Originally Posted By texasguy2005 I didn't see this mentioned anywhere else on here....shots of the interior of IASW can be found here <a href="http://news.hkdlsource.com/story/287" target="_blank">http://news.hkdlsource.com/sto ry/287</a>
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 You know, I really like the nighttime lighting on the facade. It makes it look different from the original. Also, the lights are permanent...no plastic clips, LOL! They did a great job with the outside.
Originally Posted By leobloom What's with the Little Mermaid scene? I thought this was a ride about actual cultures that either had existed or do exist today.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Well, the mermaid section is there to remind us that there's a whole ocean full of creatures that are also part of this 'small world' we all live in. Disney Imagineers didn't want to leave them out of the mix just because they happened to be 'under the sea'. Sometimes you have to think outside the docks!!
Originally Posted By leobloom So can we have an alien section too for those creatures we haven't discovered yet? Or how about a dinosaur scene for the creatures that lived on earth before humans? In case you haven't noticed no people live under the sea. IASW is geared at the idea of human cultures living in harmony. The mermaid scene is only another way to sell more merchandise. It has nothing to do with the original narrative of the ride.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros It's also been in the DL version for 40+ years. I don't know if it was part of the world's fair show (I think the entire Polynesian room was added after moving the ride back to California, including the mermaids), but either way, Walt saw it in place and didn't seem to have a problem with it. For me, it adds just enough fantasy to make it humorous (like the penguins wearing sombreros), but not really a fantasy-based ride. It looks like the HKDL version of the attraction will attempt to walk that very thin line of being based in fantasy or reality. Hopefully it works well...
Originally Posted By leobloom I guess it just looks like devoting an entire scene to Ariel is not walking a thin line between reality and fantasy but clearly on the side of merchandise and synergy... But then again this is HKDL, one of the developmentally-challenged parks, so let WDI do whatever they want to that park.
Originally Posted By Malin leobloom this is not the first Its a Small World to have a mermaid section. Why are you being so negative about this!
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Maybe leobloom only wants to see the above ground life forms in It's a Small World. But adding alien creatures is covered by having Stitch there--although us Cauldron girls will admit that's a stretch, since it would be way too 'out there' to try and include every single E.T. who's ever visited Earth. But I still say it's perfectly all right to have the sea creatures represented in It's a Small World because the Earth is their home, too.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I still don't get how this will really introduce the locals to Disney characters, because they look quite similar to the other dolls. Of course we, who already know the characters, can easily pick them out, but I don't know if people who aren't familiar with the characters will get it at all. The characters don't really look like themselves, so it would be very easy to completely miss them. Unless they hand out sheets telling people who to look for, I don't see how they will be able to expect the locals to learn who the characters are.
Originally Posted By leobloom Like I said, I could care less what they do to HKDL, since it's not a park I'm ever going to visit. Turn it into "it's a pixar world" for all I care. It's not like WDI's going to risk losing any credibility with what they do in HK.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "So can we have an alien section too for those creatures we haven't discovered yet? Or how about a dinosaur scene for the creatures that lived on earth before humans?" Indeed. What about a pink section with lots of feathers where Hava Na Gila is on loop for gay, cross dressing Jews? They're a demographic too! "In case you haven't noticed no people live under the sea. IASW is geared at the idea of human cultures living in harmony. The mermaid scene is only another way to sell more merchandise. It has nothing to do with the original narrative of the ride." I think the witches have been sniffing the smoke coming from their cauldron for a bit too long. Or maybe they're trying to audition as copy writers for Marty Sklar's public relations office. ; )
Originally Posted By Malin <<< Like I said, I could care less what they do to HKDL, since it's not a park I'm ever going to visit. Turn it into "it's a pixar world" for all I care. It's not like WDI's going to risk losing any credibility with what they do in HK. >>> So if you have no interest in the Hong Kong park why are you posting here, except to voice your frustrations out against WDI.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "The mermaid scene is only another way to sell more merchandise. It has nothing to do with the original narrative of the ride." The mermaid scene has been there since it arrived at Disneyland in 1966. The fact that it's now Ariel is actually very minor compared to the addition of other Disney characters. In fact, much like the mermaids in the Peter Pan attraction, some people automatically assume the mermaid was Ariel. So, they just did the logical thing by making it so.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORGOCH: Got somethin' BETTER Fer us ta sniff than cauldron smoke, Bob Paris back there? If'n so, bring it on 'cause I's willin' ta try anything new!
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "The mermaid scene has been there since it arrived at Disneyland in 1966." I've always thought the Mermaids were an odd addition to Small World - even if it was done by the original creators, it really just doesn't make sense. It's cute, but it doesn't fit. You'll notice that when they created the Florida version, the Mermaids didn't come along for the ride...
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Oh, but they are so cute during the Holiday version where they sing "Jingle Shells". How can you not love that?
Originally Posted By Malin As an Annual Passholder, you are invited to an exclusive preview of our newest attraction "it's a small world" before it officially opens to public. Simply come in person to "it's a small world" on April 20 & 21, 2008 with your valid Annual Pass. More info here <a href="http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/annualPass/overview?name=AnnualPassOverviewPage" target="_blank">http://park.hongkongdisneyland...viewPage</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Maybe? From what I've heard, they don't really know yet, so it depends on how long it takes to get all the work done on the flume and sets before they can really decide. The official word is that it will have the holiday overlay, but it might be delayed a couple weeks from its usual opening. And supposedly the characters won't show up until January, when it comes back from the holiday version.
