Changes Coming to "It's a Small World"

I posted previously that Disney is having to change the boats on the "Small World" attraction because people have gotten so fat the boats get stuck. Today there's a story that more than the boats will be changed:

A small world it may be, but planned renovations for the It’s a Small World ride at Disneyland have fans fuming.

The 15-minute Fantasyland children’s ride closed in January until this fall for major refurbishments that include the addition of Disney characters.

“We are always looking at ways to make our experiences better,” said Marilyn Waters, spokeswoman for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We are the dimensional storytellers for the Disney parks. … We look at the original concept and intent, and make sure that we maintain that spirit.”

She said the renovations are a regular process for Disney rides in which the company goes beyond fresh paint to add new things for people to discover. Waters calls those add-ons “little pieces of magic that enrich the storytelling.”

But Disney fans like Scott Wolf, who runs the Disney-geared site mouseclubhouse.com, disagree with adding a lot of outside material to the attraction.

“I am a firm believer that Disneyland SHOULD change,” Wolf wrote on his site about the Small World renovations. “I am also a believer, however, of not changing the original concept nor theming of a classic, popular attraction when changes are made.”

Other fans have taken their objections further, like the Disney fans who set up a site called savethesmallworld.com. The site’s slogan is, “Save the Rainforest, Save the Small World.”

The site objects to the addition of Disney characters, saying that the changes risk “damaging the attraction’s core message of world peace by trivializing the show’s stars and message bearers – the Children of the World.” The site also objects to the speculation that the ride’s Papua New Guinea rain forest section will be replaced by an American-themed display called “Up with America.”

Waters said that many decisions on the attraction have yet to be made. She did say that some Disney characters would be added. At this point, she said, that does not include Mickey or Minnie Mouse.

“Alice in Wonderland” characters will be added, though, to the ride’s England area where a giant chessboard pattern and red rose trees are already included, both symbols of the “Alice” movie. Further, she said Alice and the White Rabbit will be based on a sketch of the two characters by Mary Blair, one of the original Small World artists.

“We are taking her creative approach and are being consistent with that,” Waters said.

I just wish they'd change that sappy song. After listening to that for 15 minutes you're ready to drown yourself in the canal.