A "Small" poll

[DVC-Landbaron]

I'll give you the rumor first:

Small World Rumor

In essence, for those of you to lazy or biased to follow the link, it seems that our friends at Team Disney have a long range plan to get rid of Small World. So I'm asking: Good or Bad? Yes or No? Should they or Shouldn't they? I'm from Chicago so, "Vote early and vote often!!" Have fun!!

 

[All Aboard]

I didn't read it all, I have alot of trouble reading Al Lutz. However, seems pointed at Disneyland's IaSW. But, I suppose if one goes, the other might follow. Seems DL is looking for a place to put Pooh, be it IaSW or Bears.

Anywho, (I've been reading too much Jim Hill lately) I struggle with this one a bit. On one hand, IaSW is an historic landmark of sorts. Walt was enthralled with its development and just loved the heck out of the attraction. For that reason, I never want to see CoP, HoP, IaSW, HM, PoC or the Tiki Birds (in their old condition) ever leave.

Most of me wants all of the Magic Kingdom to remain untouched (except Tomorrowland, which can change at will - with the exception of Space Mountian.) But some of me (perhaps just a little of me) wants it to move forward. Trouble is, I fear that IaSW's replacement may lack the Magic of the current attraction (read: "see what happened to JII.")

The space needs to remain dedicated to making little kids smile as wide as their whole face. And IaSW served that purpose for Natalie for the first 2 and half years of her life. She still asks (at 3 and a half) to see it, but only once each trip. It was once her favorite. That appeal needs to remain in that space. If Disney can't accomplish that, then IaSW should remain.

BTW, I voted "keep it."

 

[Sarangel]

I agree... As annoying as Small World is, it really is a classic and little kids love it. I even like it when it's dressed up for the holidays.

Sarangel

 

[Bob O]

Im not a big fan to IASW but i would say keep it. Its part of Walt's legacy and a very nice ride for kids. And with the new rides they are putting in i see nothing that creative coming out of disney, just another carnival ride with a little disney splashed on top but nothing like POC or the Haunted Mansion.

 

[Micca]

SW's gotta stay! It may not be the coolest attraction, but neither is Dumbo! Are they gonna take that out?...I don't think so.

 

[renknt]

Small World has to stay any thing that makes kids and thier parents happy cant be all bad.

Besides I kinda like it warts and all

 

[Quentin Disney]

I know, I know, "it's a small world" has got to be one of my most hated attractions of all time! Depsite all of that, I believe that this attraction should.......stay.

Why? No Kingdom park is nothing without this attraction, like Pirates, like Space Mountain, like the castle. It just can not function right without it. If they were to remove the DL version of iasw (Which needs a paint job in the WORST way) for a new attraction, I can not look at the Walt Disney Corporation the same way again. The boys in Burbank have got to have brighter minds now.

(Well, if you listen to the song, over and over again, eventually it will take over your mind and you will actually start loving it. Sickening isn't it? )

 

[wdwguide]

Stay. Just because people think it's cool to hate it and to claim they can't get the song out of their heads for weeks doesn't mean that there aren't many visitors, particularly young children and their families, that absolutely love IASW. It's also one of "Walt's" rides, and should be kept for that reason alone. The de-Disneyfication of Disney theme parks is a very disturbing trend.

 

[airlarry!]

I voted stay. It is the one attaction that if a parent makes a mistake with a small kid, like bringing them on Snow White or Haunted mansion before they are ready, then Small World is the perfect tonic to restore the child's faith in rides.

Hehehe. I know this from personal experience.

Anyway, I'm sure most of you have done this, but if not, ride Small world in WDW, and then around 10:45 head over to Peter pan for some of the best hamburgers in the whole World. Sit by the glass windows overlooking the boats and wave to the people passing by.

Then ask yourself, "Isn't this why Walt would have loved to ride this one?" I imagine it is sort of Blue Bayouish, although I have never been to DL.

 

[Janet2k]

I voted to keep it. I am getting all mushy as I age, and not just in my physique. Call me corny, call me sentimental, call me loony, take me or leave me, but please leave "It's A Small World" for all the future children of the World (as in WDW).

(Okay, I still would LOVE to see them update the animatronics. Gosh, how I would love to see them do that.)

 

[Another Voice]

Several years ago, when morale was high and Mr. Pressler just ran shopping malls, Disneyland had a special fundraiser for several children’s charities in Orange County. Instead of a recycling drive or a bake sale, they had the “It’s A Small World Ride-a-Thon”. Participants obtained pledges for the number of times they could ride through IASW in a (I think) 24-hour period. The park kept the ride in operation when the park was closed and other cast members stationed themselves throughout the ride, waving signs and banner to encourage the participants to suffer on. The event was a big success and was covered widely in the local media.

“It’s a Small World” is hated like that childhood toy that never gets quit gets tossed out, that award we won in grade school that’s still tucked way in the back of the drawer, or the cassette of the first movie we really remembered liking - but we’re embarrassed to admit we liked so much we actually bought it. It’s all the stuff that we tell each other we’re keeping around “just for when I have children of my own”. We mock it so much only because it reminds us how desperately we miss our own childhood.

They can close “It’s a Small World” when they pry the E ticket from my cold, dead hand.

 

[renknt]

Originally posted by Another Voice

They can close “It’s a Small World” when they pry the E ticket from my cold, dead hand.

Even if you are Mr. Katzeberg You got style

I'll stand with you and cover your back

Michael W Young

 

[IASW Rider]

I am 34 years old and IASW is STILL my all-time favorite Disney attraction!!! Not only does it remind me of my childhood visits to WDW, but corny as it may sound, the ride's theme sends such a positive message about diversity, friendship, working together, peace, etc. It's just a happy place to be! To this day, there are few things which make me feel happier than riding IASW, as I do several times on every trip to WDW. Just being in the building, seeing the familiar singing dolls and animals, and yes - even hearing the song - make me feel good! I have been on IASW so many times that I know every scene by heart and can picture every doll's costume and movement. Just thinking about the attraction brings a smile to my face! I can even clearly hear the voice which says "please remain seated and keep your hands and arms inside the boat at all times for your own safety and convenience", "inside my head", when I think about the ride! I don't know what I would do if it were ever to close! WDW (OR DL) would just not be the same without it! Plus, as so many have mentioned, it IS a classic Disney attraction and one which Walt loved and oversaw.

Another Voice - thanks so much for telling us about the IASW Ride-a-thon - I wish that they would do something like that at WDW to raise money for a given cause - I would definitely be there!!!

I cannot believe that anyone in the Disney organization would even remotely wonder whether attractions which carry on the innocence of the 1950's, 1960's, and even early 1970's are worth keeping.....OF COURSE THEY ARE! Aren't attractions such as IASW, the Country Bears, and the Tiki Room what set the Disney parks apart from regular amusement parks? Walt Disney, himself, would never approve of the removal of any of these historic and sentimental attractions which support the theme and purpose of all of the Disney parks! I cannot believe that there are serious plans in the works to remove the Country Bears at DL - they had better not touch them at WDW! Pooh is a nice ride......but there is no way that it is worth removing the Bears from DL! They should compromise and put Pooh in one of the Bear theaters, and leave the show in the other one.

As wdwguide so perfectly phrased it: "The de-Disneyfication of Disney theme parks is a very disturbing trend." WDW is my favorite place in the entire world. But if plans are being considered for the removal of some of the attractions which make it such a special place, I would have no desire to visit in the future. I realize that the article in question was geared toward DL. Although I have never been there, it IS the original Disney park, the one which Walt touched, himself, and I would never want to see the removal of any of the classic attractions there, where many of them were "born"!

If they try to remove IASW from DL or WDW, I will personally attach myself to the set in the finale scene and refuse to leave until they reconsider!

 

[hopemax]

Durig Randy Thornton's (he's the guy responsible for the WDW and DL official albums among other things) presentation at the NFFC convention (anyone here go?) he said IASW, Pirates and HM will always be on those albums until they remove the attractions upon which we all storm the castle together.

So at least AV will have some help from the inside

I have a love/hate relationship with IASW. I get really tired of the lyrics, but I like the score that plays through the ride and I like all the animals, so I end up riding it once per trip. Only this year I didn't get to ride it at DL because the line was long all the time! So that's at least something.

 

[Banzai]

It should stay. I don't thing anything that Walt worked on should stay. Thats just my opinion.

Brad

 

[DisneyKidds]

I could live without it but I think it must stay. This is the first ride at WDW our dd remembers. It makes the kids so happy. I can't imagine depriving future kids of that joy. Fantasyland is for the kids, primarily the little ones. This ride is such a part of the MK, and the music you just can't get out of your head - they can't do away with it.

 

[diskids2]

It is annoying and everytime I get off the song stays in my head for hours, but I always go on it each and every trip.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

I have to ride at least once every trip. And one of the highlights of a DL trip is watching the clock on the hour. I always try to time it so I am exiting the ride and can turn around and watch it. I went on it when I was 4yrs old the first time. My mom got me a small world record and I listened to it over and over and over and over and over....... I still have that record and I bet I could sell it on ebay but perish the thought. Just this morning my son and I were singing, "Its a world of laughter......" Feel free to join in.

 

[tink30]

love the ride. Love it, Love it, Love it!! Despite repeatedly begging to be taken to WDW as a kid, I never made it till I was 31. My dad went there on a business trip once and took pictures for me of the inside of IASW. I would stare at those piictures for hours, it looked so magical to me. Went on it for the first time last yr. and was every bit as enthralled as every one of my four kids was...

 

[YoHo]

I don't claim to have any inside knowledge about the ride, and I've only been to Disneyland an couple of times (only once when I was old enough to comprehend things, last Dec.


Anyway, When I was there Last December, between christmas and New Years, when they shut the park down 5 days out of 8, I found it strange that the 3 rides with the absolutle longest Wait times and the first to run out of Fast Passes were

Splash mountain
IASW (Yes, at Disneyland it has a Fastpass)
Indiana Jones

In That order. If Disney managment really is looking into this, then they've trancended from evil to tragically Stupid.


Now, Again, I've only really seen the exterior once, and While I can see where the proposed upgrade would be an improvment, I didn't see all that much decay on the current one. (The christmas setup is cool)

One thing you WDW only people need to realize is that at DL, IASW Occupies a corner of fantasyland all by itself (nere the entrance to toontown) and is an entire Pavilion. Very big. Not just the storefront version WDW has.


At any rate, Unless AV can confirm mr. Lutz musings, I'm going to assume Lutz is a Putz in this case.