it's a small world - Disneyland style

One of the things I was most excited about seeing at Disneyland were those attractions that are also at Walt Disney World. I knew there'd be some similarities and differences, and I was looking forward to checking those out for myself.

When I arrived at Disneyland that Saturday, May 30th, I got checked into my hotel, freshened up a bit and then headed right over to Disneyland. I couldn't wait to get in my first Disneyland attraction.

So I went over to it's a small world!

The difference from Walt Disney World is apparent right away; the loading for the attraction is outside, so as you line up and step into your boat for the Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed, you're in the nice California sunshine.

The building that houses it's a small world is ADORABLE. I loved it. Similar in color scheme to its counterpart at Walt Disney World, but with enough differences to still be brand-new to me.

Riding the attraction itself was very cool - it's the small world you've come to know, but with some important differences. In the midst of the animatronic children/dolls that are familiar, you see some of the Disney characters! I didn't know about this difference beforehand, so it was cool to ride it for the first time and check out how the characters were represented. You'll see Cinderella, Nemo and Dory, Woody and Jessie, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, and so many more. When I rode later in the week with my nieces and nephews, my niece and I tried to make up a game and find as many characters as we could.

As our cruise was nearing an end, the ending was also a bit different. At Walt Disney World, you see "Goodbye" in various languages; here at Disneyland, it's post cards from all over the world, letting people know what a great time they're having at Disneyland. Super cute!

I have to say, after going on this attraction - I prefer the Disneyland version over the Walt Disney World version! Having the characters represented is a lot of fun. Next time you're on the attraction, see how many you can count.

Have a magical day!

It's IS a Small World After All

As Disney attractions go, It's A Small World can be pretty polarizing.  Some people love the nostalgia of the ride, the simplicity of it, and its place in Disney theme park history.

Some people, on the other hand, do not.  I think those people are crazy.

I love this ride; to me it's the essence of Disney, the heart of the parks.  You just CANNOT go into Disney World or Disneyland without riding Small World.  It's the law (and if it isn't, it should be!).

What I didn't realize was the historical significance of this piece of music.  Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman, the writers of the song (and composers of some of the most famous and iconic music of all time, also known as the Sherman Brothers), wrote it soon after the Cuban Missile Crisis.  It was intended to spread the message of peace between cultures and nations.  Pretty cool stuff.

Come on, sing along....you know you want to.

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope, 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.
(copyright Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman)

(You're going to have that song in your head all day. You're welcome.)