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It’s a Small World

I can feel many of you nodding emphatically at this one. It’s a Small World is the ride that united Walt Disney and Joan Crawford under the Pepsi corporate umbrella. It’s also the attraction that’s arguably most closely associated with Disney theme parks. And it’s also a ride that doubles as some sort of mental reconditioning program. You enter the little boat ride optimistic and happy. Then, each recitation of the same infernal lyric eats at your soul, devouring your spirit from within.

Okay, some of that may come across as hyperbolic. I’m honestly not even sure how much of it I mean. All I know is that whenever someone asks me if I’d ridden It’s a Small World yet that day, I feel myself collapse into a protective, near-fetal position as I dread the impending question. “Would you like to go on it with us?” There’s no polite way to say, “NO! PLEASE DON’T SUBJECT ME TO THAT SONG ONCE AGAIN! HAVEN’T I SUFFERED ENOUGH?!”

I admire It’s a Small World as one of the integral parts of theme park history. I enjoy the set designs and find the little boat ride quite relaxing. It’s just that song… I’ve heard it enough for one lifetime. Fifty lifetimes, really.

Park shows

Whether we’re discussing Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Country Bears Jamboree, The Hall of Presidents, or live performances at the World Showcase, the issue is the same. The first few times that you watch each showing, you’ll find something that excites you about the production. The Hall of Presidents has amazing Audio-Animatronics that captivate with their authenticity. Beauty and the Beast distills the highlights of the film(s), well, beautifully. Country Bears Jamboree really is a hoot, and it’s timeless to boot. And the Indiana Jones show helps people appreciate the complexities of Hollywood stunt scenes, finally understanding just how much can go wrong.

Still, even the best of these shows, Festival of the Lion King, has a shelf life of a few performances before it gets stale. I’m not saying that it ever stops being impressive, just that the initial thrill dissipates over time. When that happens, you’ll stop making the show a part of every theme park visit but rather an infrequent activity that you view as retro-Disney. And the thought of that happening makes me melancholy. I’ll still always love you, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, but 25 years is a long time to keep something fresh.

So, that’s my list of five things at Disney that have grown old. Do you have any to add? If so, feel free to mention them in the comments.

 
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Comments

Agree with everything on this list. Especially the monorail and general transportation around the resort. It is fundamentally impressive when you think about how large the resort is but it gets old quick how long it takes to get anywhere on property. An advantage that Disneyland has. Even though it isn't as impressive I was blown away and how easily accessible it was. I think the distance from an off property hotel to the entrance of the park at Disneyland is the same as it is from a far parking spot to the entrance in the Magic Kingdom. I know a few AP locals that purposely don't go to the Magic Kingdom very often because of the hassle.

BTW the new website really REALLY sucks. Almost infinite scrolling past clickbait articles to get to the comments section. If you want to engage your audience and have ongoing discussions this is definitely not the way to do it.

YES!! I have been a Disney fan since i was 5 and i always loved the monorail but now i feel like it is just there because Disney does not want to spent the money to tear it down. I really hope they do a fleet wide renovation of the monorail soon.

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