Originally Posted By DlandDug I wanted to discuss changes that can be seen in small world, but in a forum clearly labeled as such. This way, anyone who does NOT want to know about these changes won't accidently run into them in another discussion. The biggest change, of course, is the relocated rainforest. Some months ago there were some rather hysterical rants about how the rainforest was being ripped out to put in a gung-ho Americana scene. Marty Sklar issued a statement saying that the rainforest was nor being removed, and was then essentially accused of being a liar by the online gurus. Turns out Marty was right. The rainforest has not been removed. Your thoughts?
Originally Posted By DlandDug On a more pleasant note, the entire attraction hasn't looked this fresh and beautiful in years. Notice all the newly replaced carpet on the walls? No musty odor? Freshly painted sets that appear to be straight from the Mary Blair color renderings? All of the flying carpets are flying. The rope trick doll is operating. I didn't see any AWOL dancers. What next-- kids back laughing with the hyenas??? I am continuing to hold good thoughts about the revamped attraction in its non-holiday form. So far, what I have seen is completely faithful to the spirit of the original attraction.
Originally Posted By dlkozy There were a couple of dancers at the end of one of the sections that were in place on Wed that were not there on Thursday. Hopefully they will be put back soon. It did look fresh all except the soldiers on the side when the time opens up. They were obviously sun faded-as compared to the newly painted and freshened up marchers out front.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Everything looked generally nice and freshly painted (and glittered! I don't think I've ever seen so many sparkles before...were the gears on the clock tower always glittery?). It seemed like a lot of the lighting had been improved so it was more crisp, and the sound was a lot more reach and real-to-life. I don't know if it's just my memory, but it seems like they added a lot of smaller props and mid-level walls close to the flume. This not only adds depth to the scenes, but it also does a great job of blocking the view of the floor. The one specific place that I can think of is across from the spinning chess pieces, in front of the can-can dancers, there were a couple large chess pieces and some other decorations. They also seemed to add scents in a couple places. The beginning of the Europe room had the generic "Christmas store" smell. I don't know if it's just from new decorations (I doubt that), but it definately fit the mood. The part with all the candy (near Ireland and the Netherlands) smelled very strongly of peppermint. The South America room seemed to have a scent too, but that may have just been the fresh paint. At the end of the South American scene, I noticed that I couldn't hear the usual clicking of the straw men on straw horses. When I looked up to where the three of them had been, I saw one on either side of a set of 3 arches that had a covering over the openings. I don't know what's going to be there, but my money's definately on the Three Caballeros. It's front and center of the room, as the flume is pointed at them the entire time. The finale room seemed to get a couple changes as well. Everything in the room is now white; all the purple accents seem to have been repainted. There are lights along the sides of the flume that change the colors of the walls leading up to the sets (since they are all above the flume level) that switch between green, red, and yellow. I'm assuming those colors are for the Holiday version, and the regular version will get other colors too. There was also a sun hanging near the end of the room that looks similar to the one that was used in the World's Fair. I didn't notice the cowboy and Indian, but I could have just been looking the wong way.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros So after looking at some pictures online, it looks like the cowboy and Indian are still there. I may have just not noticed the hills behind them, but they look new (or just painted a different color?). Something that I noticed a lot of was general detailing that I don't think was there before. For example, there's a polka band at the beginning of the finale, and the tuba now has a fairly intricate (though very Mary Blair) pattern on it. There are other similar patterns on all sorts of random things that I believe were just sold colors before. Also, in the Polynesian room, I noticed a couple cutouts of a partridge in a pear tree. I thought it was really cool, and I wonder if the rest of the 12 days of Christmas are hidden elsewhere in the attraction. Anybody seen others? There's still only one goose in the Netherlands area, but the extra detailing in the area makes it less apparent. I just wish there were more since the one is singing several parts in the music. It looks like the light fixtures are mostly the same (little square boxes sticking out of the ceiling at angles), but the finale room has a new setup. The lights are inside the ceiling with circular openings to allow the light to pass through, without too invasive of a hole. I didn't notice any missing ceiling panels, but I was more interested in the sets than looking up. I noticed a lot more of the dangling tinsel that just sort of makes everything look like it's moving. The videos from the World's Fair show it all over the place, but it seems like it was lost gradually over the years. It has made a return and livens up several scenes (interestingly, the rainforest scene that used to feature it prominently as the rain now uses strings of beads that look like pearls...hail storm?) Many of the dancing characters on the turntables didn't seem to be working quite right. The ones under the hat (with the fabric ruffles that are still faded and in need of replacement, which I first noticed 3-4 years ago) in South America and the ones under the snow flake tree in the finale just walked past each other, without any movement from the individual dolls. I thought they were supposed to spin and dance like the rest of the ones in the attraction, but I could be wrong...
Originally Posted By oc_dean In some of Darkbeer's photos of the finalé the ceiling panels weren't exactly "perfect". Looked like some were not matching the others .. and some other imperfections.
Originally Posted By dllovinrn For those of you who have already been on IASW, (lucky you!), are the lines horrendous? This might sound dumb, but is it on the fastpass system? (Does it need to be?)I am wondering what, in general, the feeling is regarding the re-opening; when DH & I were there in early Oct., I mentioned to our tour group how dismayed I was that it was closed for refurb, and I was roundly made fun of!! I LOVE IASW- it's the main reason I am taking my elderly folks in March- I can't wait to ride with them. I have such fond memories of IASW & my parents as a little girl, I always cry when I ride it (I know, what a sap I didn't really find too many people who were sad to miss it while it was down....just wondering how the response is at the park. I thought it was nearly everyone's sentimental fave; I was shocked to hear people making fun of it & calling it outdated!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>>I thought it was nearly everyone's sentimental fave;<<<< Don't worry, it is for some of us. Two true stories: I studied a BSc (econ) in International Relations - I ascribe my desire to study the subject based on my love as a child of It's A Small World (and although I do not work directly for UNICEF was originally planned, I do work that is similar and informed by my infatuation with IASW). Also, when riding in DLP with Sarah (my now wife). I looked at her huge grin and knew she was the one. I nearly proposed right there and then. But instead I thought about it harder and came up with a surprise proposal later. What is gutting is me have made 2 trips to Disneyland in the last 8 years (we live in the UK). Both times IASW has been closed, we have been really bummed out. The refurb looks cool, though I do wish they would scrap the idea of addint characters.
Originally Posted By dlkozy As far as the lines, it really depends upon when you go. I was there last Wed and Thurs and the line, though long, only lasted 15 minutes or so. But on Friday, as you have read, the lines lasted upwards of 2 hours. The nice thing about ISASW is that it is a fast loader and the line is constantly moving.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Yesterday the line wasn't too bad, but it wasn't great. The wait sign said 45 minutes, but I think it was just over 30. The line started near the entrance arch, went across the path, onto the Light Magic area, extended all the way to the far side where it did a switchback (that they took out right as my group was about to go into that area), and then back into the normal queue. This was just after 2:00. In general, I think the holiday overlay has a longer wait at night because everybody wants to see the pretty lights, but it's the same ride inside. If you want short waits, try to go just before (or during) the parade. Since the entrance is on the parade route, people will be inclined to stay to watch the parade, and then hop on as soon as it passes. This allows you a chance to get on with virtually no wait. If you wait until just after the parade, expect long waits. Either way, the line constantly moves, and it moves very fast too. It's similar to POTC with the speed of the loading, so even if there are a lot of people in front of you, it shouldn't take that long to get to the front.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Okay Davewasbaloo,she innocently asks, what was the later surprise proposal?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well, rather than propose at DLP without a ring. I quietly sized her finger while she was asleep and then bought rings. On my birthday I took the day off (Sarah thought it was to celebrate my birthday, little did she know what was in store). I cleaned the flat like a manic fiend and set up a romantic table with candles. In the bedroom, I laid several rose petals and roses all over the bed and put candles all around. I made a mix tape of music (the days really before MP3s took off) and had our song timed for roughly when dessert would be finished. I cooked the meal we had on our first date - homemade pasta and sauce made with italian sausage, followed by chocolate eclairs. I was dressed nicely in my tux that evening. Sarah was surprised with the room, but I said to her as it was my 25th birthday, I wanted to make it special and intimate. Well, when our song came on, I kissed her and then asked her to close her eyes. I took her into the bedroom and sat her on the bed. I got down on one knew and asked her to be my wife. When she said yes, we both hugged and burst into tears of joy. (Shortly afterward I told her how I felt that night we rode IASW 12 times). Then she said, "I loved the way you proposed, but why didn't you ask then?" lol
Originally Posted By dllovinrn Awww, shucks! I've had 3 proposals, none of which came close to being that well done! Lucky Sarah!
Originally Posted By monorailblue (Keeping off topic: I proposed at a middle school, after announcing on the PA that I would ask Ms. So-and-So a "very special question" soon after the bell rang.) I note, for the record, that if Marty Sklar had said that "Swisskapolka" was not being removed from the Swiss Family Treehouse, he would have been "correct" in that also.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 They've been doing the peppermint scent in SWH for several years now. Some years it's more prominent than others. I believe the evergreen scent is new. I was watching the SW ridethrough on "Disneyland Goes the the World's Fair" again and noticed a bunch of neat little effects and animations that the attraction once had. I hope that as the refreshing of the ride is finished, they will add back some of those little touches. They've done a good job so far of bringing it back to luster. I didn't feel that the reshuffling of the Polynesian room damaged the integrity of that section. It works nicely.
Originally Posted By JobyCA65 I was there today and waited about 15 minutes. This was about an hour or so after the park opened (so apparently the first thought on everyone's mind wasn't to run to World. I too thought it looked fresh and clean, but I wasn't overwhelmed by any major content changes, other than the movement of the gator in the rainforest to another area of the room. Certainly there were no changes that detracted from it at all. So glad to have it back! It was my home away from home for two summer shifts and will always have a special place for me. This attraction still makes me smile, and it is one of the quintessential Disney attractions, and always will be.
Originally Posted By Sweeper To decrease your wait time, be sure to pick the line on the right when the queue splits. The left line gets delayed by handicap transfers and easily adds 10 to 15 minutes to your wait.
Originally Posted By Bellella Wanted for removal: for desecrating the true purpose and spirit of It's A Small World. The following characters are wanted for removal: Peter Pan Tinker Bell Alice White Rabbit Cinderella Jaq Gus Pinocchio Jiminy Cricket Aladdin Jasmine Carpet Abu Mulan Mushu Simba Pumbaa Timon Donald Duck Panchito Jose Carioca Ariel Dory Marlin Lilo Stitch Woody Jessie Bullseye The reward will be much appreciation from all true Disney fans. Please oblige us and take them all out. NOW!!!
Originally Posted By dresswhites ok i know this topic has been beat to death, but i got to see the changes first hand this past weeekend. my review: it is still the classic attraction that i have known and loved for the past 30 years. none of the characters really clashed for me. i didnt see that they were more or less spotlighted than any of the original characters. on each visit, people were pointing out both the original and disney dolls. and i am probabably going to be in the minority here, but i like the America scene. My friend who i went with is Navajo and he pointed out that one of the Native American Dolls was dress in traditional Navajo dress. I think that it is cool that they took the time to do that. my favorites new characters were the three cabaleros. i like how they look like pinatas. so i think small world is still a great attraction.
