Disneyland's "It's a Small World" in danger

[nichols]

http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/200 ... tears.html

[modfan]

that ride was gone a while back and something else was there.
Wasn't there a parody of it on the Simpsons?

[nichols]

It's a Small World opened at the New York World's Fair in 1964. It was moved to Disneyland after the fair closed in 1965 and operated until January 22, 2008 when it closed for refurbishment.

[Lynxwiler]

Save the Small World rain forest!

[AtomicMickey]

i never liked this ride, but it's a shame to hear it might get "updated." i miss mary blair's murals in tomorrowland.

it could be worse, though. it might've gotten one of those "nighttime overlays" that were all the rage during disneyland's cheapskate Presser/Harris era. they tried it with space mountain, and there were rumors of a pirates overlay. i can see the it's a small world nighttime overlay now...at night it becomes a shooting gallery, with buzz lightyear style guns mounted on the boats, and you can hear the little cries of the dolls as they're hit, lol.

[Futura Girl]

[Futura Girl]

[sky]

[Futura Girl]

hi sky, i understand - been there....

but next time you're in disneyland - think about the ride going away, ride it, and see if you feel differently.

[sky]

[moderns-r-us]

"Looking At It’s A Small World, Seeing Modern Art

The iconic facade and sets of Disneyland’s It’s a Small World attraction were designed in the late 1960’s and bear the unmistakable markings of that time (and the couple proceeding decades). But I wanted specifics. What had Mary Blair, the attraction’s main designer, been exposed to that may have inspired the famous styling of that ride? Here’s a sampling of what I found:"

Please see the link for the full article

http://justinspace.com/blog/2008/01/30/ ... odern-art/













________________________________________________________________


WWWDD?

What would Walt Disney do? ??

[scottkaycee]

My impression of the non Disneyland(Anaheim) Small Worlds is they are pale cardboard versions of the original. There is an aesthetic cohesion to the original rooted in the mid-century era, it is an intact example of mid-century art, abstract art that went so well with mid-century buildings. This is obviously because of Mary Blair's influence. The previous post illustrates this superbly. She applied her aesthetic sensabilities to the show. The follow up rides look thin, and lack artistic unity; they are not an artistic representation of a theme (the children of the world) they are "updated" versions of a ride , the heart is gone so to speak, like a 2nd or 3rd generation copy of a video, the picture is there but the detail is gone. So replace those with new attractions or re-muddle those, but the original is a work of art and should be preserved.

As for the music, it is what it is : mid 60's pop- (not beatles pop but 101 strings/ standards/ big band pop) and judged against itself holds up well to the genre. I think as one "matures" it becomes hip to trash "It's a Small World" whether one thinks it is too saccharine(it is suposed to be sweet and sentimental) or whatever. I think a great deal of opposition to the ride is based in feeling immature if one admits they like it, so it becomes neccesary to deny it forever ("oh I hate that ride...") or until one can reexamine it.

I don't begrudge anyone for not liking it ; I want to be clear, you dont have to like it, but if you think about why you dont like it it is probably because of what the ride is and what it is trying to do, so simply skip it the next time you are there. To apease it's detractors would fundamentally change the nature of the ride.

A criticism usually is "the song is annoying or repetitive, cant get it out of your head, etc." Well guess what? It is supposed to be repetitive and to make you leave the ride humming the tune. It is a sweet child like idea about what it is like to travel the world, and when you are 5-9 you think the world is landmarks and funny clothes. It is meant for children and child-like adults.

I think ultimately a work of art should be measured against it's intent. By any measure; unrelated to the subjective tastes of the viewer "I like it , I don't like it" Small World is a success. For it's time it was technologically advanced, the music is pleasant and consistent with Disney quality of the time(Contemporaneous film scores), It essentially is a 3-D trip through a an animated film, a remarkable achievement for the time. The simple repetitive song is a unifying element that ties all the children of the world together(and the attraction), like a nursery song, anybody try to listen to ring a round the rosie as music? Howabout London Bridge is falling down?, repetition is at the heart of a Child's learning process, I'll wager small world is meant to be a child's nursery song, in fact I remember listening to the record(and singing it) in my pre-school along with other kid's songs.

Why should it be preserved? Because it is an excellent example of what it is and accomplishes what it set out to do. Disneyland is now 53 years old- go there and you can buy merchandise proclaiming "est. 1955" or "the original" while I am not suggesting the entire park needs to be stagnant or that it shouldnt change some things should remain as they are. The very foundation of the park is nostalgia and history, and as it turns out the park is now itself historic, and subject of nostalgia. So why muddle with a classic ? Periodic revampings and temporary additions are fine, but to rip out an entire section and add a conceptually unsympathetic addition? That would be like adding a glass box to an iconic neo-classical building. Or worse a pale imitative addition to any landmark structure. It doesnt make sense.

[Futura Girl]

[sky]

[Carlos Araujo]

From Saturday's LA Times


My two cents... the point of the ride is make the faces appear to be more anonymous than recognizable, that's what makes the experience more universal.

[Carlos Araujo]

From Saturday's LA Times


My two cents... the point of the ride is make the faces appear to be more anonymous than recognizable, that's what makes the experience more universal.

[scowsa]

[scottkaycee]

[sky]

So ... the issue is that It’s a Small World is in danger of becoming tacky?

I didn’t pick up on that until I read the link Carlos posted. From some of the other posts, and the subject, I got the impression that it was in danger of being razed.

I think in most cases preservationists would be happy with that as an end result. That Disney is investing in the ride at all means it should be around for at least another couple of generations.

Still, I wouldn’t mind a new arrangement for the song – maybe work in a little rap, or something like that.

[egads]

The reason given, in a link in this thread:

http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=11097

(about the monorails) was that the waterway needs to be deeper. It seems the riders are now much fatter than when it was first installed. (I know I am)

[egads]

The reason given, in a link in this thread:

http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=11097

(about the monorails) was that the waterway needs to be deeper. It seems the riders are now much fatter than when it was first installed. (I know I am)

[Futura Girl]

[sky]

It’s a commercial world, and it’s no damn good.
Don’t you bring that new bling to my Disney hood.
You can make plenty of dough,
Without becoming a ho.
It’s a small world, and there ain’t enough room in it for your crass corporate ass.

[moderns-r-us]

[deanna b]

[nichols]

[nichols]

Great thread over on micechat
http://micechat.com/disneyland-news/dis ... all-world/