Whoops! Disney inadvertently reveals new Small World characters
Details of a closely guarded secret are beginning to leak out about the Disney characters to be added to the It’s a Small World attraction at Disneyland.
The controversial plan caused an uproar last March among Disney purists, who called the changes a “gross desecration” of ride creator Mary Blair’s stylized artwork.
Cast your vote: Should Disneyland change It’s a Small World or keep it the same?
Disney inadvertently let the secret slip by releasing a limited-edition pin collection featuring 14 of the approximately two-dozen Disney characters “as they will appear” when the Small World attraction reopens to annual pass-holders on Feb. 5 and the general public on Feb. 6. Screamscape caught the blunder.
The characters include:
* Mulan and Mushu
* Cinderella with Jaques and Gus
* Woody and Bullseye
* Pinocchio
* Aladdin and Jasmine
* Ariel and Flounder
* Lilo and Stitch
The collectors pins, created by artist Monty Maldovan of the Disney merchandising group, represent a simplified version of the characters and settings as they will appear in the Small World attraction.
In a previous post, we revealed that the Alice in Wonderland and White Rabbit characters would be incorporated into the classic boat ride. Disney officials have insisted that Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy will not be added.
In general, the Disney character additions will fall into two categories — dolls and toys. “Face” characters such as Mulan and Aladdin will look like traditional three-dimensional Small World dolls wearing their character’s distinctive costumes. Nonhuman characters such as Stitch and Flounder will be represented by “toys” that more closely resemble their animated film depictions.
In a pair of pleading open letters to Disney brass, Small World creator Mary Blair’s family as well as a dozen Disney and Pixar creative artists begged the Anaheim theme park to preserve Small World.
Soon after, an online campaign urged 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.
Then, in a pair of combative public rebuttals, Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Vice President Marty Sklar and chief Disney archivist Dave Smith fired back at critics of the Small World changes.
Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: latimes.com/funland.
— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
Photos: Disney
9 Comments on “Whoops! Disney inadvertently reveals new Small World characters”
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January 21st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Any possiblity of updating or eliminating the song? I know it was written by excellent songwriters but the repetitive lyrics and unchallenging melodic line make the ride close to unbearable for adults. The song is so bad I use it to drive out a song that has been stuck in my head.
January 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
OMG! Call Obama. This is a catastrophe of national porportions! Get a freakin’ life, people.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:15 pm
The change will delight and enchant the children who love these Disney characters. The “purists” are adults. I, for one, would rather please the children.
January 21st, 2009 at 3:50 pm
There are so few pieces of unadulturated california history left, can’t we please keep this one to show future generations? Are we not inundated with modernizations of everything- do we need one more? I think children should be taught to value their history and cultural heritage, but it’s difficult to do that when the tangible pieces of that history are constantly updated and changed to try to appeal to younger and younger audiences. Disneyland is a classic, one of the last dens of nostalgia in SoCal. Leave it alone.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Lilo and Stitch??? hahahahahahahaha It’s a small, “commercial” world after all.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Tear it down and start over. I’m all for preserving historical places of merit, but the original Small World needed a serious revamping.
January 21st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Ever since Michael Eisner got control of Disney, Disneyland has been sliding down hill. It’s easy for cynical adults to forget that the attractions at Disneyland and Disneyworld are the culmination of many talented individuals from the entertainment industry who combined their skills to create for visitors a unique experience they wouldn’t be getting at any other amusement park. Just as we value Art Deco or Mid Century architecture buildings that are of importance to our culture, we should start to appreciate even Disneyland and the artistry that went into making it what it is.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Walt is famously quoted for Disneyland never being complete and also known for always “plussing” wherever possible. People complain about any and every change, but the final results are always great. The people that do the changes are the best in their field and know what they are doing. They love what they do so much, they work doing it, and are not just fans. They know what to preserve and what to improve. It is what the company has always been about and why it holds it’s untouchable reputation in the theme park industry.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:44 pm
This reminds me of my mom when she told me that Disney sells you an unlimited dream.