Disney-°o°-Rama » It’s a Small World

Video Preview of Newly Refurbished ‘It’s a Small World’ Attraction

David Wallace — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:07:41 +0000

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders were given the opportunity to preview the newly refurbished “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland yesterday, just ahead of the public reopening this morning. With the exception of being open briefly for the Christmas holiday, the attraction closed last February for a lengthy renovation, during which the entire flume and all of the boats were replaced.

Additionally it was rumored that Disney characters such as Ariel and Flounder, Lilo and Stitch and others would be placed throughout the ride, much to the dis-pleasure of Disney purists.

Now what has been kept under wraps for the last 12 months has been revealed and Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix, staff writer at MousePlanet, has captured the ride-through on video.

Check it out for yourself and see if you can spot some of the 30 additional characters that have been added to the ride. The video also features the all new “Spirit of America” scene.

Ride through the refurbished “it’s a small world” attraction.

After watching the video, check Adrienne’s review of the attraction for all the specific details of what has been changed, enhanced and added at MousePlanet.

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Disneyland’s ‘it’s a small world’ Opens After Lengthy Refurbishment

David Wallace — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:59:37 +0000

It’s been nine long months but the ‘it’s a small world’ attraction in Disneyland is once again open complete with its traditional Christmas overlay. The attraction has been under refurbishment since January of this year in order to make the water canal deeper, install new boats and generally refurbish the ride along with bringing show elements up to date.

It has also been confirmed that as part of the refurbishment, Imagineers planned to implement recognizable Disney characters such as Lilo and Stitch and others into the attraction. This brought about a combination of praise as well as criticism from Disney fans. Those Disney characters are not in place with the re-opening of it’s a small world on Friday but will very likely make their appearance after the Christmas Holiday overlay is removed in January.

Besides the water canals being deeper, the brand new boats are slightly narrower and hold fewer passengers. Changes to the interior of the attraction are more subtle including the fact that a few characters from the rainforest scene have been relocated, reportedly to make room for a new America scene after the holiday overlay is removed.

Here are a few photos taken by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix of MousePlanet.

it's a small world wearing its Christmas Holiday facade

Brand new boats and a deeper water canal

It’s a Small World After All, Thanks To Google Earth

David Wallace — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:14:47 +0000

In a pioneering partnership aiming to go online Tuesday, Google Earth and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will make it easy to take a virtual trip to Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and 22 Disney hotels and resorts, according to USA Today.

Users will be able to click on maps that show about 1,500 rides, restaurants and attractions all in 3-D. The mega-map, with interactive features, will be available via disneyworld.com/3dparks or Google Earth for free. “It’s a virtual walk-through of the whole property … the most amazing virtual tour of any place in the world,” Walt Disney Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo says.

“While Google Earth offers a growing number of 3-D images and gives bird’s-eye views of non-Disney theme parks, with links to information about them, the Disney project is the most ambitious and detailed 3-D production yet. It’s “truly innovative and unique,” says Google Earth maps director John Hanke.

One example of how this might work – click on Space Mountain and you can view a video of the ride as well as get information such as height requirements. Another example – place your mouse on the Grand Floridian and a video of the resort pops up. You also can check availability and rates and make a reservation.

For now, the map shows only exteriors, but in the near future web visitors might be able to stroll into Cinderella’s Castle or walk into a room at a Disney resort. Photographers are at work to map Disneyland Resort Paris (Euro Disney); other Disney properties are sure to follow.

Technology such as this will be a wonderful addition for people who are not privileged enough to have ever visited a Disney park. Sure it will not be as wonderful as being there in person but it sure beats postcards and pictorial books. It may even help detailed planners such as myself, get more out of a Disney theme park experience.

Video Preview of Changes To ‘Its a Small World’ From Hong Kong Version

David Wallace — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:57:46 +0000

While dozens of videos of Hong Kong Disneyland’s “it’s a small world” attraction have been posted on YouTube since the ride began soft-opening previews last month, the best version comes from member royal311 who posted a four-part ride through which simply shows the attraction without either unduly emphasizing—or at the other extreme completely editing out—the character cameos.

Check them out and see if you cannot spot the Disney characters that were added to the ride.