"it's a small world" Scheduled for Refurbishment

[brownie]

Well, ITASW opened at the 1964 World's Fair and at the conclusion of the fair it was relocated to DL. It opened in DL in 1966. Mary Blair was still around and was consulted then.

It was installed in 1971 at WDW and she had a role in that. My understanding is that her original drawings are referred to when they plan refurbs.

Never said she wasn't involved in "it's a small world"; she could not have been consulted in person for the most recent Disneyland refurbishment which is what the original comment referred to.

[jensantuit]

My boys will be so upset when we go down in August and hear IASW will be closed, but little do they know we are surprising them with a trip in December.

[LauraByTheSea]

Well great, I'll be there then... My favorite ride, too...

[Giggy]

Looks like it will be closed for our trip this year then, it was also closed when we went last time in 2004. Our visit before that was 2001 so it's been 9 years already!

Hopefully as a trade they'll let us keep Toontown a bit longer.

[Melanie]

I'd love if they install the characters. I've ridden the Hong Kong version, which opened originally with the characters, and it's amazing. Very subtle and fitting. Definitely not 'in your face' at all.

[gollybass]

ugh, i go to disneyland in jan last year, its closed, i go to disney world this year, its closed!

[Strmchsr]

FYI, the LA Times said in a blog today that both WDI and WDW have denied that any characters will be added to IASW, though they wouldn't say why a 2 month closure is needed.

[dking2002]

I really miss this ride when it is not open.

[sbcummings]

I should not have read this thread, now that song will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day

[kakn7294]

I'm bummed! I love Small World - but I'm with Mel and hope they install the characters as well. I guess we'll see when it reopens!

[Carol]

The character addition to the Disneyland version is AMAZING! I really urge you all to save any judgement until you experience it firsthand.

ugh, i go to disneyland in jan last year, its closed, i go to disney world this year, its closed!

It's closed early January every year to uninstall the Christmas lay-over.

[ransam]

that's too bad. we are planning a trip from september 8-14 so won't be able to see it.
I told my friends that the only way i would personally plan it is if they would sing along w/ me during the ride...guess the dodged a bullet. ha

[Victor Kelly]

While I am disappointed it will be closed on our honeymoon trip, we have already talked about another trip in 2 years.

I too cannot fathom the reason behind the closing. The forest cannot be behind IASW because the Haunted Mansion ride structure is behind it. I would prefer not to see another disney character merchandise tie in, since they are everywhere else. The characters of the story are the children of the world.

[Polynesian Dweller]

I too cannot fathom the reason behind the closing. The forest cannot be behind IASW because the Haunted Mansion ride structure is behind it.

Well, we won't really know what the refurb is about until they announce it but the Fantasyland refurb drawings show that the forest will come right up to the edge of Pinnochio's Village Haus which shares the building with IASW and covering part of the road right behind the NE corner of IASW. The Haunted Mansion is immediately west and north of ISAW is the maintenance access area for both of these. Could be some infrastructure in those areas that need to be moved.

At this time, it could also be going down for things like cleaning and repair of the track which could take some time. Got to drain the water and then completely clean the watercourse while looking for cracks etc. to repair. Just a guess of course but things like that could take that long.

[Goofster]

Mary Blair died in 1978.

With all respect to Mary Blair...that subtle comment is hillarious.

[Strmchsr]

From what I understand talking to a couple of my Imagineer friends this closure is going to be a major overhaul on the load/unload area to fix the backup that always seems to happen there. There will also be doing some infrastructure upgrades and cleaning, but no new figures. The load/unload work is what is requiring the long closure.

[Polynesian Dweller]

From what I understand talking to a couple of my Imagineer friends this closure is going to be a major overhaul on the load/unload area to fix the backup that always seems to happen there. There will also be doing some infrastructure upgrades and cleaning, but no new figures. The load/unload work is what is requiring the long closure.

Thanks. Always good to get something more definitive. Anything that would improve loading is worth the wait.

[CaptainSad]

While I am disappointed it will be closed on our honeymoon trip, we have already talked about another trip in 2 years.

I too cannot fathom the reason behind the closing. The forest cannot be behind IASW because the Haunted Mansion ride structure is behind it. I would prefer not to see another disney character merchandise tie in, since they are everywhere else. The characters of the story are the children of the world.

The Haunted Mansion is to the left of IASW. Behind it is a Parking lot with support buildings. I am thinking that they will tear all that down behind so the new "Be our Guest" and Beauty and the Beast area will go in there.

[JPL]

I have also heard that will be adding the Characters like the did in Disneyland I don't typically ride it any more but this would actually give me a reason when I go in December

[darthmacho]

Major disappointment! It would have been my young one's first experience on this ride. Also, this fast loading water ride is one of our favorite ways to get out of the sun and beat the heat, especially since we're going in August.