It's a Wee World, November 1967
It seems that people either love or hate "It's a Small World"... I not only love it, I don't even have a problem with the song. Maybe I'm too dumb to let it get stuck in my head.
Anyway, my memories of this ride always include the queue, with the smell of the chlorinated water and the tick of the clock and all of the spinning, whirring do-dads...
... capped off by the smiling face swinging back and forth. The railroad is passing through, and the clock is just starting it's 2:45 pm performance (once every 15 minutes, ya know).
Here we are, south of the border. Why, it's just like the real Mexico! If there was a giant sombrero around, I'd want to dance beneath it. I like the Aztec sun, too.
Now it looks like we are in Argentina. I guess. There's a gaucho, anyway. And a llama and an emu. Dr. Seuss would be right at home here. 
16 comments:
What song?
You know, I went to Disneyland once...in 1973. (I've been to Disney World like 8 times since then) The point is that I remember the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, The Materhorn, the sky buckets, even Flight to the Moon, but I have no memory of It's a Small World. How the heck do you forget a block long animated clock? In the years since, I have looked at countless films and pictures trying to jog my memory, but- nothing. Oh well...
Aw, how sweet. Although I must admit, I only ride Small World once a year, during Christmas. That's enough for me. But...that first photo...I could not figure out that queue! I don't remember it like that.
Chiana, they recently replaced the original song with Prince's "Erotic City".
I'm with anonymous, I don't have any early memories of this attraction or the song. I think my parents didn't like it so they never took us on it, can't say I missed much.....
In pic#1 the folks are exiting on what is now the entrance ramp, I liked it better before they switched it.
Anonymous 2 chimes in:
My Mother loved this thing, we never missed it. I didnt get a trip to Disneyland without SW until I went with the high school class.
I used to hate it, now I'm kind of nostalgic for it.
I saw in my recent visit to the Walt Disney Museum that the SW clock is inspired by a clock in Austria that Walt saw during his time as a driver there after WWI.
Thanks for these.
JG
It's a Small World. Put me down in the "Love" camp and be prepared to scrap if you cross me on this.
My construction memories are exactly the opposite of the Haunted Mansion. With HM the facade went up and I languished for YEARS looking thru the fence wondering what was going on in side.
With SM, the facade popped up like a mushroom overnight, an almost instant attraction.
I say "almost" because I had the misfortune of visiting Disneyland just a few days before SM opened. The moat was full, but the clock animation was off. I had to wait a few months before my first highly-chlorinated cruse round the world.
You know, WDW tried to capture the same feel with their new Small World loading area, but it can't be the same...Give me outdoors and huge clocks any day!
stu29573, I've seen photos of the WDW version, and think it's still an improvement over the old incarnation.
Emu, Australia
Rhea, South America
Improvement? Yes.
As good? Nope
Still, its better than it was!
tracyb, I'm ashamed! I actually know this, but... there ya go.
love Small World too, was very glad when the WDW version remodeled a few years ago to be more like DL.
nothing beats when you come upon it for the very first time...an overwhelming feeling when you are used to the small facade at WDW. we always wait around to see the doll parade if we get there between times ;)
thanks for these lovely pictures!
I love It's a Small World...both ride and song. It's so easy to make fun of, yet its simple, basic message will always be relevant.
For those who find the dolls creepy (and they're not my favorite element of the ride), the key is to focus on the amazing set designs and the wonderful animals. The penguins, the walrus, the geese, the llamas, the croc with his umbrella,the kiwis, the whole African section, the...whatever that thing is spinning its tail around in its paw...
Not even the most jaded cynic can deny that the animal inhabitants of Small World absolutely ROCK!
I love the entry, too. The topiary animals, the tic-toc sound that never gets irritating, and the whimsical arrangement of the music...There's nothing else like it.
I'm a guy, I LOVE SMALL WORLD, and I'm not ashamed to admit it! :)
Aaah thanks Maj I was wondering! ;-) Too funny. You know those late '60s peeps in the top pic, they look like they were designed for the ride as much as visa versa...
Big fan of 'Small World' in any incarnation (although the latest changes to include film characters took some getting used to)
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