Alice Davis on Small World Changes

[brassplayer]

Jim Hill Media has posted an interview with former Imagineer Alice Davis (who worked on the original version of It's A Small World) regarding the redo of the iconic Disney attraction. Davis is quoted:

"A lot of people decided before they even rode the revised version of 'it’s a small world' that they were going to hate it. Well, to them I say, 'Get a key and open your minds.'''

Amen, Sister!

Full article is here.

[Coheteboy]

This part stood out:

"Some things I like. Some I don’t like. I think that a committee changed 'it’s a small world.' Every so many years, a new group of Young Turks comes into the Company and thinks that they know better. And they change things like 'it’s a small world' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'

I don’t mean to throw rocks at them. But back when I worked at WED, we were lucky. We just had Walt to tell us how things should be, instead of some committee trying to decide things.

Sorry.. Just because Alice Davis (God bless her) is okay with it doesn't mean anything really. She did a great job with the costumes, so kudos to her.

America scene is the newest and worst scene in It's a Small World. It's awful. I'm more or less tolerable of the characters... but I would still prefer they weren't there. But in the grand scheme of things, I'm okay with them. It's the America scene that needs a major overhaul or the boot.

[Datameister]

Leave a door open at the wrong times, and you'll get all kinds of bugs and trash and dead plant matter and burglars coming into the house. The trick is in knowing when to open it for the good stuff - which is why we have windows. And while what you see through the window may look more or less attractive than it actually is, you can usually get a pretty good feel for whether or not it's a good idea to open it.

- Datameister, who still doesn't care either way about the IASW changes, against which there are some very valid arguments, but which ultimately don't affect his experience in the park because he's not a fan of the attraction

[Mr Wiggins]

"I think that a committee changed 'it’s a small world.' Every so many years, a new group of Young Turks comes into the Company and thinks that they know better."
-- Alice Davis

Amen, sister!

[brassplayer]

Sorry.. Just because Alice Davis (God bless her) is okay with it doesn't mean anything really.

Actually, I'm reading Davis' interview as she is okay with some changes, and not with others. However, she has some biting criticism for those who said they would hate the redo sight unseen.

[k_peek_2000]

I've seen them in person. Still dislike them. Just because Alice Davis likes them doesn't mean I should like them. That is not "opening your mind". If Davis respected the fan's opinions. She should be the one to get a key and open her mind to the fact we all have a voice. Her's isn't any more important than ours. And for Jim Hill to tell the people who dislike the changes to "Get a Life", He is probably the most unprofessional, un-optimistic, biased, person on all the disney sites. "If Alice likes the changes then I do". Please.

[pianoman13]

I determined that I wouldn't like the changes because no matter what, I knew they would harm the integrity of the show(even if they're in the "Mary Blair style"). I didn't decide how much I would dislike it before I experienced it, and it turns out that I liked some things, like Alice in Wonderland.

She's talking about the people who were extreme and said that they knew they would hate it before they even experienced it.

[Coheteboy]

Actually, I'm reading Davis' interview as she is okay with some changes, and not with others. However, she has some biting criticism for those who said they would hate the redo sight unseen.

Right... and they're directed at those who "hate" the changes without seeing them. But the truth is... most of us knew that we wouldn't like the changes. It was the degree of how much we wouldn't like them that changed.

Personally, I hated the characters less, and hated the America scene more.

So I guess it still balanced out to a negative view.

[Mr Wiggins]

He is probably the most unprofessional, un-optimistic, biased, person on all the disney sites.

I used to read him regularly. That was a long time ago, before he got in the habit of trolling for traffic on his site by inciting controversy -- like with this latest piece. No, thanks.

=P

[Bear-y Tales fan]

Me too I'm Just Like my close friend, Alice.

I had the same views as her and I did'nt like america too much and and toy story characters. While the other additions I enjoyed.

My friend,Kim told me that Later on they will update america since it was mostly the whole show scene that recieved negative views from many fans and guests. Currently they toned down the lighting of the room since it was criticized for being too bright since kim and them wanted to make it bright for re-opening along with the Disney Characters so it could show guests the new stuff(Not For Marketing Ploys since thats what many Fans think or for show off) that were added To IASW.