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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46. kdub -> then the problem is not the ride, the problem is: FAT PEOPLE!

Posted at 4:55PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Huckbilly

47. If they wanted to make the ride Exciting, they would put "Hidden Mickeys" as they have all around the parks, and have a Prise for the Correct number of Mickeys guessed by riders, that would change on a daily basis.

Posted at 5:01PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Former Disney Imagineer

48. HICKBILLY IS LONELY AND NEEDS SOME ATTENTION HAS ANYONE SEEN HIS BOTTLE?? FAT, SKINNY, BIG, SMALL WHATEVER THOUGHT THIS WAS ABOUT DISNEYLAND ,IT MUST REALLY SUCK FOR YOU THAT THE ONLY PLACE YOU HAVE A VOICE THATS FORCED TO BE HEARD WOULD BE HERE BY US, UNFORTUNATE FOR US I KNOW, EVERYONE PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS PROFILE ITS OFF THA HOOK IM SURE IT MAKES HIS MOM PROUD :)

Posted at 5:10PM on Mar 20th 2008 by LOSERS

49. I just got back from Disney and Small World is not closed at all...

Posted at 5:21PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Julie

50. I can understand needing to change the boats. Disneyland really has no control over how obese people get, and they can't quite lead some kind of crusade for being skinny/healthy by no longer allowing obese people to ride their rides. For something like that to be pulled off, it would require the entire world participating.. like having a cholesterol test at the counter at McDonalds and not serving customers who fail it. Its just not going to happen, so you can't really condemn them for having to make the changes.

As for the USA spectacular, the ride is in the USA. I am kinda left wondering why the ride would need to represent the country it is in (if we're talking the LA location) when quite obviously everyone knows the USA cuz they're in it. I would rather see the ride left as-is, because that is part of the charm (just like that horrible song playing over and over and over).. its like its the ride you love to hate or hate to love. No Micky, no Nemo, no more USA. Keep it about the world.

Posted at 5:37PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Jade

51. This ride had not been closed since January. We were just there 4 weeks ago !

Posted at 6:58PM on Mar 20th 2008 by roni

52. For adults the ride may seem boring, but my 2 and 3 year old children loved it. It was definitely a highlight for them! Isn't that what Disneyland is all about -- entertaining children?

Posted at 6:17PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Kim

53. While I think that this ride is something people think about when they go to Disney World, I went on it. It NEEDS an upgrade! It is like being on an acid trip that you can't come down off of. Have you ever seen a movie where the characters are dreaming and the evil "thing" is moving in and out of the camera? That is what this ride made me feel like! By the endo fo the ride the children were evil!!! I think that I might consider going back on it if they changed it up. MIGHT......

Posted at 6:07PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Jennifer

54. I hate that ride....its boring...and that freakin song tortures you to death for the rest of the day after you hear it...aaarrrggg!!

Posted at 6:07PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Anonymous

55. That is the most annoying ride in Disneyland

Posted at 6:12PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Andy

56. This ride is one of the most positive inspirational rides in all of disney world...ive been on it all 22 (im 23) times ive been there and i never get tired of it...no matter how down i am all i have to do is go on this ride and i leave awestruck and uplifted... i can understand the pressure to change it to conform to modern times but make sure you stick to the ORIGINAL CONCEPT!!

Posted at 6:15PM on Mar 20th 2008 by MikeyMo

57. Granny J what a stupid ass u r. People don't speak mexican, it's called spanish dumb@@@ beachhhhh. That just shows that ur from another planet. No I AM NOT HISPANIC OR WHITE JUST A PERSON THAT BELIEVES THAT YOUR A IGNORANT DUMB***.

Posted at 6:15PM on Mar 20th 2008 by speaking mexican

58. Dont change a thing! my favorite part of the ride is the rain forest!! They should just leave everything alone, like the family said.

Posted at 6:26PM on Mar 20th 2008 by jessy

59. is nothing sacred?-- Pirates of the Carribean, now It's a Small World -- keep it the same and let the fat people walk around the block.

Posted at 6:31PM on Mar 20th 2008 by trollop mama

60. OMG! We need to get a petition going TMZ to stop them from changing the ride!! You ppl in?

Posted at 7:11PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Pink to the Lee

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