Its a Small World

[OrlandoMike]

I just spoke with my in-laws who are both cast members and work on the Small World Ride in Orlando. They have not heard that rumor at all. I think this is exactly that...a rumor.

Why would your in-laws who work on a ride in Orlando have any information on a refurb at a ride in California?

 

[dwaters]

But things are now to a point where they can't even listen to their own customers - they're closing Pleasure Island because "quests tell us they want more branded shopping and dining"?

Okay. That is a point I will give you.
I've never been to the Pleasure Island clubs, but were glad they were there and know that many people enjoyed them. The Adventurer's Club seems to have the most loyal following.

I like Downtown Disney, but I can't even imagine anyone going there to the Marketplace and saying "You know what? It's nice but I just wish there were MORE places to shop and eat" (I'm not even counting West Side).

 

[Another Voice]

And all that's kind of the point to my rantings.

How come no one in Disney actually sees any of this? I know there are tremendous pressures on WDW right now, but doesn't any stop back at look at the big picture?

What makes a resort a resort is a variety of things to do. Some people like the open air places like The Maketplace, some people liked the clubs of Pleasure Island, some people like the dinner shows at the resorts, some people just want to go back to their hotels, and even some people like extended hours at the parks. It seems like our choices are being constantly whittled down.

Even inside the parks, the focus is being painfully narrowed. Why does ever ride have to be character and franchise based now? Aren't there any original story ideas out there. Seems that Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center all did fantastic for decades based mostly on original shows and attractions. The parks used to contain adventures from pirates to cowboys to rocket ships to the moon. Now the parks look like nothing but the Pixar aisle at Blockbuster...seen that, seen that, seen that, seen that.

There is simply no reason to add Disney characters to 'It's a Small World'. The show is enjoyable as it is - it's probably the most seen "presentation" in the world. People like it. So why turn it into a giant 'Find Stitch' game? The charm and the joy of the show is being replaced with a hunt for product placements. That's not why people go to the Disney parks.

Why can't anyone at Disney understand?

 

[racefanof88]

And all that's kind of the point to my rantings.

How come no one in Disney actually sees any of this? I know there are tremendous pressures on WDW right now, but doesn't any stop back at look at the big picture?

What makes a resort a resort is a variety of things to do. Some people like the open air places like The Maketplace, some people liked the clubs of Pleasure Island, some people like the dinner shows at the resorts, some people just want to go back to their hotels, and even some people like extended hours at the parks. It seems like our choices are being constantly whittled down.

Even inside the parks, the focus is being painfully narrowed. Why does ever ride have to be character and franchise based now? Aren't there any original story ideas out there. Seems that Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center all did fantastic for decades based mostly on original shows and attractions. The parks used to contain adventures from pirates to cowboys to rocket ships to the moon. Now the parks look like nothing but the Pixar aisle at Blockbuster...seen that, seen that, seen that, seen that.

There is simply no reason to add Disney characters to 'It's a Small World'. The show is enjoyable as it is - it's probably the most seen "presentation" in the world. People like it. So why turn it into a giant 'Find Stitch' game? The charm and the joy of the show is being replaced with a hunt for product placements. That's not why people go to the Disney parks.

Why can't anyone at Disney understand?

I have to agree. Most rides at the parks have some character tied to it. Pirates(Capt. Jack) Peter Pan, Snow White, Pooh Bear etc, etc, etc. There are only a few that I can think of that do not have a specific character, Space Mt., BTM, the race cars and of course It's a Small World. I may have missed someone........... But, I think Small World is fine jus the way it is. Just my .02.

 

[mitros]

And all that's kind of the point to my rantings.

How come no one in Disney actually sees any of this? I know there are tremendous pressures on WDW right now, but doesn't any stop back at look at the big picture?

What makes a resort a resort is a variety of things to do. Some people like the open air places like The Maketplace, some people liked the clubs of Pleasure Island, some people like the dinner shows at the resorts, some people just want to go back to their hotels, and even some people like extended hours at the parks. It seems like our choices are being constantly whittled down.

Even inside the parks, the focus is being painfully narrowed. Why does ever ride have to be character and franchise based now? Aren't there any original story ideas out there. Seems that Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Center all did fantastic for decades based mostly on original shows and attractions. The parks used to contain adventures from pirates to cowboys to rocket ships to the moon. Now the parks look like nothing but the Pixar aisle at Blockbuster...seen that, seen that, seen that, seen that.

There is simply no reason to add Disney characters to 'It's a Small World'. The show is enjoyable as it is - it's probably the most seen "presentation" in the world. People like it. So why turn it into a giant 'Find Stitch' game? The charm and the joy of the show is being replaced with a hunt for product placements. That's not why people go to the Disney parks.

Why can't anyone at Disney understand?

Could it be as simple as Walts gone, and nobody "gets" it anymore?

 

[ThurlFan]

I have to agree. Most rides at the parks have some character tied to it. Pirates(Capt. Jack) Peter Pan, Snow White, Pooh Bear etc, etc, etc. There are only a few that I can think of that do not have a specific character, Space Mt., BTM, the race cars and of course It's a Small World. I may have missed someone........... But, I think Small World is fine jus the way it is. Just my .02.

Not so many years ago, the character tie-ins were largely confined to Fantasyland. Adventureland contained Pirates (pre-Depp), Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room (pre-Iago). The Swiss Family Treehouse was the lone nod to a movie (the Aladdin themed Dumbo clone hadn't been built yet). In Tomorrowland there was Space Mountain, TTA, Rocket to the Moon/Mars/Alien Encounter, Astro Orbiters, Skyway and the Speedway. Frontierland had the Country Bears, Tom Sawyer Island. Liberty Square has Haunted Mansion (pre-Eddie Murphy), Hall of Presidents, and the Steamboat. There are of course a number of extinct attractions I'm forgetting but you get the idea.

The point is Disney parks used to be a show unto themselves, unique and entertaining with a variety of stories to tell. What some of us find disheartening is the notion held by the current management that the parks will only work as a vehicle to re-experience familiar stories and characters.

Yes, I'm well aware that Walt used the park to promote his movies, and incorporated his movies into the park. But the park was expected to stand on its own merits as well, with attractions such as Pirates and the Haunted Mansion drawing crowds in their own right.

Maybe people have changed. Maybe people really are as dim and unimaginative as management seems to believe. Maybe all that is just a symptom of our media-saturated culture. But that doesn't mean that Disney parks can't or shouldn't strive to create something truly new once in a while. Tap into some creative minds and give us more Expedition Everest and less Stitch's Great Escape.

 

[Another Voice]

Yes, I'm well aware that Walt used the park to promote his movies, and incorporated his movies into the park.

Also remember this was all in the pre-home video days. The public only ever saw these movies once every seven years when the Studio released them again in theaters. For most people, most of the time - Disneyland and WDW attractions were the only way to see these stories.

Now, of course, I watch any Disney movie anytime I choose. There's no reason to have a theme park attraction "remind" me of the story. Hell, you can probably watch Snow White on your iPod while waiting in line for 'Snow White'.

 

[Misty89]

I hope this is not true
we have not been able to ride "Small world" since 2003( it was down for refurb in nov 2004) and we are lookiong forward to finally riding the " new" ride.- 5 years later LOL

 

[BryantL]

My wife loves that ride. It is her favorite.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

You can't possible believe an ounce of this. Are they going to rid POC, too? While the sizes of the boats may have to change, I'd eat my hat if Small World was gone altogether.

 

[Mikelly1221]

I just watched video of the Hong Kong IASW on Youtube. I didn't like the Cinderella music going over the IASW music, and the inserted Disney characters looked like caricatures. All in all, it wasn't horrible, but I didn't feel it was necessary to add them in. Just my 2 cents...

Also, I really don't think that a whole under the sea scene needed to be added to show Ariel! Just my 4 cents...