Since 1997 it’s been a yearly tradition at the Happiest Place on Earth, “it’s a small world” Holiday features makeover of the famous facade into a bright display of festive lights. The whole transformation takes a couple of weeks. But Disneyland’s elves set up a… Read More »“it’s a small world” transforms into the holiday edition via magic of time-lapse
Disney Interactive’s online video series “It’s A Small World” aims to help younger kids learn about very the diverse cultures of planet Earth, pick up a few words of Spanish, and, hopefully, develop an appreciation for others who may be dealing with problems they can… Read More »Disney’s It’s A Small World Web Series Great for Tots
The topiaries that surround the exterior of Disneyland’s classic and much loved attraction “it’s a small world” have been impressing guests since 1966. But what behind the scenes magic is involved in putting on this show? This video with Topiary Engineer Craig Minasian reveals a… Read More »Small World Topiaries receive TLC
The last couple holiday seasons have brought a new Holiday commercial from Disney Parks. Here’s this year’s entry:
Although the volleys from both sides have decreased, this thing with “it’s a small world” is not over. It’s just the thin shell of a much larger egg. It has nothing to do with the personalities involved, their creative ability, nor their passion for the Disney product. No one is doubting any of that.
No. It has to do with a choice made by someone (or someones) in Disney parks management. A deliberate choice that has many of us worried.
John Nadleberg, who has recently set out with his own blog, summarizes excellently:
Disney is over cartooning their parks, they have been doing it for a while, and although it has been tolerated for one reason or another, it is often not appreciated at all. They are wrecking what were once theme parks with all kinds of entertainments by changing them to ones that have one single type of entertainment.
Movie people originally constructed Disneyland, and in a way, going to a Disney park is very much like going to a multiplex theater to see different types of movies, with each area within the park representing another type of film. This theater has a western, that theater has a horror film, the other theater has a drama or a comedy, and yet another has an animated feature. What they have been doing, and are continuing to do, is turn every single theater in that multiplex into being about animation, and they are doing so with very little artistic integrity. The shows they produce with this mindset are often very poor and poorly received. Shows, such as Soarin’ and Expedition Everest don’t follow this mindset and are their great recent successes.
Disney Imagineer Kim Irvine was just on KCRW’s design and architecture show. She talked about changes coming to “it’s a small world” and the fan uproar surrounding said changes. You’ll probably be able to find an archive or transcript of the show at the KCRW… Read More »Imagineer Kim Irvine talks about “it’s a small world” changes
It’s not the changes that are expected to come to Disneyland’s original version of the classic “it’s a small world” attraction, but the Hong Kong Disneyland version does feature little Small World dolls all dressed up like Disney characters. Hong Kong Disneyland Source website has… Read More »New “it’s a small world” photos with Disney Characters
Back from a much needed 5 day beach vacation with the family. A big thanks to all the Disney Blog co-authors who stepped in with their posts while I was enjoying the white sands of Longboat Key. Amazingly, there is a Disney tie-in as the… Read More »Tuesday Catchup, Ketchup, Catsup, @!#%&! – Roundup