It’s a Small World is one of those rides that you either love or hate and we love it! It was one of the first attractions we went on when we visited Disney World for the first time back in 1990. I think that is the reason why we love it so much, because it holds fond memories when our children were small and we used to sing the theme tune all the way round the ride.
Guests sit in boats and travel slowly around the world on a musical tour. Each boat holds about twenty people. Hundreds of dolls sing and dance and by the time you disembark you too will have the words and music indelibly imprinted in your brain! The ride lasts for over ten minutes and the boats travel along a 1, 085-foot canal.
Audio-animatronic dolls in their native costumes entertain as you slowly wind along the waterways. Hawaiian girls dancing the hula, Dutch children in clogs, the Tower of London guards, Chinese acrobats, Indian snake charmers, French can-can girls and Japanese children flying kites to name but a few. As you round a corner you enter a jungle filled with elephants, monkeys, giraffes and hippos. Look for the Hidden Mickey in the purple flowers on a vine close to the elephant.
It’s lovely and cool inside the ride so if it’s a hot or humid day, head over to Fantasyland and take a trip and you will leave feeling refreshed and revitalised.
It’s also a good way to rest those tired feet and aching legs after walking around the park all day!
It’s a Small World was first introduced to the public at New York World’s Fair back in 1964. After the fair finished the ride was transferred to Disneyland in California and then eventually opened in Disneyworld, Florida in 1971.
The theme tune was written by the Oscar-winning musical team Richard and Robert Sherman. Walt Disney asked them for a “simple piece of music that could be repeated over and over, sung in different languages” and “It’s a Small World” was born. If you don’t know the song now you definitely will by the time you leave the attraction. The really hard part is trying to forget it afterwards!
Children of all ages will love this ride, especially little ones. There are no drops or unexpected loud noises and it’s fun for the whole family. Okay, there will be some of you who cannot abide it, but you have to try it at least once otherwise how will you know whether to love it or hate it!
It’s a Small World – Magic Kingdom
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