Disney characters in IASW = most inconsequential change ever?

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I'm trying to figure out why this was even done. It isn't like "small world" has gotten less popular or beloved in the 2000s, so I'm assuming this wasn't an attempt to draw more people. It also isn't selling any merchandise. In my experience, the additions are easy to ignore or even miss. I forget characters are even in there at many points, likely because I'm focused on all the other original things. Years later, I don't see the point. How did something like this get funding? Who sold this idea to management and how?

 

[brb1006]

They did the same in Hong Kong Disneyland

 

[Animaniac93-98]

They should get rid of all of them except Alice and the White Rabbit (not just because they relate to 19th century British culture, but becuase they actually look like Mary Balir creations). The rest add nothing to the experience, and some are downright ugly. I hope they don't get added to WDW, DLP or TDL.

The only thing worse is the 'Murica scene.

Neither addition ruins the ride for me, but they still are pointless "improvements" I can do without.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I think they are a fun touch if you notice them.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It was part of justifying the long closure instead of just saying nothing or the truth. The way the whole matter was handled was also a disgusting, but brutally honest, display of Disney's contempt for their own fans.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

The America scene stinks and that's the most obvious placement of Disney characters as the boat goes right up to those creepy Woody and Jessie dolls that look like something out of the Chinese Wonderland knockoff park.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I'd love for all of the characters to be removed.

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Another example of Kim Irvine fixing (a.k.a. destroying) something that didn't need fixing.

 

[RandomPrincess]

The America scene stinks and that's the most obvious placement of Disney characters as the boat goes right up to those creepy Woody and Jessie dolls that look like something out of the Chinese Wonderland knockoff park.

The Woody and Jessie dolls are the worst.

 

[Jax274]

Here are some pictures of the characters in Its a Small World

 

[lazyboy97o]

Another example of Kim Irvine fixing (a.k.a. destroying) something that didn't need fixing.

But her mommy was an Imagineer with Walt! Her off-center attention to detail is part of the Disney legacy.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Here are some pictures of the characters in Its a Small World

And they're all pointless and awful.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Here are some pictures of the characters in Its a Small World

We know what they look like, trust us.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

I'm in the minority around here but I like them

 

[Phroobar]

I never really liked any of them. The idea was originally to introduce these characters to HK Disneyland visitors.

Somehow management figured that american tourists don't know the characters either. They did an internal survey of the occupants of three cubicles on the third floor of the TDA building and found those people never heard of those characters either. Management figured If someone that works for Disney never heard of them, then most likely most tourists didn't either so Disneyland gets them too.

 

[PacNWTigger]

I'd love for all of the characters to be removed.

I totally second that! The last time I went on that ride I had a nightmare that I got stuck in the white room with all of the dolls coming to get me...it was most unpleasant.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I never really liked any of them. The idea was originally to introduce these characters to HK Disneyland visitors.

Somehow management figured that american tourists don't know the characters either. They did an internal survey of the occupants of three cubicles on the third floor of the TDA building and found those people never heard of those characters either. Management figured If someone that works for Disney never heard of them, then most likely most tourists didn't either so Disneyland gets them too.

Before it was used against Disneyland, "it's a small world" at Hong Kong Disneyland was described as a game of hide-and-seek. Disney didn't think there was any actual interest in "it's a small world". As part of the lies initiated to discredit Al Lutz this emphasis was scrubbed from that description. If the attraction no longer worked such that it had to be redone into something else it should have just been torn down.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I totally second that! The last time I went on that ride I had a nightmare that I got stuck in the white room with all of the dolls coming to get me...it was most unpleasant.

If you think those dolls are scary, check out this small world knock-off in China. The figures are completely static and they look like they want to kill people.

 

[Phroobar]

That's because TDA really cares about what Al Lutz thinks.

 

[PacNWTigger]

If you think those dolls are scary, check out this small world knock-off in China. The figures are completely static and they look like they want to kill people.

I couldn't watch the clip...the picture is more than enough to give me the heebie jeebies!!