Small World Closing

[mommary]

Just heard that a Small World is going to be closed during the summer.
Can anyone tell me what Disney considers
summer. I am going June 12-15th and one of my friends is a first timer. I think it would be terrible if she doesn't get to see it.
If anyone knows please advise.
Thanks

 

[Duckfan]

There has not been an official date but everything I have read so far predicts it closing June 7.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm glad I get to see it next month because my DD's would be so dissapointed they love IASW! On the other hand I noticed quite a few broken dolls. Hope they find a great charity to give all the change in the water.

 

[catnik]

Here's a link from the official WDW website re IASW rehab; June 6th is the last day it is open.....

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...ng/index?id=CalendarRefurbishmentsListingPage

 

[wdarling]

i'm so upset i won't see it. even though i've seen it 98273498237492 times. i can't imagine the little kiddles making thier first trip and not seeing IASW.

 

[Bella's_Dad]

Ouch, I'm bringing my 2-year old for her first trip, that hurts.

 

[bartleby1]

UGH. My kids will be soooo disappointed . Thanks for posting the official link, catnik. I had heard the rumor but was hoping it wasn't true. We're going in August so it will definitely be closed when we go. I have a 2 year old and 4 year old that pretend to be riding small world in my laundry basket all the time. They set up my daughter's dolls to simulate the dolls on the small world ride. How disappointed they're going to be. Oh well, at least I can prepare them before we go.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Oh......They are soo cute! We will be there on the 4th. May have to change some days around so we catch it.


Magic Kingdom® Park
The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed on Sunday, October 12, 2003 for re-development. Replacing the attraction will be Stitch's Great Escape which is expected to open in Fall 2004. We recommend Mickey's PhilharMagic during this time.

Carousel of Progress - open seasonally

The Timekeeper - open seasonally

Snow White's Scary Adventures will not be operating April 19 - May 28, 2004, however we recommend Peter Pan's Flight as an alternative during this time.

"it's a small world" will not be operating June 7, 2004 - March 18, 2005, however we recommend Pirates of the Caribbean as an alternative during this time.

Epcot ®
Wonders of Life - open seasonally

Disney-MGM Studios
"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure will not be operating May 3 - June 30, 2004, however we recommend Playhouse Disney as an alternative during this time.

Disney's Animal Kingdom ® Park
Dinosaur will not be operating April 25 - June 4, 2004, however we recommend Primeval Whirl as an alternative during this time.

Disney's Blizzard Beach
There are no scheduled operational updates currently being performed at this park.

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
There are no scheduled operational updates currently being performed at this park.

Downtown Disney ® Area
There are no scheduled operational updates currently being performed at this park.

Disney's BoardWalk
There are no scheduled operational updates currently being performed at this park.

Disney's Wide World of Sports ® Complex
There are no scheduled operational updates currently being performed at this park.

 

[jacksonsmom]

I am SO glad it isn't closing until June 7th.

We arrive on May 29th so we will make sure we will see it, but my mother doesn't come in until June 4th. We were not sure if she was going to be able to ride it before it shuts down. Glad to hear we can make a quick stop to Small World. This is one of her favorite rides

 

[mommary]

Thanks for all your responses and the link catnik. At least we know in advance and won't be disappointed when we get there.

 

[FatCow]

my DD 5.5 is somewhat scared of IASW but she loves HM.

 

[lacool]

Ouch. Who wants to break the news to my DDs. It is by far their all time favorite ride. There will be sadness in the happiest place on earth!

 

[mommystieg]

This is one of DD#2's favorites and we are bringing a whole bunch of first timers. The good thing is we arrive on the 6th so I guess after our group dinner at CM we will all be dropping by MK to say farewell.

Did anyone else think it was funny that the suggested alternative was POTC? Cute singing dolls vs. drunken hairy pirates

 

[bartleby1]

Originally posted by mommystieg

Did anyone else think it was funny that the suggested alternative was POTC? Cute singing dolls vs. drunken hairy pirates

Ummmm, yeah. My DD was so scared of the pirates that she almost wouldn't go on another ride the whole time we were there. I thought that was a strange substitution as well !

 

[Hollymom1229]

This stinks, we'll be going down in September and it's my BIL's first ever trip. What's a trip to WDW without IASW? I guess this means we'll just have to take him again another time.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by mommary
Just heard that a Small World is going to be closed during the summer.
Can anyone tell me what Disney considers
summer. I am going June 12-15th and one of my friends is a first timer. I think it would be terrible if she doesn't get to see it.
If anyone knows please advise.
Thanks

If you got to the official WDW site, click on calendar. It will bring up a monthly calendar.....doesn't matter which month it is, just make sure it's for MK. Scroll down to the Notes underneath....

NOT OPERATING

Magic Kingdom® Park

The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter closed on Sunday, October 12, 2003 for re-development. Replacing the attraction will be Stitch's Great Escape which is expected to open in Fall 2004. We recommend Mickey's PhilharMagic during this time.

Carousel of Progress - open seasonally

The Timekeeper - open seasonally

Snow White's Scary Adventures will not be operating April 19 - May 28, 2004, however we recommend Peter Pan's Flight as an alternative during this time.

"it's a small world" will not be operating June 7, 2004 - March 18, 2005, however we recommend Pirates of the Caribbean as an alternative during this time.

See all operational updates

 

[lacool]

I can't imagine that they plan to change the ride in any way. Why on earth is it going to take 9 months?!!! Drain it, repaint some dolls, change some nuts and bolts, refill it, you're done. Sounds like a weekend project to me!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by lacool
I can't imagine that they plan to change the ride in any way. Why on earth is it going to take 9 months?!!! Drain it, repaint some dolls, change some nuts and bolts, refill it, you're done. Sounds like a weekend project to me!

It is in bad need of repair and has been for a while.

I'm hoping they update some of the animation, lighting and sound system. (I'm NOT talking changing the artwork here so don't flame me. Just improving the presentation and bringing it into the digital age.)

Fortunately, we'll be there before the change. I wonder if there's a reason they're starting in early summer and not closer to the end? As if they're trying to meet a deadline for next year.

 

[FatCow]

If they are doing what I think they are going to do (changing the multitrack tape to a DA-88 array or, better yet, HDD based system), then it is normal to have it shut down for at least 6 months. I did this once for a Small World rip-off somewhere in Asia and the amount of work (that needs to be done on-site) for better sync was astounding.

If you think listening to the song may render a person nuts, try imagining listening to IASW-like song for 6 months in a row, every day, every minute of of your working life.