Extended Closure for "It's a Small World"

[WDWKOOK]

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney...sure-its-small-world-disney-characters-added/:

"Thanks to a tip, we have learned that ‘it’s a small world’ at the Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has been scheduled for an extended refurbishment beginning August 1 and ending October 22. The refurbishment is listed on the official Walt Disney World website daily view for those dates and a call to the Resort did confirm the closure.

We’re sure in time that more about the details of the refurbishment will come to light, but until then, one can only speculate. With the addition of Disney characters at first Hong Kong Disneyland and then Disneyland in 2009, could the Magic Kingdom be far behind?"

Though Stitch Kingdom doesn't speculate, I'm going to. Do you think they're refurbishing the WDW ride for the same reason they refurbished the DL ride? Here is a 2007 article which talks about the DL refurb:

It’s A Fat World After All
By Chuck Squatriglia November 2, 2007:

"If there’s a sadder commentary on the state of American society, we can’t think of it — we’ve grown so fat we sink the boats of It’s A Small World.

According to Miceage, the boats routinely bottom out under the weight of super-sized riders, bringing the popular ride to a grinding — literally — halt. That’s increased the wear and tear on the fiberglass boats, which have been in use since the ride opened during the 1964 World’s Fair, when Americans, on average, weighed 25 pounds less than we do today.

It’s a big problem. Find out why after the jump…

Other rides, including the drop in the Pirates of the Caribbean, face the same problem, Miceage says, but nowhere is it more of headache than It’s a Small World.

The ride features several twists and bends where overloaded boats easily bog down, including the "S" bend through the Scandanavian room.

Employees — Disney calls them "cast members" — have been aware of the issue for some time now and so discretely leave empty seats in boats carrying heavy riders. But backups persist, and in some cases no one realzes there’s a problem until boats stop emerging from the ride.

Disneyland is putting the ride in drydock for 10 months to make it ship-shape again. The boats will be replaced with more buoyant models, and the new flume will be one inch deeper. Work will begin in January."

 

[skiingfast]

I hope they are adding in the new elements that DL has. Having seen them and then gone to on SW in the MK it was clear to me that their was something was lacking beyond the added characters and I didn't know until I got home that WDW didn't recieve the update DL had. I did also notice another few features that weren't operating so hopefully they fix these too.

It's hard to imagine the construction wall going all the way across Fantasyland.

As far as the other article talking about the need to change the dynamics of the boats themselves. Having design experience myself I think the article is nothing more than speculation.

 

[marius97]

Darn it...we are going in June. Why couldn't it be closed then. Now I'm going to have to hear that god forsaken song over and over and over. Great...It has already started playing in my head.

 

[superme80]

Darn it...we are going in June. Why couldn't it be closed then. Now I'm going to have to hear that god forsaken song over and over and over. Great...It has already started playing in my head.

 

[Zuzu03]

HAHA! I know, I told my husband that we're SO lucky that it closes after our trip. He gave me The Look and just said, "Great, lucky us."

 

[MomofKatie]

I am excited to see it after the refurb- we love IASW!! We will be there the second week of November, so it should be back by then.

 

[ChrisFL]

HAHA! I know, I told my husband that we're SO lucky that it closes after our trip. He gave me The Look and just said, "Great, lucky us."

 

[joelkfla]

I haven't noticed boats bottoming out or bogging down at WDW as they do at DL.

I've read that, when the original ride was moved from NY to DL, Walt insisted on re-using the narrow flume that was built for the World's Fair installation. At WDW, the ride was built with a wide flooded channel.

 

[mskermit]

I am so disappointed!! we are taking my granddaughter for her first time in August and she won't get to see small world, i actually look forward to it too. but of course DBF couldnt be happier!! why do guys not like small world?? its such a part of MK and the whole disney experience?

 

[pixiedustS&A]

Is there any way there might be a soft opening? Will be there october 12-17 and i was hoping we might get to see it on a possible soft opening.

 

[dblr]

My 15 year old son said that the ride would be a lot more fun if they would let him take his paint ball gun on it. So when we leave for the MK I will need to pat him down( haha). I guess security would also find it. Just kidding around told him a airsoft gun would be better.

 

[Kaewin]

DD 15 says she doesn't like the ride because it is kiddie stuff but she makes sure we ride it each time.

 

[ChrisFL]

I am so disappointed!! we are taking my granddaughter for her first time in August and she won't get to see small world, i actually look forward to it too. but of course DBF couldnt be happier!! why do guys not like small world?? its such a part of MK and the whole disney experience?

If you've ever been stuck on it for 30 mins, then you'd understand.

It's the song...its ok in small doses, but even if the ride isn't backed up or stopped, you still hear it for 10+ minutes.

 

[mskermit]

If you've ever been stuck on it for 30 mins, then you'd understand.

It's the song...its ok in small doses, but even if the ride isn't backed up or stopped, you still hear it for 10+ minutes.

LOL, we took my parents in 2006 dad was 77 and he is whistler, all day, i mean all day after we got off that ride thats all i heard was him whistling the song!!! I do admit it stays with you. my BF likes carousel of progress, so last time we went, he sang that all day!! he was singing it again last week!! its all part of disney, now matter how annoying!!

 

[osukristin227]

what a bummer my mom and I love it's a small world...it seems abrupt, wonder why they are closing?

 

[mskermit]

what a bummer my mom and I love it's a small world...it seems abrupt, wonder why they are closing?

for rehab until october

 

[osukristin227]

i gathered that much, they just did a rehab on it, there are various speculations on why they are rehabing it...

 

[Glamis]

Too bad they can't just take this opportunity to get rid of the ride entirely.

Replace it with the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride or something - or even Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

 

[MomofKatie]

i gathered that much, they just did a rehab on it, there are various speculations on why they are rehabing it...

I read on another thread that the ride itself won't be changed at all- just the loading/unloading area. Upping the capacity and speed of unloading/loading- maybe now there won't be the big boat pileups at the end of the attraction. Hearing the song go on and on while looking at the different "goodbye" signs can get a bit irritating, even for a IASW lover like myself!

 

[onelilspark]

I'm wondering if there's anything electrical they need to do for the Fantasyland Expansion that requires Small World to go down while they do it. Kind of like the TTA/Peoplemover and Space Mountain.