, they shouldn’t mess with the music too much.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:54 am
Andi, hate to break it to ya, but the “historical” Blackbeard was the portrait prop from Disney’s movie “Blackbeard’s Ghost”, starring (in the movie AND the portrait) Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette, who died this last week.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
It’s a shame that everyone is using the Happiest Place on Earth as a way of bashing fat people. would all of you be happy if we banned fat people from Disneyland? remember, Walt Disney created his Magic Kingdom for everyone to enjoy, not just thin people. and I am obese and love it’s a small world. no cast member has ever escorted me off the boat. my boat has never gotten stuck due to anything but an overcrowding of boats. if everyone is unhappy because we are taking too long loading the boats, let’s not let people with disabilities on either.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Nina…I had NO idea! How funny…about Blackbeard! How funny. I still don’t want Johnny Depp. These new movies tend to be trendy and go out of style and then it’s just outdated. I like it when they are more generic…like the Jungle Cruise. Call me a purist!
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
I was there yesterday and after sitting for 45 minutes watching people, I must say at least 50% of the people walking by could lose over 50lbs. Many could lose much more. I am not thinking everyone should be Mary Kate and Ashley skinny, I am saying healthy. The woman next to me in line for food brought her 3 refill giant mugs up to have soda filled up in all three and handed them to 3 kids aged about 6, 3 and 1 1/2 yrs old. This woman was well over 300lbs and was helping her 3 small children join her in a short life of being unhealthy and unfit by giving them a refill of sugar filled soda.
I watched more people walk by stuffing their faces with massive amounts of junk food. I watched them give their children the same junk food, many of those poor children needing to lose weight themselves.
Yes, someone mentioned above, I have been twice in the past month and there are SO MANY overweight people riding around in those motorized seats because they can’t or don’t want to walk. I have been going to Disneyland for over 35 years and WHEELCHAIRS were for the handicap people. Now, you can pay to buzz around the park and not have to walk all while you stuff your face. It is really sad.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Junk food, obesity, and terrible eating habits are a good thing if you think about it. These people have no self discipline and will die off sooner. It is natural selection in real life but unfortunately this means those of us with some shred of will power will have to pay their medical bills, deal with them slowing down the rides, and increasing the burden in taxes.
It is almost always about choice and being responsible for your actions but this is something most Americans are having a hard time understanding, except the older generations 60’s+. Too many people are quick to blame everything else other than themselves such as metabolism, genetics, social pressures, etc. Put down the greaseburger and candy or shut up. Most intelligent people don’t buy these stupid excuses.
March 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
[...] 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. [...]