Photo Friday: It's A Curious World After All

 

It's back -- Photo Friday returns!

My apologies for the looonnngg absence - the journey to earn a Masters degree from USC became all-encompassing for the last few months.

But enough of the past -- moving on to the future!

And speaking of the future, since I'm planning a return to Disneyland soon, I thought I'd share a photo that the DisneyMommy especially enjoys -- Alice and the White Rabbit found in the Disneyland version of it's a small world. 

I'm still blown away at how different the Disneyland and Walt Disney World version of these attractions are.  I'll have more about that in a future post.

Anyway, it's good to be back!

Photo Friday: Aloha!

Welcome to another Photo Friday! 

I was browsing through photos looking for possible Photo Friday shots when I ran across this scene from it's a small world.  It immediately caught my eye because of the great foreground/background combination.  The three dancers are in sharp focus in the foreground while the great sun is visible in the background in soft focus. 

It sets a nice scene and well represents the spirit and theme of the entire attraction.

And it's just a great shot.

Enjoy!

Disney reveals "Small World" additions to Disneyland

A favorite Disneyland attraction returns to Fantasyland, Friday, Feb. 6, when "it's a small world" opens with some new storytelling magic. With the premiere of a new "Spirit of America" scene, new musical enhancements and a new look for some of the attraction's familiar child dolls, "it's a small world" will once again take guests of all ages on "the happiest cruise that ever sailed."

This classic attraction has been renovated and enhanced while retaining the world-renowned charm that holds such a special place in the hearts of Disneyland guests. The "it's a small world" journey continues to celebrate children of the world and their message of harmony and friendship. And now, for the first time, guests will be able to find some of the child dolls dressed as their favorite Disney characters, in the countries where their stories take place. For example, dolls dressed in Aladdin and Jasmine costumes are in the Middle East scene, and a doll dressed as Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" appears in the Great Britain scene.

Guests will enjoy riding "it's a small world" again and again as they search for the 29 Disney and Disney·Pixar characters now represented in the attraction. The new doll costumes and playful toy decorations are fashioned in the same artistic style that was created by art director, color stylist, Disney Legend and Imagineer Mary Blair, whose sense of design shaped "it's a small world" from the beginning.

Also among the enhancements is an entirely new "Spirit of America" scene. It's based on original concept art by Mary Blair and maintains the "it's a small world" theme that friendship crosses all nationalities, including that of the United States. Additional fresh touches may be found in the augmented "it's a small world" soundtrack. As the familiar "it's a small world" plays throughout the attraction, now some subtle film music is seamlessly woven into the song as counterpoint melodies fitting the characters represented in certain scenes.

The "it's a small world" attraction made its debut as an exhibit at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. After two hit seasons at the fair, the attraction moved to Disneyland in California where it was expanded and then dedicated by Walt Disney himself on May 28, 1966.

My take: This looks like a great addition to IASW. The characters don't take away from the overall theme and intent of the attraction. As the Imagineers had intendend, it really "plusses" the attraction, rather than taking something away. I hope this enhancement makes its way to Walt Disney World very soon.

I know Disney purists are having a fit right now, but, to be honest, even Walt wasn't a "purist." He always thought of his parks as an ever-changing thing. That's how it should be.

Video report from the Los Angeles Times:

Pins give sneak peek into changes at Small World in Disneyland

The L.A. Times has an article showing some pins that Disney inadvertently released which give a glimpse into some of the changes coming to It's a Small World in Disneyland (see image below, courtesy of The LA Times). Disney fans will recall that Imagineering planned to subtly insert classic Disney characters into different parts of the attraction. Purists were aghast and even Mary Blair, the original artist who created the IASW dolls, pleaded with Imagineering to cancel this idea.



Well Disney decided to move forward with the concept, and personally, I'm glad they did. Based on some of the pin designs, it seems that the Imagineers really did try to make these additions as subtle as possible - almost like a hidden Mickey. I think this will re-invigorate an old attraction. Sure, there is a certain amount of nostalgia when it comes to the originals (though IASW isn't an opening day attraction). But remember this, Walt always said that Disneyland (and Walt Disney World) are ever changing. Walt would have approved of something like this. He never would have wanted any attraction to become set in stone and unchanging.

I just hope these changes make their way to IASW at WDW. I, for one, would actually look forward to riding IASW instead of feeling like my daughter is dragging me onto the attraction.

What do you think? Should Disney update Walt Disney World's IASW like Disneyland's?