It's a Small World, Disneyworld: Orlando, FL

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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!

Comments

[Dez]

I don't want to correct you and please do not be offended. I know it's annoying when people correct bloggers, but I love that you enjoyed this ride so much & so I want you to be able to enjoy it to it's fullest extent.

The scene at the end is not of the Arctic. Rather, it is supposed to represent Utopia. With all the children of the world gathered together happily. It represents an idea of what the beauty of world peace would be like.

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip & can't wait to see more of your beautiful photography! :)

[thompson family]

thanks dez. : ) i read that it was the arctic/north pole area on a website (wanting to make sure i had that right) but obviously they were wrong. Thanks for correcting me.

[danielle thompson]

it makes sense now looking at their outfits. ; )

[alix]

I love this post so much.....I know people love to joke that the song drive them crazy but I really love this ride so much. When we went to Disneyland a few years ago, Wolfie wanted to ride it FIVE times. Yes five. And honestly I loved it each and every time....the Mary Blair artwork is just so sweet.

OH, here is another tidbit. On one of the early opening day ceremonies, Walt Disney invited children from all over the world to attend. They dressed up in their traditional garb and each brought a small bottle of water from their respective country....which was then poured into the "ocean" that the little boats ride on. (I have an old program from the 70s that has a photo of the kids pouring the water in to the ride). Super cute!

[Carrie Rosalind]

Wow! What great pictures!! I really felt like I was in the ride with you...now if only I could get the song out of my head! :)

[Stephanie]

Small World was my Favorite ride as a child by far! It's a classic. My Dad likes to tell little kids if they get lost in Disney The Small World is where they end up, haha

[Shannon Taylor]

My favorite ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was ALWAYS wonderful when it was a hot day!!!! Love your photos. Brings back a lot of memories of growing up not far from Disneyland. My faves of the ride, the white room & looking for the koala in Australia! ;0)

[Martha]

I have never had an urge to go to Disney until you started posting pictures of your trip....now I can't wait to go someday!!

[Nicole LeBlanc]

You captured some AMAZING photos! I just LOVE the color they added...I want to go back...NOW after seeing these photos. This was my absolute FAVORITE ride as a child. My girls also claim it as their fave! Thanks for sharing!

[Karli Plant]

i just love this ride.
so nostalgic!
Disneyland changes the facade on the outside ALL the time! it's kinda cool.
sometimes color. . . sometimes not!
i love how they added Disney characters into the countries they are from :)
a very nice and *new* addition!
Walt really was a genius.
i did a report on him when i was Junior High. . . everyone thought i was such a NERD!
but he really did have a vision that will surpass time itself.
and to think. . . most people told him he was crazy and would go bankrupt for building Disneyland!
only 33 people believed in him. . . hence "Club 33". . . a very ritzy club located in the Diz parks!
would LOVE to go in there someday!

p.s. have you ever been to Disneyland? in my opinion. . . WAY better than D-World! it is where it all started. . . and you can tell! the feeling there is even different. you can tell that Walt actually lived and breathed in that place.

[Karli Plant]

p.s. I LOVE YOUR PICS!!! i can hear the song in my head just from looking at them :)
i have a few of those collectibles. . . but those AVON bottles!!! EEEKKKKK!!!!

[lishyloo]

i want to just move in there and have it be my house!!

and i NEED the jewelry box, this will be my new thrifting goal along with the twin peaks board game.

[Crystal Toole]

LOVE! Thanks for posting these. Since I missed the ride (I was unlucky and went on Monday :( ) it was almost like I got to go. I did get to once but it was a long, long time ago and now we won't be back for anther couple of years. I will looking over these a few times. :)

[happy owl erin]

one of our favorite rides too. unfortunately i have only been to the Disneyland in SoCal never on the east coast. But growing up in CA we would go A lot...I have been there over 100 times! My favorite part is when they decorate the whole It's a small world ride for Christmas and all the corresponding holidays similar around the world!
xo

[Sara S]

Oh I love this ride! Can you have home sickness for Disney World? If so, I have a bad case of it. Is there any chance you might create some digital scrapbooking goodies based on your vacation?

[Jackie]

Wow! Great pics! I love the Avon bottles too ~I have the one from France but, I had never seen the others. I might just have to get them all now! :)

http://inconsistentmuchness.blogspot.com/

[Lauren]

Love the pictures! This brought back so many memories!

[Georgia Visacri]

OMGoodness, It's a small world is my all-time fave attraction at Magic Kingdom, Danielle, I wish my pics were as great as yours!
I'm hearing the music in my head right now, you're making me want to go back there right now! thanks for sharing all the vintage cuteness (the avon bottles are adorable!) :) :) :)
have a great weekend ;-)

[Cynthia]

Oh my gosh you made me cry!!!!! What awesome shots and the memories just flooded back. I have not been back to Disney world since 1980 and this post brought it all back!!! I am so glad you guys had so much fun!!!!!! Thanks for the magic:)

[Taylor]

Amaaaazing! I love your blog! This post was so interesting, I had no idea that some of my favorite Disney images had an artist in common--I think I have a new obsession, too. I haven't been to Disney since I was a little girl, but I did ride this ride and even the thought of all the adorable kiddos from around the world singing that songs gets me all misty-eyed!

[Katy]

ahh, what memories! I went to Orlando Disney in 1990, I remember this ride well as we went on it about for times because we loved how cute it was and got to sing along too. I have pictures but as you can imagine 1990's instant camera work from an 18 year old and her best mate doesn't quite look like yours!! I still love that song :)

[Shelly Capehart]

I think you are amazing. Youre blog is a thing of beauty!