Disney Changes "Small World," Just When I Get The Song Out of My Head

Mickey and Minnie won't ever change, but you can't say the same for "It's a Small World."

By: Fred Cunningham | News Channel 7
Published: February 05, 2009 | 0 Comments | Post a Comment

Disneyland is reopening the It's A Small World ride on Thursday and the attraction that's been around for more than 40 years won't look the same according to this story from the Associated Press:

Disney is populating one of its most beloved attractions with its own trademark vision of the planet: Aladdin, Nemo, Ariel and more than two dozen cartoon characters plucked from its movies.

And those aren't the only changes visitors will find Thursday when the ride reopens: Disney has woven a few bars from some of its hit soundtracks into the classic "Small World" melody and added a new America section that includes a nod to Los Angeles' famous Hollywood Bowl, a quaint farm scene and "Toy Story" characters.

Disney says it supplemented the human dolls with make-believe figures to keep the aging ride appealing to younger generations and give it a new twist. Yet some angry fans see an unabashed marketing ploy that trashes the pacifist message at the heart of the "Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed the World" and ruins one of the few rides that remained unchanged since the days of Walt Disney.

I don't know if this is going to change at other Disney versions around the globe. I'm taking the family back to Disney World for spring break in April and I know my 8-year old daughter is going to insist we jump in those little boats.

And hear that song. Again.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a quick cruise thanks to this YouTube clip.

I hear that song and it goes on..and on..and on..and on in my head.

Here's something I learned about It's a Small World during my last Orlando trip four years ago. A food server at one of the restaurants was from Anderson and she recognized my from News Channel 7.

We started talking about what it was like to work at Disney (remember it's 2005) and she talks about some of the perks. That's when I said, "well the worst would have to be working at It's a Small World. Imagine going all day long in there having to hear that song over and over."

She tells me It's a Small World is the only ride in the park where employees are limited to a four-hour shift.

And yes, it's because of the song.