Should the Small World Ride be avoided?

[dcentity2000]

"Well hi there everybody!"

OK, here's the thing...
My girlfriend LOVES the it's a small world ride. You know, the one where audioanimatronic dolls sing about how nice it is that everything is nice and so on. Loads of people appear to love it... yet I've heard some mutter that it should be ethnically cleansed. So it appears to be either loved or hated with no middle ground... yet I'm neither - I'm freaked out by it!
Every time I ride I look around at the little faces, start to feel helpless and remember a film: Chucky...
Is no-one else freaked out by this ride? Why does everyone like it so much?! I gives me the heebie jeebies!

Rich::

 

[aesalsa]

First of all, whoever said that the ride should be "ethnically cleansed" is a terrible, insensitive person, to say the least on the these boards! What a horrible term to use; I only hope that whoever said this is just ignorant as to the global meaning of that phrase.
Secondly, if it were "ethnically cleansed", then there would be no purpose for the ride, which is to celebrate the cultures of the world in a light-hearted atmosphere; that's what Walt Disney wanted to do. I like the ride every few years or so (I am a middle grounder); if I don't want to experience it, I don't ride it. So you don't have to ride it, and I know many people do not like the ride (not for "ethnic" reasons, though). If your girlfriend really likes this ride and you don't, you can ask her if you can sit out this time, or just grin and bear it to keep the peace and "magic" between you two. Have fun if you go again to WDW!

 

[dommett]

Well, if you ride or not is up to you but maybe instead of looking at the faces, how about checking out all the costumes of the dolls. Or listening to beautiful languages. Stop and appreciate the colors and designs of all the people from around the world. I don't enjoy the ride because of a love of dolls, I enjoy the thought of a world of great diversity where everyone could smile and raise their voice in song. OK - I'm starting to sound a little gushy but - it really is a magical ride to me. Maybe a new approach could make it a little more enjoyable.

 

[TY31088]

I enjoy it, good way to relax and cool off when it's hot outside. Plus, it seems every time I ride it I see something I hadn't noticed before.

Ty

 

[Maude4Disney]

As for me... I too think the term used was wrong. But as for the ride, I think it's cute, and of course it's annoying...but we like it for a nice cool break when the FL sun is getting to warm. DS 10 is dreading it on our next trip and DS2 (almost 3) can't wait. Sometimes as a family you have to compromise.

 

[threeboysdad]

I'll try to control myself (ethnic cleansing, you gotta be kidding me)...

This ride is a very nice ride for all ages - especially children. DW and I will not miss it when we visit MK (whether the kids are with us or not). The oldest DS is now 13 and one of our greatest pleasures is torturing him by making him go on it. He is definitely too cool for it now but doesn't put up too much fuss so I think he still thinks the animitronics is interesting.

That's what makes it such an interesting ride there is sooooo much to look at and see.

Not sure how old you are but, if you have a fear of Dolls from watching "Chuckie", I humbly suggest you stop watching such films as you obviously a very sensitive person. Don't pollute yourself further.

Go ride it 3-4 times, then instead of being concerned with ethnic cleansing, or it being too nicy nice or dolls coming to life you can fret over what the rest of us fret over....


HOW DO I GET THAT SONG OUT OF MY HEAD.... AAAAAAAHHHHH
:happy1:

 

[jaysue]

IT'S A SMALL WORLD (AFTER ALL)
Lyrics and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears.
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.
There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all.

It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

There is just one moon and one golden sun.
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide
It's a small world after all.

It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world.

[Spanish]
En el mundo hay risas y dolor.
Esperanzas y hay tambien temor.
Mucho hay en verdad, que poder compartir.
Entre la humanidad.

Muy pequeño el mundo es.
Muy pequeño el mundo es.
Debe haber mas hermandad.
Muy pequeño es.

Una luna hay solo hay un sol.
Para todos brillan sin distincion.
Y aunque muy grandes son, las montañas y el mar.
Muy pequeño el mundo es.

Muy pequeño el mundo es.
Muy pequeño el mundo es.
Debe haber mas hermandad.
Muy pequeño es.

[French]
Au bout du Pole Nord ou sur l'equateur.
Il y a un jean qui rit il y a un jean qui pleure.
Du soleil due midi au soleil de minuit.
On a tous la même vie.

Car le monde est tout petit.
Devant le ciel on se dit.
Que nous sommes des fourmis.
Le monde est petit.

Au bout du Pole Nord ou sur l'equateur.
On a toujours l'air de venir d'ailleurs.
Mais quand on fait le tour de nos joies, nos ennuis.
On a tous la même vie.

Car le monde est tout petit.
Devant le ciel on se dit.
Que nous sommes des fourmis.
Le monde est petit.

 

[winniedapooh]

Ok jaysue now I can't stop singing it and 14 yo DS is looking at me strangely, lol! I too get a little scared by the dolls and instead look at and focus on all of the costumes and think happy thoughts while I am on the ride. I don't even watch scary movies because of this. Of course I am the lady with her DH and 5 DCherubs riding it with several of them complaining loudly that if they hear that song one more time argggg. That alone keeps me pretty focused on things other than the faces, lol.

 

[jcemom]

I could never go to Disney without riding it! It is one of the few things I remember from our family trips when I was a young child!

I do not find it too cutesy, or annoying, and I really, honestly LIKE that song...LOL!

This is on my MUST DO list!

 

[tazz23]

Lol, as rich's other half, i can safely say that he's not that scared of dolls- he just finds the ride a teeny bit freaky! I love it though! Personally, i think some of the characters could be seem as more frightening than its a small world (though again, the characters are great! im 18 and i still love getting my photo taken ) We tend to like different types of rides- I love the cutesy rides while he loves tower of terror and the scary rides (see thread above!) but we compromise and its great!

 

[dcentity2000]

"Avast ye landlubbers!"

OK, let's get this straight! I don't think that the ride should be ethnically cleansed... that would take too long
Basically every time I ride I feel a bit freaked by it all - there are hundreds of dolls, you can't watch them all, you don't know what they're thinking and you're in a titchy little boat. For all you kow, the one behind you just picked up a wad of P2 and stuck it to your boat. The drum that the zebra's playing may contain the detonator. I suspect that they're all aliens from the country of Sweden.
You may all think that this is just paranoia... but have you ever spoken to a doll? No, I didn't think so. Besides, anything that grins all the time is up to something.

Rich::

 

[tazz23]

Rich, i do love you but you can be a little strange sometimes!

 

[Efastpitch]

Now I've got that tune in my head and can't get it out.

 

[sm4987]

I was on hold this morning with DW while trying to change my reservation. I was like" the song will be in my head forever!!!" That being said, I think it's a wonderful ride and it's great to see all cultures being represented. Check it out, just be sure to go on the ride in the morning, maybe just maybe the song will go away

 

[dcentity2000]

"Boogy down, everybody!"

I'll bet that aesalsa is just an alien from Sweden who wants to protect their dastardly secret! Ah-HA!

Rich::

 

[aesalsa]

Oh no!! You've discovered my secret identity, but you'll never discover our secret!!

 

[threeboysdad]

Boy for a second there I thought you were just being silly DCentity. Now I know that you understand the true conspiracy behind IASM. After all, if you ever really watched that ride from the outside, you can tell that more people go in than come out....

Hmmm....

 

[JudyS]

Originally posted by threeboysdad

HOW DO I GET THAT SONG OUT OF MY HEAD.... AAAAAAAHHHHH
:happy1:

I saw a study on songs that get stuck in people's heads. "It's A Small World" was one of the worst. Now it's playing in *my* head, too!

I just love It's A Small World. Check out Cleopatra winking when you get to Egypt! (She's the one on the barge.)

 

[dgaston]

I'm half Swedish (maiden name Wickstrom) and I really, really avoid the IASW ride. I even drag DH to Tiki Birds, so it's not the animatronics. I think it's like an old thread that talked about a secret door that had something to do with fewer people leaving the boats than loaded at the beginning, and riders perhaps becoming part of the attraction.

If this is part of a secret plan, I think I deserve to know. Now I suppose in two weeks, you expect me to go on this abomination. LOL

 

[threeboysdad]

uh-huh, uh-huh, exactly what I'm trying to say....

There is definitely something more sinister at work here than just the bacteria laden water...