Save the Rainforest - Keep "it's a small world" a classic.

[BassBone]

To me, the hippo is the only enjoyable part of the whole attraction. She's just so bizarre.

[Semiquaver]

I believe for the American rider, not having an American section is more patriotic.

It places you into the ride.

You're singing that infernal song by the end, too.

You're not a passive rider anymore.

YOU represent America.

[Datameister]

I just want to say that I recently saw some of the things DDS is working on for the overhaul, and it could certainly be an okay change, IMO. I'd suggest waiting until it's installed before you complain too much.

[mousechild]

Originally Posted by Datameister

I just want to say that I recently saw some of the things DDS is working on for the overhaul, and it could certainly be an okay change, IMO. I'd suggest waiting until it's installed before you complain too much.

Where is the fun in that? We can spin a lot more weird ideas and theories if we don't have facts.

[DisneyPixar]

As stated, there is nothing wrong with an America room. Especially when so many people who are not from America are going through the parks. Also, I think a lot of people, especially younger people, are losing touch with the roots of Americana, and eras like the Roarin' 20s and Great Depression. Also, making America merely a part of the small world, puts everything on equal symbolic footing. You see that America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America are equally important, the one no more or less than the other. We say "Oh, we're a part of the small world, just like they are."

Bottom line: Two lands in DL pay tribute to America's roots. So I don't feel slighted by the rainforest. But symbolically, thematically and practically an America room does not hurt the attraction and actually reinforces the idea of inclusion. So there is nothing wrong with this change, either.

Second, about the Disney characters. If they are small, the size of the dolls, and are doing small, out of the way things like surfing in a corner, driving a car, sitting at a cafe, it won't make them the focus, it will make them something else to look at.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by DisneyPixar

As stated, there is nothing wrong with an America room. Especially when so many people who are not from America are going through the parks. Also, I think a lot of people, especially younger people, are losing touch with the roots of Americana, and eras like the Roarin' 20s and Great Depression. Also, making America merely a part of the small world, puts everything on equal symbolic footing. You see that America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America are equally important, the one no more or less than the other. We say "Oh, we're a part of the small world, just like they are."

Bottom line: Two lands in DL pay tribute to America's roots. So I don't feel slighted by the rainforest. But symbolically, thematically and practically an America room does not hurt the attraction and actually reinforces the idea of inclusion. So there is nothing wrong with this change, either.

Second, about the Disney characters. If they are small, the size of the dolls, and are doing small, out of the way things like surfing in a corner, driving a car, sitting at a cafe, it won't make them the focus, it will make them something else to look at.

Actually, there are four lands that pay tribute to America's past and roots. Main Street USA, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country are directly tied to America's past and our nation's roots and history. The intention of these lands is to maintain and preserve the past via a "museum of living facts" while entertaining guests and creating a unique themed experience.

"it's a small world's" purpose is not to educate riders on American history. In fact, I don't know how it could even do that. The ride is not intended to educate people on specific cultures, the show uses oversimplifications and inoffensive stereotypes to quickly and playfully call attention to specific locales and nationalities - but the core message is that we can all work together and create a peaceful world. Americans don't need a specific representation of their own country because they're effectively in the attraction via the boats.

[DisneyPixar]

Americans don't need a specific representation of their own country because they're effectively in the attraction via the boats.

I'd argue that we are not all "americans" in the boats, that WDW and DL are international experiences as well. I also think including America as a land like any other reinforces the idea of all of us being a part of the small world. America's not in the boats watching the simplistic stereotypes, not apart from the others, but a part of the whole world, with the same treatment. Seems more inclusive.

Regardless, I don't care if you get the rainforest to stay, but I don't have a problem with it going.

[Coheteboy]

Pushing this in another direction, what countries deserve more additions before America does? I think Asia is pretty lacking. There's a lot of India but the Far East is pushed into a corner. Just my opinion.

[BellhopPrincess]

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

Pushing this in another direction, what countries deserve more additions before America does? I think Asia is pretty lacking. There's a lot of India but the Far East is pushed into a corner. Just my opinion.

Exactly! Why not "fix" what is there before adding in something new?

I am all for the unity of world cultures to promote peace--I am. But isn't it more beneficial to expose Americans to other cultures than to expose them to their own? Granted, the nutshelled versions of the world don't show diddly, but it's the idea that is important.
Also, the portrayal of America will be further showing the stereotype to international tourists that Americans are self-righteous pigs who only think of themselves. America gets it's own room right before the finale, right before the climax of the ride, where everyone comes together--why is that? What makes us so special? How does that promote unity if we are seperating ourselves from the rest of the world?

[techskip]

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

Pushing this in another direction, what countries deserve more additions before America does? I think Asia is pretty lacking. There's a lot of India but the Far East is pushed into a corner. Just my opinion.

So... umm... more oil barrels then?

[Datameister]

How does that promote unity if we are seperating ourselves from the rest of the world?

Just to play devil's advocate--the current version of the ride does separate us from the rest of the world. We get to full-sized people in boats, and everyone else just gets to be silly dolls standing around all day, repeating basic motions.

I'm partly kidding. But I am bothered by a general trend in most equality-focused movements--the trend of trying to balance out inequalities by introducing new inequalities that favor the other group. You don't try to make the rest of the world seem as important as us by making the rest of the world seem more important than us--you do it by making them seem as important as us! To that end, I'm kinda sorta in support of the America room. But honestly, I still am not convinced that any of this is that big a deal.

[MasterGracey]

Originally Posted by DisneyPixar

I'd argue that we are not all "americans" in the boats, that WDW and DL are international experiences as well. I also think including America as a land like any other reinforces the idea of all of us being a part of the small world. America's not in the boats watching the simplistic stereotypes, not apart from the others, but a part of the whole world, with the same treatment. Seems more inclusive.

Regardless, I don't care if you get the rainforest to stay, but I don't have a problem with it going.

Parks are designed to cater to the needs and expectations of their own country. Whether you think that is fair or not is an entirely different matter.

"it's a small world" at Disneyland was designed with American audiences in mind. And the vast majority of park guests are American.

Should I, an English-speaking American tourist, be irritated that many attractions feature French or Japanese spiels at Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland? No, because those parks were designed to meet their native country's needs, and that is appropriate.

[TwilitWings]

Originally Posted by Coheteboy

Pushing this in another direction, what countries deserve more additions before America does? I think Asia is pretty lacking. There's a lot of India but the Far East is pushed into a corner. Just my opinion.

I've always thought that odd also--partially because I am far-east Asian in terms of ethnicity--that China/Japan were always rather "pushed away" into a small corner while India has the Taj Mahal. Not that I mind India/South-east Asia getting its due, simply that it's always seemed a blink-and-you-might-just-miss-it section. : /

[lazyboy97O]

Originally Posted by DisneyPixar

Second, about the Disney characters. If they are small, the size of the dolls, and are doing small, out of the way things like surfing in a corner, driving a car, sitting at a cafe, it won't make them the focus, it will make them something else to look at.

Doing this would not make sense financially. Sorry, but the attraction's focus is going to change whether Disney admits it or not. "it's a small world" at Hong Kong Disneyland is supposed to "serve as an introduction to Disney characters". This is not Don Quixote representing Spain in the Magic Kingdom. These characters are Disney's in the minds of the visiting guests and Consumer Products'.

Originally Posted by MasterGracey

Parks are designed to cater to the needs and expectations of their own country. Whether you think that is fair or not is an entirely different matter.

"it's a small world" at Disneyland was designed with American audiences in mind. And the vast majority of park guests are American.

Should I, an English-speaking American tourist, be irritated that many attractions feature French or Japanese spiels at Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland? No, because those parks were designed to meet their native country's needs, and that is appropriate.

Exactly why the USA section was designed and built at Disneyland Paris.

[Coheteboy]

I have to chime in and say that the majority of Disneyland's audiences are American. (Maybe even 40% of that being mexican)

WDW's audience would be a larger mix.


And what IS an American section anyway? Cowboys chasing down Native Americans? Chinese railroad workers? Plantations?

Exactly what time period are they going to highlight? If it's modern day then they should just insert American into other countries perhaps?