It's a Small World changes.

[Bliss22]

Last time I was there in x-mas of 2005 it was closed for rehab. What did they change if any or was it just to "touch it up" cosmeticaly? I will be there late Nov and early Dec and am curious because it has been so long since I have done this.

 

[indigoxtreme]

From what I can remeber, they put the clock face at the front it is in white. All the dolls work now and the music is clearer. They repainted everything it is nice and clean now.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Everthing is just much brighter and fresher. Still one of our favorites. I must be one of the few because the song does not get on my nerves nor does it stick in my head afterwards. I guess I must tuned it out.

 

[Mom2LnE]

Everthing is just much brighter and fresher. Still one of our favorites. I must be one of the few because the song does not get on my nerves nor does it stick in my head afterwards. I guess I must tuned it out.

Hee Hee!! My dad absolutely HATES it's a small world because when we were kids, we made them ride it a million times. It's still one of my fave rides and everytime I ride it, I call Dad and hold the phone up so he can hear the song or leave it on his voice mail. Hee Hee!!!

 

[Honeymooners1021]

ug! This is the only ride that my DF wants to go on after watching the '06 DVD! He is a big chicken!

 

[Robo]

Last time I was there in x-mas of 2005 it was closed for rehab. What did they change if any or was it just to "touch it up" cosmeticaly? I will be there late Nov and early Dec and am curious because it has been so long since I have done this.

I have amazing family memories of seeing IASW in Disneyland right after it was brought back from the '64 NYC World's Fair.

We all LOVED it!

Back then it had MANY different recordings of the song with unique full orchestral arrangements behind each version. There were full-sized Hi-Fi "theater speakers" throughout the ride (Altec "Voice of the Theater" if anyone knows about such things) and it sounded so GOOD in there.

I have no idea how many (and what kind) of tape playback systems ($$$) they had to operate simultaneously to get that many recordings to play (mostly) in sync. There were no compact discs or digital players... only reel-to-reel (and later, "cartridge") studio tape players. It was a staggering technical feat to get all those individual "tracks" to play at the same time.
(I remember each "room" was in sync, with the music being slightly "off-sync" as you passed into the next gigantic room).

We bought the LP record back then (not even released in STEREO, just Mono) of the music and I memorized each version (I was in grade school then).

Since that time there have been many "modernizations" of the attraction.
When IASW came to WDW, it already was "pared-down" from the Disneyland original. And even the original California version was "down-graded" over the years.
Gone where the massive (and superior-sounding) theater speakers, replaced with much smaller speakers of lesser quality.
The music tracks where re-recorded with "smaller", simpler arrangements using fewer singers, and in fewer languages.
The dolls still wiggled and spun but it was... NOT THE SAME!

Well now, in 2005-6 the WDW version of IASW underwent an UPGRADE.
Many (most) of the dolls were replaced (or at least repainted).
The sets and interior walls were coated in a new deeper, richer color scheme.
The load-area was improved by the addition of an elaborate new animatronic "clock" mounted in a surround-setting that has a similar feel to the (much larger) Disneyland IASW exterior.

But, during the new construction period, I heard a RUMOR of something that raised my hopes (although tempered with the "real-world" skepticism that said, "Why bother to spend time and $$ on such things?")

Still, when I got to ride IASW after it reopened in WDW...

My own ears confirmed it... YES, the ORIGINAL 1963-64 SOUNDTRACK (that I had loved and "lived") had been RESURRECTED, and digitally RESTORED!

There are MANY added individual speakers in each doll-vignette, each with its OWN version of the song (again, with the elaborate individual track from 1963-4)
What a joy it was to hear the old familiar tracks that my family (brother, two sisters, Mom and Dad) had loved so much in the '60's!

The current "finale" room is a new recording (as the old one had an actual "ending" that just didn't fit with the modern-day ability to "seamlessly" loop the tracks). But even the new finale track is carefully crafted in the same style as the original version... well-done!

To me, IASW is BACK!

So, if you don't know or care about these kind of things, don't bother to ride IASW. Its going to seem like that "same-old, once-is-enough" kind of ride.

But to an "old-time Disney veteran" its a trip back in time to when Disney was still the name of a MAN... who loved his park... and nothing was too good to lavish on the guests who came to visit.

A special THANKS to those Imagineers who painstakingly and "lovingly" restored each of those amazing old audio tapes. And made them (again) a part of the Happiest Place on Earth for us "kids" to enjoy.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Everthing is just much brighter and fresher. Still one of our favorites. I must be one of the few because the song does not get on my nerves nor does it stick in my head afterwards. I guess I must tuned it out.

You're not alone! It's a Small World just screams Disney to me ... a must on every trip.

 

[Robo]

It's a Small World just screams Disney to me ... a must on every trip.

Screams? That's another thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1226698&referrerid=&highlight=screaming

 

[cybrkitn]

From what I can remeber, they put the clock face at the front it is in white. All the dolls work now and the music is clearer. They repainted everything it is nice and clean now.

I haven't been in Small World since '93. It took a loooong time for me to get that song out of my head. Now the music is clearer? Oh no, now it will take forever to get out

 

[Karnak]

As another poster noted, the entire ride is brighter, fresher, and cleaner looking. One difference I noticed was that as the boat approached the dock where you get off, it was much smoother. Seems to me like it was a bit bumpy before, but not now.

Enjoy.

 

[mmeb144]

In one word, the new IASW is Awesome! I didn't exactly like it before the refurb, but I actually chose to ride when I had a free moment last time I was down there. The clock is really cool! The dolls all move! The song is clear! (I really like this attraction! )

Marie

 

[dixiedizfan]

Screams? That's another thread.

 

[PrincessJasmine1972]

Oh wow..it sounds so great! I am going to WDW for the 1st time next September..IASW is definately going to be a must-do.. evne more so now that I've read this!

 

[MINNIE OF TWO MICE]

I went to MK for the first time at age 8. It was a very special treat for our family of 8 as we could only afford to go one day. I rode IASW several times with my father because at the time I was too small to ride the rides my other siblings were riding. I can still remember being in complete awe. My first trip with my children, I could not wait to get on that ride and they loved it. My father is now in heaven and when I go through that ride I can fell his arms around me. Go ride this awe inspiring ride and create some memories for your little ones. It is a memory I will always treasure in my heart.

 

[bazzanoid]

Our friend asked what it's about, and we explained, and she said how lovely it sounds.

I showed her our video (the whole thing from start to finish) on-ride. She never wants to hear "It's a Small World, After All" ever again

 

[simzac]

I love IASW, my all time favorite Disney ride.