Celebrity Feuds
Disney Ruining the World?

It's a Small WorldNo, not our world, the Small one. According to the LA Times, the family of the woman who helped create "It's a Small World" is begging Disney not to screw up the iconic ride with "idiotic" changes.

The ride has been closed since January to upgrade its boats - which some think was needed in order to accommodate the ever increasing weight of the general population. But now other changes are being tossed around.

Miceage.com is reporting that Disney Imagineers are considering adding Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Peter Pan, Nemo and other Disney characters to locations throughout the ride while replacing the Papua, New Guinea, rain forest scene with an American tribute.

In an open letter to Disney execs, the family writes, "The Disney characters of themselves are positive company icons, but they do NOT fit in with the original theme of the ride. They will do nothing except to marginalize the rightful stars of the ride 'The Children of the World.'"

Disney officials say some additions will be made to Small World but that no decision has been made on specific creative changes to the ride despite the speculation.



Reader Comments

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16. Whew! For a minute there I was worried that they wanted to change the song to being sung all in mexican! There's too much political correctness and kissing foreign behinds for this old gal!

Posted at 4:00PM on Mar 20th 2008 by GrannyJ

17. No kiddin don't change it. It is the best ride to give your feet a rest! Many memories from my childhood to my kids.

Posted at 4:06PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Kelli

18. Shouldn't even change the boats.... If your to fat, then you can't ride!

Posted at 4:06PM on Mar 20th 2008 by sm

19. #11 made me laugh out loud!

Posted at 4:09PM on Mar 20th 2008 by tracey

20. dont change it damnit! wtf?? leave everything as it is....change the boats if you will, but dont taint the original message it sends. yeah the song can get annoying, but what ISNT at DLand?

stupid mickey mouse corporation.

Posted at 4:07PM on Mar 20th 2008 by erratic-assassin

21. That ride SUCKS. Why are they putting any money into it?

Posted at 4:08PM on Mar 20th 2008 by sheesh

22. can't anything in this country stay "original"? why must they make changes? they can create a whole other ride. Yes, it's a small world is boring, i remember it boring...but give me a break, it's always been there and they need to leave it the way it was.

Posted at 4:12PM on Mar 20th 2008 by iowa girl

23. Trying to Americanize something foreign is sick. America is boring.New Guinea is mysterious and exciting.People go to Disney World to get away from it all and have an adventure. They don't go there to see more red, white, and blue shoved in their faces. And the kids can stand not to see Mickey and everybody on ONE ride.

Posted at 4:15PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Peyton

24. That song got on my nerves. The last time I was on that ride was in 1985. It was mu HS grad night. We got stuck in the middle of the ride! After 54 minutes I started to smoke, They then killed the music on the ride and a voice came over said to "Put out my cigarette". I said "FINE but get me the hell out of here". The ride started right up. To this day I still being traped on that ride.

Posted at 4:33PM on Mar 23rd 2008 by stan

25. I was told by a cast member that the main reason they shut it down is because the boats were getting stuck and stranded due to heavy passengers. They've resorted to having cast members asking larger guests to get off if the boat gets stuck and becomes idle. To keep them from getting too angry after such an embarassment, Disney will give the ejected guests free food coupons (not such a good idea if they're too heavy to begin with). I'm sure they're looking into updating it since they have to have it down anyway.
This problem with the boat is also becoming apparent on the Pirates of the Carribean ride. It won't be too long before that ride is shut down to re-do the structure of the boat and the waterways so it can better accomodate this larger society that we've become.

Posted at 4:22PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Deb

26. The dolls are creepy...

Posted at 4:22PM on Mar 20th 2008 by pd

27. They can add images of the all the dead Iraqi and Afghani children murdered by the US- that would entertain all those fat-assed idiots

Posted at 4:22PM on Mar 20th 2008 by jeez luiz

28. The rainforests are going to be gone very soon so it makes sense.

Posted at 4:25PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Ozzsanity

29. To Post #1, "It's a Fat World"

You got that right! Americans are the only ones who are going to the poor house (resession looms)--not walking, but waddling!

Maybe Disneyland should get rid of the boats, drain the water, and make the park-goers WALK or JOG through Small World.

Yeeesh!

Posted at 4:26PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Rah-Rah

30. I disagree.... it is OUR world they are ruining. I hate that place. I am a mother so with the whole self sacrifice thing.. I took them to Disneyland... I had but one condition for my husband.... NO WAY IN HELL I'LL GO ON THAT RIDE. So if you ask me.... they should just tear it down. The park not just the ride.... :D

Posted at 4:26PM on Mar 20th 2008 by haydee

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