In Defense of Florida's "It's a Small World"

[wdwfan22]

I prefer Magic Kingdom’s over Disneyland. I don’t like how they do the flume at Disneyland. I prefer the water to flow throughout.

 

[twilight mitsuk]

There’s not really an appreciable different in the width of the boats.

Nor is the lack of flooded scenes directly a result of the attraction being at the World’s Fair. While Disney has always described the attractions as being moved from the fair to Disneyland, none were really moved exactly as they were at the fair. “It’s a small world” at Disneyland has a different track layout, scene order and additional scenes than what was presented at the fair. WED chose to keep the distinct trough look for Disneyland as they were also developed the flooded scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean around the same time.

so the same boats world's fair can be used

 

[marni1971]

Paris
Hong Kong (exterior decisions are an acquired taste)
Anaheim
Orlando

Tokyo yet to be ridden

 

[Sir_Cliff]

No sarcasm. My sincere opinion.

I did deliberately use two older photos. The MK was the vastly improved version of DL. But time hasn't been kind on it. I struggle to name even a handful of aspects that have not been greatly reduced over time. Meanwhile, much of DL, despite also being ravaged in parts, is in a better state than ever before. IaSW is case in point.

I don't think either of the facades are bad, and the MK one is appropriate for the location and functional for the Florida climate. Personally, I also like the version of the DL facade that they added to the loading area.

The reason I think people prefer the Disneyland facade is that it is more original to the point that it has become iconic. That doesn't necessarily mean it could be just wedged into the middle of Fantasyland the way the MK version is, and if they are going to go that route the MK facade is more effective. All the other ones are off in their own little area, but the fact they have seen that as worth while speaks to the appeal of that facade as a park icon.

 

[HMF]

1) Make them subtle.

Nothing is ever subtle with this company, especially with Iger running it.

 

[HMF]

No sarcasm. My sincere opinion.

I did deliberately use two older photos. The MK was the vastly improved version of DL. But time hasn't been kind on it. I struggle to name even a handful of aspects that have not been greatly reduced over time. Meanwhile, much of DL, despite also being ravaged in parts, is in a better state than ever before. IaSW is case in point.

Never mind that todays WDI seems to be under the impression that emulating Disneyland is always the way to go.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

For your viewing pleasure, DL top, MK bottom.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I don't think either of the facades are bad, and the MK one is appropriate for the location and functional for the Florida climate. Personally, I also like the version of the DL facade that they added to the loading area.

The reason I think people prefer the Disneyland facade is that it is more original to the point that it has become iconic. That doesn't necessarily mean it could be just wedged into the middle of Fantasyland the way the MK version is, and if they are going to go that route the MK facade is more effective. All the other ones are off in their own little area, but the fact they have seen that as worth while speaks to the appeal of that facade as a park icon.

Yes, I think you get to the heart of the matter.


DL's façade is iconic. And for some reason, every Disney fan can pinpoint and name Mary Blair. (But not, for example, the railroad guy). At DL the ride is presented as a major event rather than as one among several indoor Fantasyland rides. In DL, and everywhere else besides the MK, Small World is it's own thing. It sits apart from their respective Fantasaylands, follow their own aesthetic. And in and of itself, the DL façade might be considered more impressive than the MK one.

But this is a theme park. The main goal, main yardstick, is furthering a theme, interplaying with it. Sushi in a McDonald's is drab, twenty minutes of Japanese drums in your car on your way to work a nuisance, a random fake Japanese tower in your Walmart parking lot a ridiculous folly. Yet put them all together in a World Showcase amidst other pavilions following the same scheme and you'd travel the world to visit it.

And that is why the MK Small World is the best. It incorporates Small World into FL. Imagine a FL consisting of five, or eight individual attractions, none communicating with one another, each its own architecture, style, size, setting, just each being its own thing (New FL and Fantasy Springs say hello!). You're never really immersed, never truly charmed, never transported to another place. Just impressed at best.

This will always be the best Small World presentation:

 

[jah4955]

This will always be the best Small World presentation:
View attachment 883223

I always felt torn about MK-WDW Skyway.... I always loved riding the attraction (rode it many, many happy times over 19 of its 28 years), I still miss it, but I always (even as a child being there or looking at photos such as these) felt the Skyway buckets and support towers kinda clashed with the aesthetics of both the Tomorrowland and Fantasyland of WDW (yet each respective station did blend-in beautifully imo). Did anyone feel similarly? Haven't ridden the new system yet.

 

[jah4955]

Yes, I think you get to the heart of the matter.


Imagine a FL consisting of five, or eight individual attractions, none communicating with one another, each its own architecture, style, size, setting, just each being its own thing (New FL and Fantasy Springs say hello!). You're never really immersed, never truly charmed, never transported to another place. Just impressed at best.

That's why the Main Street facades are timeless...they were intentionally designed to be parts of a whole...intentionally designed not to compete with one another for attention...a major reason why Disney's Main Streets are more beloved that the actual Main Streets in which they are based.

 

[TanagraTheater]

There's a special place in my heart for the Anaheim facade, I grew up watching it on YouTube. I've only ridden the Orlando version, but their clock tower is a watered down version that feels shoehorned into a tight space. Mary Blair's multicolored mural was more unique to the space and gave more breathing room. It's a shame that Orlando doesn't have a full working clock tower. They could have put it on the roof, but it would've taken away from the Castle motif.

Wasn't there talk about moving It's a Small World to World Showcase? If they put it across the Lagoon from The American Adventure, they could have three clock towers facing opposite directions. Each one modeled after Anaheim's, Paris', and Tokyo's.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Tokyo yet to be ridden

Fast forward to 10:42 to see the finale, including the cyclists on wire

 

[marni1971]

Wasn't there talk about moving It's a Small World to World Showcase?

No. Only on the internet.

Fast forward to 10:42 to see the finale, including the cyclists on wire

It was a pleasure to see them working in Hong Kong