Save Small World! (Why the Classic Shouldn't be changed!)

[Datameister]

But 'good change' is such a personal thing. My son will delight to find his favorite characters inside one of his favorite attractions. He will then complain when 20 years down the line, they change the Small World that he grew up with.

Very true--it's definitely personal. Do note that I also said I don't really mind the change.

[MoonRakerSCM]

People can't change with times and allow changes to happen without obsessive whining...

Back when the thing was originally built, Disney did not have the huge global impact nor output as it does today. Disney did not have as many international characters as it does today. When it was originally built, the world was a bigger place, locals in the attraction were truely exotic. Todays world is smaller and the average person has connections to all of the locals in IASW by the click of a button. While 'historic' as one person has said, it no longer holds the impact on people that it once did.

Times have changed, people have changed... Disney is changing an attraction in a way that benefits itself and its consumers in a positive manner. Is IASW losing its loving and equalizing message? Of course not, it's simply making Disney characters a part of it.

Also... it's a ride with dolls. People getting all about it is kind of sad.

[The International]

Originally Posted by kinkerbell

I've got to agree. Weather or not they add disney characters to it. It's still, in some cases, It's still IASW just newer.

Yeah. I'm really happy they're revamping the ride (I don't know to what extent since Miceage won't load for me at the moment), it needs a lot of work. It's still a good ride and the nostalgia factor is there but there's a way to update it and add new things while still maintaining the feel of the original.

Take the new Pirates animatronics and effects. I know a lot of people complain about them as a method of "cashing in" on something (because Disney as a business shouldn't try to capitalize on hot properties?) but the truth is, if they'd been there since day one nobody would complain. I fully support going back into old rides and making changes like this, I think it's a best of both worlds type thing because you get to keep a ride that people have loved for decades intact while still giving them new reasons to ride it.

[ThomasJefferson]

The only thing that could save this god forsaken ride is a well placed tactical nuclear device.

[themur]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

But 'good change' is such a personal thing. My son will delight to find his favorite characters inside one of his favorite attractions. He will then complain when 20 years down the line, they change the Small World that he grew up with.

Absolutely!

If the the changes are subtle as was posted earlier, then it might be very nice. It is a small world and one of those things making it such is the universal appeal and recognition of classic Disney characters.

[2DieFR]

Originally Posted by MoonRakerSCM

Disney is changing an attraction in a way that benefits itself and its consumers in a positive manner.

I know how Disney benefits. How, exactly, do the consumers benefit? I'm interested.

[Olympicnut]

Originally Posted by 2DieFR

(bold mine)

Your philosophy would work if it's a small world was an unpopular attraction before it closed a few weeks ago. But as you can see in Darkbeer's photo from January 18th, that is clearly not the case.



There's no denying it. This attraction, in its current form, still manages to pack them in.

small world doesn't need Disney characters. It needs a new trough, new boats, and some TLC.

It's not my philosophy, it's a fact! That was iasm Holiday, of course it had insane lines like that!

And fyi, Pirates and HM were always large draw attractions before their changes. Weren't they? Or were those lines I waited in for some other attraction?

A LOT of people said Pirates didn't need to add the movie AA's either but they are there now and the complaining about that ride died down soon after their introductions. And many think they are great!

So I'm not sure of your point here.

[The International]

Originally Posted by 2DieFR

I know how Disney benefits. How, exactly, do the consumers benefit? I'm interested.

Well, I'm a consumer, and I will benefit because I'll have new, exciting things to look at while I'm on a ride I've been on 50 times.

[Witches of Morva]

ORDDU: When my sisters and I first heard that Hong Kong Disneyland's version of IT'S A SMALL WORLD would have Disney characters as part of the attraction, it didn't bother us a bit. Now that we're hearing this might happen to California's version, too, it still doesn't bother us. It should, of course, be done tastefully.

ORWEN: Personally, it wouldn't bother me if EVERY Disney attraction had some sort of movie or character 'tie-in'. After all, these ARE Disney theme park attractions we're talking about. If you can't have attractions at a Disney park with Disney movie tie-in's and characters, where else CAN you have them? Remember, it all started with a Mouse!

ORGOCH: Got cheese?

[The Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by 2DieFR

I know how Disney benefits. How, exactly, do the consumers benefit? I'm interested.

Just because you obviously don't like characters doesn't mean others don't as well. I'd be willing to bet that a good majority of people entering the gates either expect, or want to see the characters.

[2DieFR]

Originally Posted by Olympicnut

That was iasm Holiday, of course it had insane lines like that!

Yes, it did. The holiday version is seasonal, it builds upon the success of the original version, and is a hit with guests.

I am skeptical that Disney characters in the attraction will be a hit with guests.

Originally Posted by Olympicnut

And fyi, Pirates and HM were always large draw attractions before their changes. Weren't they? Or were those lines I waited in for some other attraction?

Oh no, you waited in the right line alright.

And yes, Pirates and HM were large draw attractions before their changes. I would say the same thing about them as I am doing now about IASW: they are popular as-is.

The difference here is that I am not agreeing that the change itself is beneficial.

Originally Posted by Olympicnut

A LOT of people said Pirates didn't need to add the movie AA's either but they are there now and the complaining about that ride died down soon after their introductions. And many think they are great!

Many people on this forum and elsewhere had strong opinions about the PotC changes when they happened. But just because there aren't current threads about it doesn't mean they don't think the same anymore. It isn't recent news anymore; what happened, happened.

I don't want to speak on behalf of others here. If other people think IASW is just fine with Mulan and Ariel and Aladdin and whoever else, that's fine with me. I'm not trying to change peoples' opinions.

[2DieFR]

Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

Just because you obviously don't like characters doesn't mean others don't as well. I'd be willing to bet that a good majority of people entering the gates either expect, or want to see the characters.

Where did you get the idea that I don't like characters? It's the context. I don't want them in IASW. Let them have as many meet-and-greets and fantasy faires as they want, but not in iasw.

[Steve DeGaetano]

With Disney characters added to the scenes, won't the theme of the world's children singing in peace and harmony become just slightly diluted?

Or can we take the additions to be symbolic of Disney's takeover of the world?

Just curious.

[kinkerbell]

People sure do get worked up about a rumor. You know not all rumors are true.

[DarthDucky]

I like the idea, but I do have some problems with it. It takes away from Hong Kongs individuality, it takes away from the classicness of it all, also I feel that the new additions will stick out, it has been 40 years since Mary Blaire worked on the attraction I have a problem beleiving that it will produce the same results. One last thing, if they add Peter Pan, they will probably add hook, if they add Hook and he has facial hair, I will slap a CM when I get off the ride.