It's a Small World Updates?

[bebert]

We are going to be there Oct 11-18. Just going to misss the opening. Wish they would open a little early.. But I am doubting it... It is always our first ride at MK

We will be there the 8th to the 18th as well. I am bummed it will be down, as it would be our little boys first trip there. :wave:

 

[DisneyNut2007]

Personally, I think it would be a good thing if they did what they did in CA and added in the Disney characters.

And the Small World Holiday overlay.

 

[wishesjake]

I rarely post often on this site, but even I have to dust off the old screen name to say how short-sighted your vision is on this one. Great care was taken to ensure the addition of the characters COMPLIMENTED Mary Blair's wonderful art. There's absolutely nothing obtrusive about it - and in some cases, it may take a few rides to even spot a few of them. It's very, very well done.

Is it safe to assume you have not been on the HDKL or new-ish-ly refurbished Disneyland ride in person yet?

Nope, not safe to assume. I have been to DL but not to HKDL, and how is my vision short-sighted? Because I don't think they compliment Blair's art?

Are you honestly comparing a single work of art to an entire attraction? You do realize how absurd that sounds, right?

While the dolls are Blair creations, the entire attraction is not. Moreover, Blair was an employee/independent contractor of TWDC employed to create these dolls to be placed within an attraction. The dolls that Blair created don't stand alone as anything significant. The entire attraction does. Moreover, given the very nature of attractions (fluid) versus single paintings (non-fluid), the analogy is faulty.

The dolls fit and work well and breathe some new life into the attraction. Not that it was stale before, but they ensure it won't be anytime soon.

Ok, yes I am comparing a single work of art to an entire attraction, because I believe disney attractions are works of art. Also, Blair did not only design the dolls, she designed colors and scene placement as well as most of the dolls with a great deal of assistance from marc and alice davis. I realize Blair did not create every item in every bit of the attraction, but when we talk about citizen kane, we ascribe it's authorship to Orson Welles even though it was written by Mankewicz, edited by Robert Wise, and so on. Also, I agree that the attraction is significant in total and not in parts. But you cannot isolate Blair's contribution to just the dolls. Lastly, the fluid nature of attractions vs. non-fluid nature of paintings is not relevant. I was making the analogy to indicate a similarity in aesthetic importance, not a similarity in aesthetic form.

"You do realize how absurd that sounds right?"

You do realize how condescending that sounds right?

 

[AEfx]

I rarely post often on this site, but even I have to dust off the old screen name to say how short-sighted your vision is on this one. Great care was taken to ensure the addition of the characters COMPLIMENTED Mary Blair's wonderful art. There's absolutely nothing obtrusive about it - and in some cases, it may take a few rides to even spot a few of them. It's very, very well done.

Is it safe to assume you have not been on the HDKL or new-ish-ly refurbished Disneyland ride in person yet?

Completely agreed. The new dolls that have character likeness are completely appropriate and within-theme. Many of them you have to actually be looking for - it's not like they just took the cartoon likeness of, say, Ariel and just dumped her in the middle.

They added them with such respect that it only enhances the attraction, and guarantees that it will be visited for many years to come. While I too in general can be wary of the "let's put characters everywhere!" mentality, in this case I completely enjoyed the additions and see them as a great enhancement. This isn't a "Mary Blair art show", it's a theme park attraction meant to appeal to Disney guests.

I only hope WDW gets to catch up soon!

 

[PalisadesPkteer]

I know they had problems with the boats in DL IASW. They apparently had troubles with the boats bottoming out it the troughs. Think the boats were from the 1964 NY worlds fair and tended to bottom out in the troughs (guess because of guests being heavier is what I kept hearing) CM's sometimes had to go in and push the boats or have guest evac.

Had never heard of this happening in WDW. Anyone know if this was a problem in WDW as it was in DL? Lee, Martin etc anyone know if the boats are being looked at for this problem.

You would think they would have done the enter / exit swap when they redid the que area with the DL look

 

[AEfx]

I know they had problems with the boats in DL IASW. They apparently had troubles with the boats bottoming out it the troughs. Think the boats were from the 1964 NY worlds fair and tended to bottom out in the troughs (guess because of guests being heavier is what I kept hearing) CM's sometimes had to go in and push the boats or have guest evac.

Had never heard of this happening in WDW. Anyone know if this was a problem in WDW as it was in DL? Lee, Martin etc anyone know if the boats are being looked at for this problem.

You would think they would have done the enter / exit swap when they redid the que area with the DL look

I believe this was also an issue at WDW, and was resolved by the 2005 year-long rehab. I have no source and I can't tell you why I believe that, but it seems to stick in my memory. Perhaps someone else can confirm.

 

[MUTZIE77]

Is there any chance that IASW opens a few days early?

 

[bebert]

I will be there next week and I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be open early.

Is there any chance that IASW opens a few days early?

 

[csm]

Nope, not safe to assume. I have been to DL but not to HKDL, and how is my vision short-sighted? Because I don't think they compliment Blair's art?

I did not ask if you've been to Disneyland. I asked if you've personally ridden Disneyland's it's a small world after it had been refurbished to add the Disney chracters into the mix.

They are very different questions.


Your vision is short-sighted because you are arguing a non-point. The characters were designed wonderfuly to match the style of the original Mary Blair dolls. As others have added above, they fit in so well that in some cases you have to be actively looking for them to even spot them on a casual ride through. You're arguing like they added plywood cutouts screen printed with images of Disney cartoon characters formerly displayed in movie theaters.

Let me put it to you this way - like it or not, I'm not here to win a popularity contest - If Mary Blair's own family has stepped forward to publically say they support the new characters adding to and enhancing her legacy, you have no place to act offended by them.

 

[SeaCastle]

I did not ask if you've been to Disneyland. I asked if you've personally ridden Disneyland's it's a small world after it had been refurbished to add the Disney chracters into the mix.

They are very different questions.


Your vision is short-sighted because you are arguing a non-point. The characters were designed wonderfuly to match the style of the original Mary Blair dolls. As others have added above, they fit in so well that in some cases you have to be actively looking for them to even spot them on a casual ride through. You're arguing like they added plywood cutouts screen printed with images of Disney cartoon characters formerly displayed in movie theaters.

Let me put it to you this way - like it or not, I'm not here to win a popularity contest - If Mary Blair's own family has stepped forward to publically say they support the new characters adding to and enhancing her legacy, you have no place to act offended by them.

I'll echo these remarks. I've seen the Disneyland version myself and fully expected the character additions to be insulting and blatant, but as csm put it, they're not too bad at all, they actually enhance it quite a bit. For a younger generation to enjoy Disneyland that won't have the memories of the 1964-95 World's Fair in their minds, the attraction does a great job of adding relevance while retaining the attraction's legacy. Also, it may have been Eddie that mentioned that the characters in IASW came out of compromise of something worse happening to the show (perhaps even its removal).

 

[Chip'N'Dale Fan]

I think it would be fun - and give the kids something extra to watch for.

 

[csm]

I'll echo these remarks. I've seen the Disneyland version myself and fully expected the character additions to be insulting and blatant,

That's exactly it - personally I did not at all like the idea, and I was against it when I'd first heard about it. I was certain it would carnivalize the attraction and really make it about nothing more than be sure to stop at the gift shop on your way out. To my surprise I enjoyed it so much that I rode it several times that trip - something I would not have EVER done previously.

To say it's an insult shows you do not have the expereince needed to judge it. I'm not saying every person needs to like every thing, but the entire basis of your arguement on this particular topic is completely flawed.

 

[MUTZIE77]

I will be there next week and I am keeping my fingers crossed it will be open early.

I will be there next week as well with a few first timers and I would love for them to be able to experience IASW.

 

[TP2000]

That's exactly it - personally I did not at all like the idea, and I was against it when I'd first heard about it. I was certain it would carnivalize the attraction and really make it about nothing more than be sure to stop at the gift shop on your way out. To my surprise I enjoyed it so much that I rode it several times that trip - something I would not have EVER done previously.

I agree. I've always been a Small World fan, and loved Mary Blair's 1960's pop style that she infused into the ride. It's a classic, and I was worried about adding the Disney Characters to it.

But then I actually rode the Disneyland version a few weeks after the Characters debuted. And I LOVED it! The additions were done so tastefully, so masterfully, that you could easily believe they had been there since 1964. I'm sure if they'd thought of it before the World's Fair, they would have added them back then. :sohappy:

Even Pepsi-Cola as the original sponsor of the ride would have loved it, as it would have been even more popular and would have sold more Pepsi, which was the entire reason the attraction existed in the first place, to make the sponsor happy and sell more Pepsi.

Small World at Disneyland with the Characters looks fabulous, and I've never seen the ride look more sparkling than it does in recent years. It's a ride that is ready for the next 45 years of happy cruises.

 

[enoe01]

I am sure that they will be collecting all the change that is thown into the water, during this rehab. :lookaroun

 

[NYwdwfan]

Collecting change and dead people. Oh wait...wrong thread. :lookaroun

I read somewhere they donate the change to charity.

 

[JimboJones123]

Please don't take away the ride viewing from the Village Haus.

We take in 2-3 meals each trip to wave through 200-300 guests on their way to the happiest cruise that ever sailed.

 

[progroupie]

I am sure that they will be collecting all the change that is thown into the water, during this rehab. :lookaroun

The change from the water rides and the fountains within the park go to charity, I don't think it's Make-A-Wish but something along those lines. There's info about it in the parks.

 

[TiggersPooh]

I think its along the lines of "Helping Hands"

 

[inluvwithbeast]

I think its along the lines of "Helping Hands"

What about my personal favorite?