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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91. Actually, they're doing a full refurbishment of the attraction because the canal itself (where the water is) has never been changed, improved, or fixed in any way. Therefore there are numerous leak issues as well as erosion. The entire canal needs to be replaced. That is the main reason and the weight of guests has nothing to do with it.

Posted at 1:59AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Neitmare

92. Who cares? What I want, is for them to bring Captain EO back for a while..because it kicks ass.

Posted at 2:53AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Mr Savo..

93. I REALLY LIKED CAPTAIN EO TOO!!! I NEVER MISSED IT WHENEVER I WENT TO DISNEYLAND.

Posted at 2:57AM on Mar 21st 2008 by NOBODY YOU KNOW

94. The executives at Disney vetoed Roy Disney when California Adventure was being tossed around so why would they possibly care or listen to what the average consumer wants? They remove and add rides/attractions at their discretion and let's not even talk about the outrageous price just to get in to the place!

Posted at 6:11AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Rochelle

95. It's the most boring ride ever and that song is so annoying!

Posted at 7:23AM on Mar 21st 2008 by mandieuk

96. Some countries are not even represented at all. If changes are considered, they should ad the countries that are missinng. example Venezuela (put a guy with a liki liki which is typical in Colombia too)

Posted at 8:20AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Alejo VZLA

97. That ride is classic....they shouldn't change it!

Posted at 9:50AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Etyluv

98. Please don't change "It's a small world" ride!! As a child, it was my favorite ride at Disney. I would like to show my children the ride one day - when I have kids. All throughout the park are the disney characters, there's no reason to add them to another ride. It wouldn't make sense. Please listen to our comments.

Posted at 9:31AM on Mar 21st 2008 by Kelly

99. we were just there last week. small world is already reopened people get your facts straight. and there are NO mickey and minnie in it as of this point.

Posted at 9:49AM on Mar 21st 2008 by marissa

100. nixing an international scene in favour of an "American Tribute"? Hmmm...shocking!!!

"Its a Small America" after all...

Posted at 10:13AM on Mar 21st 2008 by LadyL31

101. I would absolutely be torn apart if Disney goes through to make all of these changes! I love the rain forrest part! "It's a Small World" does not need an American tribute! If they want to they should add a different ride. The United States is just one country in a big world. "It's a Small World" is supposed to show diversity, and while the United States is a melting pot, the world is a much bigger one. And while I love Nemo, Mickey, and all those other Disney characters, they have no right to be in "It's a Small World."

Posted at 2:36PM on Mar 22nd 2008 by meggles

102. That is the LONGEST and MOST BORING ride in the WORLD! I hope they do change it.

Posted at 11:53AM on Mar 21st 2008 by udontknowme

103. CREEKER you are SOOOOOO RIGHT!!! Thanks for making me laugh!

Posted at 11:53AM on Mar 21st 2008 by udontknowme

104. I just came back from DisneyWorld. I am going to say, just so you all know, I've been a Disney lover ever since I remember, just passionate for everything that is Disney but I am not ignorant. I speak Spanish and I am not fat. All that said, let me go back to basics.

I was there in 2004 and the ride was closed to be refurbished. When I rode it this time, I noticed a few things have been updated. It still needs improvement. Although I would not like to see Mickey and his pals in there, I still agree that it needs an update, without destroying the original idea. I know Disney Imagineers will get around it and do their best as they always have.

For all of you out there that are, in a way or another, condemning, insulting, etc, etc, etc, Disney, please, stay out of the posts, unless you are actually giving a constructive opinion and acting like an adult. If you don't like it, don't go there, if you didn't like the ride, just say so, but don't insult it. No one forced you to go, you did it on your own. So if you want to be a critic, maybe you should start with your poor judgement. If you knew that you wouldn't enjoy it (come on, NO ONE goes to DW without reading about the rides first), then why did you go in the first place? You are going to the most famous park in the world, it's bound to be crowded, then why do you complaint when you knew it would happen?

Come on, let's all act like adults here, shall we? Is it too much to ask that we use some common sense?

Posted at 12:07PM on Mar 21st 2008 by Vivi

105. I just returned from the World in FL and nearly got into fisticuffs with a gigantic family waiting to get onto this ride. First, I'm your average 5'5" 110 # female and the guy trying to get by me was probably 3 times my size. He was attempting to join his gigantor family in front of mine. Rather than say excuse me, he nudged me. I did not move because by day 6 I was pretty darn tired of the largess of America and how much room we need to make to accomodate their Twinkie addiction. So the wife says to me, "Can you move, we're like, kind of together here." And I said, "kind of together or ARE together, because we're together" pointing to my family. She huffed at me, at which time the husband moved me out of the way. Long story short - they got on the boat in front of ours and I didn't think there was going to be any water left for us to ride on. Regardless, Nemo, Mickey and Company have no business on Small World and neither do the Gigantors.

Posted at 12:39PM on Mar 21st 2008 by kr4prez

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