"it's a small world" 50th anniversary celebration

S

spectrodanny

Active Member
GiveMeTheMusic said:
They dig it in Hong Kong, and I'd venture a guess that the vast majority of HKDL's guests have never been to another Disney theme park. Of course, their iteration includes stylized Disney characters, which have since been added to the original at DLR.
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if they really do like it at HKDL, any speculation why "Small World Holiday" only lasted 1 year? and any idea why that version used an abridged version of the Holiday soundtrack?
 
prberk

prberk

Well-Known Member
Figments Friend said:
It would be great if CoP received a nod, too.
It's like the 'forgotten Attraction'.....in some respects.
I know i would personally enjoy seeing the ol' Carousel getting some attention.

Nice to see a honoring of the 50th...completely deserves the recognition.
It helps bring to light some history newer Park Fans may not be aware of.
I get the impression sometimes that folks forget about how incredibly important..no, downright crucial a step it was for Walt Disney Productions and WED to be involved in a big way at the World's Fair in 64'/65'.
The Attractions they created for the four Pavilions they were a part of really opened a lot of doors to the things we would all enjoy later down the road at DL and WDW.
Everything from Omnimover-type ride systems, to pre-Peoplemover/WEDway systems...to more lifelike Animatronic performances, to systems that moved massive amounts of people through a presentation or Attraction.
The lessons learned, and the insight gained was a big stepping stone to bigger things down the road.
Both Walt Disney World and particularly EPCOT Center were immensely influenced by that World's Fair in particular.
We would likely not even HAVE a Walt Disney World if it were not for the Fair!

It has been said that the Fair was the 'testing ground' for Walt to see if Disneyland's type of entertainment would be of interest to the public on the East Coast.
Hard to believe, but back then in the early 60s there was actually some doubt that Walt's brand of Theme Park diversions would be accepted in a area outside of the 'fantasy world' of Hollywoodland.
After the success of the Disney-created Pavilion Attractions at the World's Fair however, it was clear that there was no reason to doubt.
It was wholeheartedly decided soon after seeing the positive results that it held promise and plans to press forward with building a 'Disney World' on the East Coast were put into motion.

Same with EPCOT Center...which shares even more obvious similarities and inspirations from it's World Fair forebearers.
From the unique Pavilion designs and architecture, to the Attractions within that presented at a high capacity, EPCOT certainly captured some of that spirit...particularly in it's original form...of World's Fairs of yore.

I will confess that i kind of geeked out when i recently visited New York City again to meet up with a friend.
Of all the things i could have chosen to do, it was visiting the Fair grounds in Flushing Meadows that had me most excited from a fan standpoint.
So on that freezing January day, with 1965 Guide Book in hand, the two of us set out to walk the entire grounds...'finding' where all the old Attractions used to be, and not just the Disney related ones.
It was quite a memorable visit.

As a big EPCOT Center fan, i was blown away by all the references and similarities i saw..just looking at the old 65' maps.
Everything from the division of the property into 'Industrial' and 'International' areas, to unique fountains, to a large body of water were present.
The similarities were remarkable to see in person once being more aware of the backstory, and seeing 'what used to be' thanks to that old Fair Guide Book.

I seriously recommend any EPCOT fan make a visit if you are ever in NYC.
Get one of those Guide Books/Maps off of eBay ...and take the walk around the grounds holding that map in your hands.
It really gives you a interesting perspective.
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Well, there is an old Walt Disney Presents special about "Disney Goes to the World's Fair," which you probably have seen. Anyway, I know that it is imminently more important to show repeats of "Jessie" and other shows on the so-called "Disney" Channel, but it would seem like it would be a good time to have a special about the anniversary of the Disney's participation in the 1964 World's Fair for exactly the reasons that you explain here, and perhaps include a rerun of that original special before or after the show, on the Disney Channel.

The Disney Channel used to be great for that: Specials that helped show the importance of Disney history to today, which of course also endeared America to Disney and made it seem larger than life.

My mother and father went to the New York World's Fair, and had great memories... and helped encourage them to go to the new Disney World thing in Florida in 1973.

Anyway, the way to do this anniversary is a TV special that shows all four original attractions, interviews people like Marty Sklar and Robert Sherman about Walt's participation in it and its legacy to the company (even EPCOT), and looks to how his audio-animatronics and other innovations have meant so much.

By the way, according to interviews with Robert Sherman, he told Walt that he was thinking about donating his royalties from "it's a small world" theme song to Unicef (the United Nations childrens' welfare agency and sponsor of the pavilion), and Walt pulled the car over and told him not to do that, that the royalties from that song would "put your kids through college". He knew he had plans to bring it to Disneyland (and probably even Florida) after the fair. Robert said he was right, and then some!
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
wdwmagic said:
Disney to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 'it's a small world' with global sing-along and anniversary website
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20359.JPG

I Have no comment.....
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
wdwmagic said:
Disney to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 'it's a small world' with global sing-along and anniversary website
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What. This is seriously the best thing they can do to memorialize this legendary attraction?

Cmdr_Crimson said:
20359.JPG

I Have no comment.....
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I literally typed something up, stopped... deleted it. Retyped something, stopped, deleted it.

Decided to simply back off without posting anything.

You summed it up quite well.

The above statement before your quote is the nicest thing to come out of my type-type-edit-delete dilemma I had earlier.
 
JimboJones123

JimboJones123

Well-Known Member
[QUOtaking ntyz81, post: 5986401, member: 18651"]Can't the public petition for a site to be listed on that registry? If so, we could all ensure that Disney brass couldn't take it down... ever![/QUOTE]
Not taking it down does not mean they have to keep it operational.
 
jmmc

jmmc

Well-Known Member
Ha ha, I know someone who rode "It's a Small World" for the first time recently and found it torturous. He got mad I didn't warn him. :) He's just gonna love this global sing-along idea!
 
prberk

prberk

Well-Known Member
I still think a television special about it and the rest of Disney's World's Fair legacy would make the most sense, even if you high light "it's a small world" in the title or advertising of it; but really tell the story of Disney and the World's Fair and audioanimatronics and how much effect it has had on everything we now associate with Disney entertainment.
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
prberk said:
I still think a television special about it and the rest of Disney's World's Fair legacy would make the most sense, even if you high light "it's a small world" in the title or advertising of it; but really tell the story of Disney and the World's Fair and audioanimatronics and how much effect it has had on everything we now associate with Disney entertainment.
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And it might even (GASP!!!!) bring additional people to the parks. With their check books.

Maybe stock a kiosk next to iasw with iasw merchandise.

Is this really that hard to figure out? Crazy talk?

Do the same for CoP. I'd certainly buy some CoP merch if it were tasteful and available. Besides a $45 tshirt, of course.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
One of the best armchair Imagineering ideas I've heard on this forum was moving it's a small world to Epcot. I'd love to see them move it to where the Odyssey is now (fill in some of the water in that area). This frees up a huge area in Fantasyland where Tangled, Frozen, Fairies, Princesses and a lot more can be represented. It's to the point now where it's a small world is thematically a better fit in Showcase Plaza than Fantasyland.
 
Soarin' Over Pgh

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
RSoxNo1 said:
One of the best armchair Imagineering ideas I've heard on this forum was moving it's a small world to Epcot. I'd love to see them move it to where the Odyssey is now (fill in some of the water in that area). This frees up a huge area in Fantasyland where Tangled, Frozen, Fairies, Princesses and a lot more can be represented. It's to the point now where it's a small world is thematically a better fit in Showcase Plaza than Fantasyland.
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Very true and good point, it would free up a good deal of space. At least room for one... Maybe two dark rides?
 

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