"It's A Small World" soft opening has occurred - confirmed, photos available!

[perlster]

No need to worry about seeing the characters - they aren't in the photos, as they're not visible in the present configuration, just as you can't yet see the new Americana scene at the ride's end.

 

[Lights_Out]

Great pictures!

Hm, is there a specific time where they turn on the decoration lights or is it random?
Because I'd love to be there when they turn on the lights..

Thanks!

 

[deesquared]

Hi there!
We were able to go on IASW today! It was about 4:00pm, and we walked right on without any wait at all. All the Christmas decorations were up, but there were no Disney characters.
We then visited Toontown (which I thought was kinda boring... ). As we exited Toontown, my youngest DD asked to go on IASW again. We looked over, and there was a long line up! YIKES! It was sure beautiful when it was lit up though!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Nancy, I'll have to watch for you too. We should/could have a Dis Mini Meet one of our days.

I think that would be great! Let's touch base about that closer to the date. We can all plan to meet for lunch or the parade or something - someplace we can all chat. Wait - the Pixie Hollow line is currently long enough for that!!!!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Now I'm jealous! Nancy perhaps we can meet up in April since our kiddies are similar in age? Or atleast I think they are lol

And I am super excited, like Sherry said it feels closer now because it seems like just yesterday the halloween stuff was up. Bring on christmastime at DL...Woo Hoo!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I would love to, Krissy! That would be great fun!

Also, after what happened to one of our fellow DISers from Texas (her husband had a disc rupture and they spent 11 days in a hotel room alone with no help or assistance on where to go for help), I'm a firm believer that anybody coming in from out of town should have someone local that they can meet up with and contact in case of emergency!

 

[Sherry E]

Now I'm jealous! Nancy perhaps we can meet up in April since our kiddies are similar in age? Or atleast I think they are lol

And I am super excited, like Sherry said it feels closer now because it seems like just yesterday the halloween stuff was up. Bring on christmastime at DL...Woo Hoo!

Krissy, can you believe how quickly the time is flying by? I remember it was just summer, and I turned down an offer to go with a friend from out of town to DLR because it was too hot for me (in July) to deal with, and I knew I would be going to DLR in Fall and/or Winter, and here it is, November, and it has been hovering around 90 degrees on some days!! And then, I recall being on this board on the official start day of the Halloweentime season/decorations, and it was exciting to see people's photos being posted as they went to DLR and documented the food and merchandise and all of that. And now, here it is, the HOLIDAY SEASON!!! Even though it is still warm and Christmas is over a month away, I love that the season begins now! Woo hoo! Gingerbread Mickey cookies! Peppermint fudge! Freshly made candy canes! Merchandise that is too cute to resist! Light show on Main Street!

I DO love the Halloweentime season at DLR, and I love that is becoming a bigger deal as the years go by, but the holiday season is just pure magic! That will always be my favorite time to be at DLR! Ho ho ho!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Awww man... Just new boats?
So if it's a soft opening, why haven't they updated everything fully yet? Is it just open for the holidays' sake?

From what I read they’re going to add the new characters and the Americana scene after the holiday season, so after they remove the overlay. So when it reopens after the holidays it will have the new characters and the Americana scene.

 

[Marciern22]

I can't wait to see it. I'm gonna get over to DL on Friday just to do IASW! YAY!!!!

Off topic-How do I get a bouncing Mickey santa thingy?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I can't wait to see it. I'm gonna get over to DL on Friday just to do IASW! YAY!!!!

Off topic-How do I get a bouncing Mickey santa thingy?

I'll PM it to you!

 

[Canyon girl]

Just curious...How long does it take to remove the holiday overlay. They have HM and IASW still down the entire first week of February when we are there. Is this normal, or do you think they might open it early?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

It normally takes a couple weeks (I think? Or maybe just 1 week?). But from what I read it's going to close the Monday after New Years and not reopen until February. It will take a little longer since they will be adding the new characters.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...since they will be adding the new characters.

No characters!!! It's not what Small World is about. Don't do it, Disney! You can still keep it true and genuine. No characters in Small World! Why mess with a classic?

 

[audrabolster]

I got to ride it yesterday! It was my first time riding it, so I don't know what to compare it to, but I love that they add smells to it

 

[Sherry E]

I got to ride it yesterday! It was my first time riding it, so I don't know what to compare it to, but I love that they add smells to it

I love that peppermint smell, too! Such a nice - but very subtle - touch. I don't know how strong the peppermint smell is now, but in the past it was just faint enough where that if you turned your head away from it, you wouldn't smell it at all! It is easy to miss!

Were you able to see the exterior of IASWH lit up at night, with all the holiday colors?

 

[Gisele]

The last time that I rode IASW, I was 11 years old. That was a while ago. he he I liked the ride as a child. I have not ridden it as an adult, because the theme song, can get on my last nerve. I might like to ride it again all the same though, for diffferent reasons.

 

[Sherry E]

The last time that I rode IASW, I was 11 years old. That was a while ago. he he I liked the ride as a child. I have not ridden it as an adult, because the theme song, can get on my last nerve. I might like to ride it again all the same though, for diffferent reasons.

The song can be very irritating. I think that is a large part of the reason why a lot of folks got sick of the ride. They hate the song! At least during the holiday season, the little children are singing holiday songs mixed in with the regular song!

I will reserve judgment on the characters being integrated into the IASW scenes until I see it for myself. I haven't made up my mind yet on whether I think Disney characters will ruin IASW. I tend to think they won't ruin it, but I will wait and see. Supposedly, according to the CM we spoke to in October, the characters will not be 'in your face,' but kind of subtly placed in the backgrounds of certain appropriate regions, and not really obvious. I mean, I was tired of that ride as is anyway, and the only reason I was kind of interested in it again was because of the beautiful holiday overlay. So the addition of some characters will be another reason for me to want to ride IASW during non-holiday times!

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

I'm completely stoked about the disney characters !!! For us who have been on the ride a millions times it will be something new and interesting to look at ! Even though I like going on the ride now (for nostalgic reasons) it does get rather boring very quickly!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm completely stoked about the disney characters !!! For us who have been on the ride a millions times it will be something new and interesting to look at ! Even though I like going on the ride now (for nostalgic reasons) it does get rather boring very quickly!

I really think I tend to agree with you, Jasmine! I admit that the first time I heard we were getting the Disney characters integrated into the ride, I was excited about it. I didn't know there was a controversy a-brewin', but I guess there is. That is why I will wait to see it before I make my mind up 100%, but I can't see how the Disney characters would ruin the ride. I know I should be a Disneyland purist and want to keep all the rides intact, in their original states, and I guess I would be ticked if they tampered with certain rides I like, but so far, I am happy with Jack Sparrow in POTC, I am happy with the HMH overlay and the IASWH overlay, and so I think I will be happy to see Simba and Tigger in the Africa scene in IASW, as well as Ariel and Crush underwater, Aladdin and whoever else shows up. They are not going to be really blatant, just mixed in as one big happy family with the little children of the world, from what the CM told me. It is a reason to renew interest in the ride, because it was pretty dated and many people stopped going on it!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I rode it today and I loved it! Just a few changes from previous IASW holidays. I liked it much more than the original IASW, and have that one fresh in my mind since I just rode it a week ago at MK. The scenery and costumes were so fresh and bright. You don't realize how old the others looked until you see the new.

I'll withhold judgment as well on the addition of the characters and Americana scene. I have liked the overlays very much, and enjoy the updated POTC.