I am guessing it's been a while since you have been to DLR?
The characters were added about a year and a half ago. There are 34 Disney characters in there now. There are very mixed opinions as to whether they enhance or "dehance" the classic "it's a small world."
I think they definitely enhance the ride, before I could not stand that ride now I actually like to ride a couple of times and pick out all the characters. IMO it made a horribly boring ride, interesting and fun.
We thought we found most of the characters last year, but our son managed to spot tiny little Tinkerbell flying around Peter Pan a couple of months ago.
I was very concerned with how they would look, but I thought they were cute. I loved the ride before and I still love it. I am not a huge fan of the America room I wish they had a little more diversity in the settlers, but overall very cute.
I guess it has been a while since we've been on this ride. DH & I had the boat to ourselves and had fun picking them out. Loved Woody! Will have to look for PP & Tink!
When we went in 2008, the ride was down for the refurb. I am SO excited to take my two on this ride next month. It was, hands down, my favorite ride when I went as a little girl. My mom said I made her go on it something like eight or ten times in a row.
We thought we found most of the characters last year, but our son managed to spot tiny little Tinkerbell flying around Peter Pan a couple of months ago.
So, this is exactly why I hate the characters being added. It is no longer an attraction about children around the world or guests discussing the various cultures around the world, but rather a "Where's Waldo?" Disney style.
(And that is not towards anyone in particular, just my thoughts. As for a list, read here.
As much as DS5 enjoys looking for characters (he was the first to find Tink in the family), what he loves most about the ride is the fact that, and I quote: "it's the quickest way to travel around the world and experience different cultures". He is really into diverse culture and languages of the world, so much so that he can sing parts of "It's a Small World" in 5 different languages. DS2 likes animals and ignore the rest. It's a lot of fun talking with the kids about why each character/animal belongs in their respective part of the "world".
To each their own, but to our family, it certainly live up to "the happiest cruise that ever sailed", with or without the characters
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