A beloved Disneyland attraction returns to Fantasyland on Friday, Feb. 6, when “it’s a small world” opens with some new storytelling magic. With the premiere of a new “Spirit of America” scene, new musical enhancements, and a new look for some of the attraction’s familiar child dolls, “it’s a small world” will once again take guests of all ages on “the happiest cruise that ever sailed.”

This classic attraction has been renovated and enhanced while retaining the world-renowned charm that holds such a special place in the hearts of Disneyland guests. The “it’s a small world” journey continues to celebrate children of the world and their message of harmony and friendship. And now, for the first time, guests will be able to find some of the child dolls dressed as their favorite Disney characters, in the countries where their stories take place. For example, dolls dressed in Aladdin and Jasmine costumes play in the Middle East scene, and a doll dressed as Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” appears in the Great Britain scene.

Guests will enjoy riding “it’s a small world” again and again as they search for the 29 Disney and Disney - Pixar characters now represented in the attraction. Some appear as child dolls and some are playful-looking toys, such as the White Rabbit who accompanies Alice. The new doll costumes and toys are fashioned in the same artistic style that has made “it’s a small world” an icon around the globe. That style was created by art director, color stylist and Disney Legend Mary Blair, whose sense of design shaped “it’s a small world” from the very beginning.

“We know that many people have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to relive their ‘it’s a small world’ memories and to create new ones with children, grandchildren and friends,” said Disney Imagineer art director Kim Irvine. “It’s a pleasure to once again offer this beloved attraction to Disneyland guests, now with some special Disney enhancements.”

• Among the enhancements is a new “Spirit of America” scene based on original concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair, in keeping with the “it’s a small world” theme that friendship crosses all nations, including the United States.
• Child dolls that are costumed as stylized representations of their favorite Disney characters can be spotted in several scenes.
• The children in many “it’s a small world” scenes will have a variety of new stylized toys to play with, inspired by Disney and Disney•Pixar characters: Woody and Jessie for “Spirit of America,” a Mushu dragon kite for China, “The Three Caballeros” marionettes for Latin America, and others.
• Additional fresh touches will be heard in the augmented “it’s a small world” soundtrack. The renowned “it’s a small world” song, written by Academy Award®-winning composers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman (“Mary Poppins”), will still play throughout the attraction. Now, however, some subtle film music is woven into the song as counterpoint melodies, fitting the characters and scenes.
• All of the boats in “it’s a small world” are new and designed to evoke the look and feel of boats that children of the world might play with anywhere.

See “it’s a small world” with the “Southern California 2fer Ticket”*

Southern California residents, many of whom have grown up with “it’s a small world” and taken their own children on the voyage, have a special value opportunity to enjoy the enhanced attraction as Disneyland Resort asks “What Will you Celebrate?” The “Southern California 2fer Ticket,” which can be purchased now through June 3 for the price of a one-day one-park ticket ($69 for age 10 and up; $59 for age 3-9), lets guests experience Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure on one day, and then come back on another day to play at the other park for free. For information, visit www.disneyland.com or call (714) 781-7290.

Pin traders, collectors and avid “it’s a small world” fans will be able to obtain exclusive theme park collectibles and attend “it’s a small world” merchandise artist signings at Disneyland Resort. Two limited-edition “it’s a small world” artisan watches will be available at the Fortuosity Shop on Main Street, U.S.A., on February 6 and February 28 respectively. Pin traders may still be able to order the Limited Edition “it’s small world” collection, released January 30: eight pins featuring “it’s a small world” dolls in Disney character costumes as they appear in the attraction at Disneyland. A separate “first set sail – it’s a small world” pin will be available online exclusively to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders on February 15. And Disney Legend Alice Davis, who designed the original “it’s a small world” costumes, will appear with artist Dave Avanzino at a special signing and release of collectible art objects on February 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Disneyana Shop on Main Street, U.S.A. For more information about these items and more, visit www.DisneyGallery.com or www.DisneyPins.com.

Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney’s California Adventure park – plus the downtown Disney District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the “day-at-the-beach” fun of the 489-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.

“it’s a small world” History & Fun Facts

Disneyland 2009

• “it’s a small world” was originally conceived as an exhibit that would benefit UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Because UNICEF is dedicated to the welfare of children all over the world, the theme for “it’s a small world” became an international voyage celebrating the happy spirit of children everywhere.
• After two hit seasons at the fair, “it’s a small world” moved to Disneyland, where it was expanded and then reopened as a major attraction in 1966.
• Walt Disney dedicated “it’s a small world” at Disneyland on May 28, 1966. He invited children from around the world, and each child brought water from the rivers and seas of his or her own native land to be poured into the flume.
• Considered a quintessential Disney theme park experience, “it’s a small world” can now be found at five Disney parks on three continents – Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland.
• Guest research at Disneyland has found that one in four Disneyland guests – families with children and those who grew up riding the attraction - consider “it’s a small world” a tradition. They plan a voyage whenever they visit the park.
• More than 256 million guests have experienced “it’s a small world” at Disneyland in California since the attraction opened in 1966.
• “it’s a small world” contains more than 300 Audio-Animatronics figures representing children around the world. It also features more than 250 toys and 80 animated props.
• The tune was composed by Richard M. and Robert S. Sherman, the Academy Award®-winning composers of “Mary Poppins,” at the request of Walt Disney. Arranged and orchestrated with instruments from all over the world – bagpipes in the attraction’s Scotland scene, Peruvian reed flutes, Tahitian drums, etc. – the music not only provides accents to each scene, it underscores the attraction’s theme of unity.
• It’s a Small World (After All)” Lyrics
  It’s a world of laughter
  A world of tears;
  It’s a world of hopes
  And a world of fears.
  There’s so much that we share
  That it’s time we’re aware

  It’s a small world after all.
  It’s a small world after all,
  It’s a small world after all,
  It’s a small world after all,
  It’s a small, small world.

  There is just one moon
  And one golden sun
  And a smile means
  Friendship to ev’ry one.
  Though the mountains divide
  And the oceans are wide,
  It’s a small world after all.

• A stylized sun or moon (“There is just one moon/And one golden sun …” ) appears somewhere in each region.
• In the newly refreshed attraction, familiar Disney melodies provide musical counterpoint to the original tune. The Disney songs (and their locations) include “All in the Golden Afternoon” from “Alice in Wonderland” (Great Britain), and “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” (Middle East).
• Also new to “it’s a small world,” 29 popular Disney and Disney-Pixar characters are represented through costumed child dolls and toys in the countries or regions in which their stories take place.

Some examples:
Alice and the White Rabbit (“Alice in Wonderland”) in Great Britain
Woody and Jessie (“Toy Story”) in Spirit of America
Aladdin and Jasmine (“Aladdin”) in the Middle East
Mulan and Mushu (“Mulan”) in Asia (China)
Donald Duck, Panchito and José Carioca (“The Three Caballeros”) in
South America
Ariel and Flounder (“The Little Mermaid”) in the Pacific Islands
Lilo and Stitch (“Lilo and Stitch”) in the Pacific Islands (Hawaii)

• The design of the new characters replicates the bold yet childlike designs that were created by Disney Imagineering art director Mary Blair, who was honored as a “Disney Legend” posthumously in 1991. Her sense of design and use of color and shapes enhance the storytelling for “it’s a small world” and have informed every version of the attraction since the 1964 original.
• Also helping create the original “it’s a small world” was a team of Walt Disney Imagineers, several of whom also have been named “Disney Legends.” Rolly Crump translated Mary Blair’s two-dimensional designs into the three-dimensional sculptural world. Disney animator and Imagineer Marc Davis created many of the character vignettes, while his wife, Alice Davis, helped create many of the children’s costumes for the New York World’s Fair, Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris versions of the attraction.
• Disneyland Resort Horticulture creates and maintains a widely admired menagerie of animal-shaped topiary plants outside “it’s a small world.” It often takes five years before a topiary figure is ready for its onstage debut.
• A new “it’s a small world” tradition began in December 1997 when “it’s a small world” holiday debuted. Each holiday season, the attraction undergoes a festive holiday redressing and features new decorations, soundtracks, costumes, props and effects. The show depicts the children of the world celebrating the joys of the season.
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