They ruined DL's Small World how much longer before they ruin ours?

JCorduroy

Active Member
I don't care for the ride one way or the other, but I do dig the fact that they kept the same design concept for the dolls - they look cute, which is what the ride needs if additions are to be made. I don't think of it purely as them cramming characters down your throat - it, to me, looks like kids playing dress up as their favorite characters, which is kinda cool, actually.
 

Glasgow

Well-Known Member
Isn't the whole point of the entire park to sell the Disney product? I'm a little confused as to why some folks don't like the addition because it somehow detracts from the original attraction's intention .. either way, it's promoting the Disney brand name. If you want to think it's to further world peace that is fine -- to me, every park is interested in one thing, and that's promoting the Disney name. How they do it is up to management and the imagineers, but don't think this is a non-profit organization that exists to solely tell the story of mankind and the human condition ..

TP2000 - I too enjoyed both your opinion and history related posts. Thanks

Incidentally, I completely respect the OP's opinion - that is fine. No need to bash him for saying what he thinks. You may think he is wrong but it's an opinion. Without opinions this would be a pretty dull site
 

GatorGambit

Member
Yes - "ruined forever" is a bit much, here. I think the characters were seamlessly and skillfully added to the ride. The figures are consistent with the rest of the dolls in the attraction. No big deal here.
 

GothMickey

Active Member
I see nothing wrong with these additions. Now, bring them to MK at WDW. Oh wait, that would require shutting the ride for a bit, which would ruin millions upon millions of vacations. And we can't have that now, can we?
 

wvdisneyfamily

Well-Known Member
My husband was very sad when he read the Fox News article about the new Small World at DL. I think it will be like the HM. A lot of things done at DL don't get done at WDW because of the argument that DL must be kept fresh as it is a locals park.
 

Jaytrod

New Member
I like them.. I think since this ride is mostly for small children anyway, it gives them a little extra something for the ride. Plus I think it would make children that visit from other countries excited to see a Disney character in his or her own country in the ride.
 

hokielutz

Well-Known Member
I see nothing wrong with these additions. Now, bring them to MK at WDW. Oh wait, that would require shutting the ride for a bit, which would ruin millions upon millions of vacations. And we can't have that now, can we?


Phil, Jay, and the rest of TDO would have heart attacks if anything else was closed up during the SM & TTA refurb/closure.

Just from the pictures and video I have seen, it looks like a good blending of some of the characters into DL IASW. I think everyone would be screaming if the characters were inserted in their original images. Also, maybe the addition of the characters will cause young kids to care and ask questions about the countries/regions that these characters are based upon.

More world awareness via a Disney attraction??? Maybe I am reading into it too much and need to put the political kool-aid down. :veryconfu
 

GothMickey

Active Member
Phil, Jay, and the rest of TDO would have heart attacks if anything else was closed up during the SM & TTA refurb/closure.

Just from the pictures and video I have seen, it looks like a good blending of some of the characters into DL IASW. I think everyone would be screaming if the characters were inserted in their original images. Also, maybe the addition of the characters will cause young kids to care and ask questions about the countries/regions that these characters are based upon.

More world awareness via a Disney attraction??? Maybe I am reading into it too much and need to put the political kool-aid down. :veryconfu

If that is what takes to rid WDW of poor managers. :lookaroun

If the characters were added in their original forms, I would agree that they would ruin the attraction. But, I think the dolls fit in just fine.
 

kcnole

Well-Known Member
eh, I'm a Disney purists, but I like the changes to Its a Small World in Disneyland. That said, I've always hated that ride anyhow. So now it appears instead of hating it, I only marginally dislike it.
 

hokielutz

Well-Known Member
eh, I'm a Disney purists, but I like the changes to Its a Small World in Disneyland. That said, I've always hated that ride anyhow. So now it appears instead of hating it, I only marginally dislike it.

The one thing that kills it for me is on a busy day when riding it... the boats get backed up at the end of the ride... and you think the song is never...... ever........... going...............to..............................end!!!!!!

Then getting off the ride, you immediately look for the Ye Olde Mental Clinic for psychiatric help to get the song out of your head for the rest of the day. Hey.... that's what they should put in place of the stoller parking lot.
 

MousDad

New Member
When the story first broke, my attitude was like Lee's, I could have cared less (being the moderate that I am, lol).

I have to be honest though, that after reading the concerns from the Blair family, imagineers and historians, and Marty's very condescending and annoying letter to the fans, I somewhat changed my tune and thought that they should have left the original in Anaheim alone. So I settled on a position that I would be happy with those insertions in IASW worldwide, but not in Anaheim.

After seeing the changes via the web, and hearing TP's and others positive reviews, I think I've settled back into my original position now. It appears it was done well. I would have preferred it at MK rather than DL, but I'm not going to get my girtle in a wad over it.
 

Ciciwoowoo

Well-Known Member
Small World is my very favorite ride, honest! And after seeing the pics online yesterday of the changes made at DL, I have to say I'm very impressed! :)

It appears they remained true to the original concept with the characters blending in with the other children and figures of the Small World. Bravo!


I think, if Walt were around today, he would be the first one to add characters into the rides to freshen them. He was a very astute businessman.
 

TheBeatles

Well-Known Member
the characters look great.

but it doesn't do anything for me.

however... does this mean disney will stop putting characters on extinct attraction pins? :)
 

PaintTheSky

New Member
Just watched the video...it doesn't look that bad. When I read the first post I had the impression they just smacked normal figures of Mickey, Ariel and such in random places but they've kept the style consistent with the rest of the attraction. As much as I am reluctant to support heavy changes to a Disney ride, I'm under the impression that certain things are necessary to keep some people coming back who might get bored of the same thing time after time.

By the way this is really funny because just yesterday I was thinking 'what in the world would happen if they just suddenly decided to replace Small World?':lookaroun
 

Chape19714

Well-Known Member
I really like it.

This was said by an Imagineer working on the project in an earlier interview:
"We are very mindful that 'small world' holds a special place in the hearts of today's Guests, but we also want to make sure it appeals to the audiences of tomorrow,"

I think that has been done.
 

GothMickey

Active Member
Just watched the video...it doesn't look that bad. When I read the first post I had the impression they just smacked normal figures of Mickey, Ariel and such in random places but they've kept the style consistent with the rest of the attraction. As much as I am reluctant to support heavy changes to a Disney ride, I'm under the impression that certain things are necessary to keep some people coming back who might get bored of the same thing time after time.

By the way this is really funny because just yesterday I was thinking 'what in the world would happen if they just suddenly decided to replace Small World?':lookaroun

Easy: It's A Stitch/Pixar World :lookaroun
 

Disneyfanman

Well-Known Member
OK, let me see if I understand. I've been reading the comments and reviews on several websites. DL replaced the entire flume, put in new boats, enhanced the exterior lighting effects dramatically, cleaned and refreshed the interior, improved the sound, replaced effects that had been long broken, and added stylized Disney Characters to multiple sets. They moved and reduced the rainforest scene, and added an entirely new scene that represented the host country. On multiple reviews people have mentioned how delighted the children in the boats were as they looked for the characters, even if they themselves didn't approve of the changes. Many people have commented that the majority of the additional characters fit in very nicely with the scenes, and then stated that they objected to the very idea of doing it.

And at the end of the day, Its a Small World is receiving tons of publicity about all of this.

I guess that I don't understand why all of this is such a problem. A classic attraction was given some bigtime TLC, and the price was that some classic characters joined the mix in a very minor way. They didn't reduce the show. They added to it.

This is clearly the worst decision that Disney has every made, and indicates how badly creativity has evaporated from the ranks. NOT!
 

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