I'll admit It's a Small World isn't a ride I get too excited about, but hey, it's a classic and I'll hop on if the lines short. I've ridden in Disneyland Paris and the Magic Kingdom. As a proud Aussie I noticed our national display is a little...lackluster. A purple Koala (not a bear!), a yellow dingo (not eating a baby) and a sort of generic-native Aboriginal. It makes me laugh more than rankles me, but does any anyone have a country that especially makes them role their eyes or wish for more? I also think Ireland should have a nice Guiness with their sparkly Leprechauns, because I'm very culturally astute.
Your post made me laugh so much! Dingo not eating a baby!!! :-)) The whole thing kind makes me roll my eyes at one stage or another, even though like you, I will hop on if no lines - it is a classic part of the Kingdom. I do think Hawaii is really cute though with the surfers and hula dancers. And now...can't...get...song...out...of...my...head!!!
Edit - I am of course aware that Hawaii is not a country :-))
Watch the video.....you know you want to......and you will be humming the song all day......
This has been making the rounds on the Internet lately and they are using it as the reason why no details are surfacing about the new Disneyland in Shanghai.
I was thinking the same thing Amy! When the dolls starting attacking the kids in Kingdom Keepers was the point where I decided not to ride "it's a small world" again.
That video made me want to encourage the family to jump ship and swim for the exit.
On a recent visit to WDW I rode IASW, when first entering the US, there is supposed to be a girl on a swing. The character is missing, but the swing still moves and you can hear laughing coming from where it is suppose to be. It's very spooky and Disney really should fix it.
I happened to visit many countries around the world. Small World is based on the most likely traits and landmarks that you can easily identify. It is short and quick, a stereotype. If you want something more elaborate, I suppose you should get a land in EPCOT. Don't be too disappointed. It is meant for kids, but adults are allowed.
I laughed at the only representative of the Philippines being a singular girl on a platform between the mermaids and the Hawaiian set, wearing a pink dress and holding a folding fan. I think there used to be a Filipino boy dressed in the traditional "barong tagalog" shirt... I think he was transformed into a Hawaiian boy. To those that may not know, typical of some Filipino kids... they try to act and dress Hawaiian despite not having any roots in Hawaii!
And all of South America is represented as one and is sung in Spanish despite Portuguese being the native tongue of Brazil.
And Asia only has the song in Japanese.
I'm not complaining about any of these details, but I hope they would eventually update the music to include the international versions too with French, German, Arabic, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Tagalog.
it's a small world is simply the scariest ride in the history of mankind. I went on it once, for my nephew, and was so freaked out by the entire experience. Being stuck on that for an hour, listening to that song, is my definition of hell.