Originally Posted By Darkbeer The "small world" story that Al Lutz at MiceAge.com broke back in late February keeps getting larger. Saturday's print edition of the LA Times has this story, which has been already picked up by the wire services (UPI). <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-smallworld29mar29,0,1799477.story" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/busines s/la-fi-smallworld29mar29,0,1799477.story</a> >>The Anaheim amusement park is planning to add iconic Disney characters to the anonymous international cast of the beloved 'round-the-globe boat ride. The idea has sparked outrage among the family of the attraction's original designer and prompted a preservation campaign for the ride, which opened in 1966 and closed for renovations in January.<< Also, someone has set up this new website.... <a href="http://www.savethesmallworld.com/" target="_blank">http://www.savethesmallworld.c om/</a>
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-fi-smallworld29mar29,1,3182938.story" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/enterta inment/news/business/la-fi-smallworld29mar29,1,3182938.story</a> Here, try this one.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Nope, that's not working, either. When you get to the error page, type in "business small world disneyland". That brought up Darkbeer's story as #1.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove <<It's a world of franchise, it's a world of fun Piles of plush mean profit for everyone Wonder, Magic of Dream, in our marketing scheme, it's a mall world after all.>> Yowch! This protest seems to be getting legs....
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove <a href="http://imagineerebirth.blogspot.com/2008/03/blair-family-speaks.html" target="_blank">http://imagineerebirth.blogspo t.com/2008/03/blair-family-speaks.html</a> Kevin L. Blair's open letter.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>It's a world of franchise, it's a world of fun Piles of plush mean profit for everyone << Someone should be getting royalties ...
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Al Lutz was part of a 4 minute news report for Public Radio in Southern California. <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/stories/2008/03/28/18_small_world_032808.html" target="_blank">http://www.scpr.org/news/stori es/2008/03/28/18_small_world_032808.html</a> >>Some fans of the "Happiest Place On Earth" aren't feeling so happy these days. Rumors are swirling that Disneyland is making some dramatic changes to the "It's A Small World" Ride. The iconic ride that celebrates the children of the world is closed for refurbishing. When it reopens this fall word is that you'll see Disney characters like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Nemo in the ride. Disney purists and art aficionados told KPCC's Queena Kim the company isn't just messing with a ride, it's messing with art. << You can listen to the story by clicking the link above. Some interesting background on Mary Blair, and also contains some comments by her son, and some comments from a Disney Spokesperson, though she refused to actual be on air.
Originally Posted By mawnck "Legendary Disney animator Mary Blair?" Oh brudder! An artist at Disney? Must be an animator, huh.
Originally Posted By Park Hopper >>the company isn't just messing with a ride, it's messing with art. << That one statement boils the argument down to one basic question: Is it's a small world art, or just a ride? If it's art than Disney is commiting a violaton akin to painting mouse ears on the Mona Lisa. If it's just a ride, then there's really no problem.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "just a bit. but so is being a fan of disney stuff at all." Showing appreciation of something is one thing, but to set up an entire website dedicated to the "preservation" of a ride in a theme park where change is a trademark is just beyond ridiculous. I disagree with the character additions throughout the parks, but it's more than clear to me that some folks need to get a life.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 LMAO, this is hilarious, the public outrage from some folks over Disney changing their own parks. I thought I had no life, but it's safe to say I have a great life compared to some of these guys who are way too obsessed with Disney for their own good. Sometimes it is best to walk away, take a deep breath and collect yourself...
Originally Posted By jonvn Setting up the website is pretty silly. The interior has probably already been ripped apart as it is anyway. The thing should not be "preserved." Neither should it have its focus changed. It should be updated and kept fresh. That does not mean sticking a pack of cartoons in it to sell stuffed toys. They keep doing this. It's really poor. I'll complain about it, and if it's bad, I won't ride it, but I'm not about to take the time to start a website over it or think that anything said will make any difference. Mostly, they've got themselves a chart showing a certain profit increase, and that's all that matters. The few people who don't like it are small numbers, and while noisy, aren't the ones who would be buy the souvenirs at the exit shop anyway.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>they've got themselves a chart showing a certain profit increase<< See, now, I'd like to see this chart. I can't imagine that this is going to help profits at all. I don't think it's going to sell plush, or increase ridership, or get people who don't like IASW to like it. I just can't see a positive, and it's buying them a ton of negative publicity that just keeps coming. There'll be a short-lived bump in ridership while all us Walties with APs check it out, and then fffffft. Come to think of it, it'll have the Christmas overlay, so they won't even be able to tell whether the bump is due to the characters or just the usual Christmas rush. It's not an improvement, it doesn't "freshen" anything ... even setting aside artistic considerations, I still can't figure out WHY they're doing this. Other than this strange obsession with putting the characters on every square inch of the planet.
Originally Posted By jonvn "I can't imagine that this is going to help profits at all. " Oh absolutely it will. Especially with all this publicity. People will flock to the thing, go on it, and say "What's the big deal." Most people don't understand the ride anyway. Then after the ride is over, they will crowd into the shop and buy characters featured in the ride. That shop's profit will go up. People will come to the park to ride the ride, too. It will sell plush. It will increase ridership. That is all it is for. There is zero other reason to do this. The talk of "relevance" is nonsense, as the ride is already relevant to the kids who go on it. The Disney company thinks its customers are stupid, and for the most part, they are right. Those who are not quite as stupid understand what this all is, but aren't quite smart enough to not care about it. But, as long as those characters are in place, they will sell those plush dolls, pins, and whatever other assorted items they will sell in the exit shop. The entire ride becomes little more than a commercial for it. And if not in the exit shop, then in the Emporium for people on the way out. Don't think it's anything else at all. It is not.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Free Media/Publicity no matter how controversial is the best...Just ask Paris or Brittany or Lindsay. Don't ask Michael Jackson.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer The story keeps on staying in the spotlight... <a href="http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2008/04/02/small-world-big-controversy/" target="_blank">http://ocresort.freedombloggin g.com/2008/04/02/small-world-big-controversy/</a>
