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You know how you can smell an obsession coming on? This is what has happened to me ever since I visited "It's a Small World" at Disneyworld last weekend. And to think, it had just reopened the day before we went after being closed since September for refurbishment. I honestly feel totally lucky. Our visit would have not been the same had we not seen this attraction. I would've especially been sad for the boys, and Cooper wouldn't have been able to claim it as his "Favorite Ride" at Disney! (a boy after my own heart!).
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Ever since we got home, I've been spending a lot of time pouring over flickr, ebay (my new obsession includes finding every collectible that exists!) and other sites scrounging for every little detail I can find out about this ride. I've found so many brilliant vintage images to share with you, I almost don't know where to start. So I'm just going to jump in! I think what has stolen my heart is essentially the feel and look in the original designs for this ride. Here's some info I snagged from good 'ole Wikipedia to give you a little background info:
Like several other Disneyland attractions, "It's a Small World" originated with the 1964 New York World's Fair. After the fair closed, the ride was transferred to Disneyland and officially opened in 1966. The Ride was originally titled "Children of the World". When Walt Disney demonstrated it to songwriters, the ride's soundtrack featured numerous national anthems all playing at once, which resulted in a musical cacophony. Walt said, "I need one song." In response, they wrote It's a Small World (After All). It is argued that the song is the most performed and most widely translated song on earth.
The attraction's whimsical design was done by Mary Blair (she also painted an amazing mural in the Contemporary resort that I photographed and will be sharing with you this week!), who was also an art director on several Disney animated features (including Cinderella, Alice In Wonderland, and Peter Pan). Like many Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, scenes and characters were designed by Marc Davis, while his wife, Alice Davis, designed the costumes for the dolls. As noticed, the face on the animated dolls are all identical (hence, "it's a small world"). The design of the smiling clock face was created and delivered by artist, Gregory S. Marinello. Walt was personally involved with Gregory's development of the dolls facial design.
Wasn't Walt just a genius? I feel kind of weepy (melodramatic, I know, but true) when I think about what he created and what vision he had and how he keeps inspiring new generations of children. I don't think Disney will ever, ever get old. He's just one of those people, you know? Amazing.
Here's some incredibly inspiring images of various It's a Small World inspired things!
Sources: Entrace Sign, Thermos, Record, Vintage Postcards, Jewelry Box, Sheet Music, Record, Lunch Box, Book, Book Illustrations 1, 2, 3, Avon products, Board Game.
And here are my photos from the ride. I rode it twice using two different lenses. I am so glad I used the 2nd lens (my trusty 50mm!) because most of the ones I took with my 28mm came out blurry. It is very dark during this ride and most of the set is of course moving and singing. ; ) So darkness + moving objects (the sets AND us sailing along on a boat!) = photography challenges. But I'm lucky I got some good ones. These are straight from the camera, no editing. I know I looked like a crazy papparazi in my boat.
Some are still a bit blurry, but I still wanted to include them so you can get a good feel for the ride. If you haven't been on this ride and want to be surprised, I would not look at these, I don't want to spoil it for you! : )
The facade of the ride which is in a covered area. I noticed that DisneyLAND (and most It's a Small World attractions across the world - Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, etc) have their facades on the outside of the building, which I like better really. (It's interesting to compare!)
Here's the facade at Disney in California...
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And Hong Kong...
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I LOVE that they added color! swoon!
Waiting in line... ;)
Entering the ride...
I adore the folky designs and simplistic, geometric and 60's inspired shapes...
(note: these photos aren't in the same order as the ride went)
The Arctic/North Pole section is definitely one of my favs. It has that WOW factor where everyone is just sailing along, with mouths agape. : ) I remember as a child looking up in amazement! Edited to add correction: it is supposed to represent Utopia (not the Arctic/North Pole). With all the children of the world gathered together happily. It represents an idea of what the beauty of world peace would be like. Thanks for the correction, Dez. : )
The little hula girls shakin' their hips.. the CUTEST!
And at the end they have all of these fabulous signs saying "goodbye" in all of the different languages. Most of my photos came out blurry of these, but here's one I found on Flickr (source)
Here are mine.. my little men at the end of the ride!
(note to self: Stop telling the boys to say "cheese" for photos. Rule #1 in child photography. What was I thinking? ; )
I hope you enjoyed all of this It's a Small World inspiration and maybe it will inspire you to take a trip to Disney yourself, if you haven't already been!
Now I'm off to obsess over Mary Blair, the creator of so many of these wonderful Disney designs.
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P.S. I get asked questions from you lovlies sometimes in the comments section and I'm not always good about answering! I'm sorry! I'm going to try and start answering directly in the comments section, so if you ever do have a question, check back in the comments where you'll hopefully find an answer from me. Thank-you as always for visiting my blog. I appreciate each and every one of you!
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