Small World Fracas Continues

Busy, busy weekend folks, regarding the controversy over the rehab for It's a Small World in Disneyland. For those of you wondering what is going on, there has been a virtual tempest in the online community, about proposed changes to It's a Small World (from here on referred to
as IASW). Fans were concerned with basically two possible proposed changes 1.) that a Hooray for the USA section will be added and the rainforest section removed and 2.) that stylized Disney characters will be added to scenes that are appropriate for their characters (i.e. Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan in the European section). The fervor was further fueled when pictures of the newest version of the ride at Hong Kong Disneyland included Disney characters (Stitch, Woody, and Cinderella among them).

This past Saturday, Disney Legend and Imagineer Marty Sklar published an open letter to Disney fans who are concerned about the proposed changes to the attraction. He stated that the "Up with America" section would not be put in place, nor would the rainforest section be removed. However, he clearly stated that characters would be added to the scenes to make the attraction, "even more relevant to our guests."

The Letter can be seen on many websites including LaughingPlace.com and The Disney Blog which is where it first came to my attention. The Re-Imagineering blog posted a reaction to the letter and then posted comments from animation professionals, some of them pretty big names, on their concerns about the proposed changes.

Whew, is everyone caught up? I haven't seen drama like this since The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced Mr. Toad and The Country Bear Jamboree. What are your thoughts?


Here is a YouTube video of the Disneyland IASW prior to its closure for refurbishment.

Pictures of the Hong Kong Disneyland IASW.

Marty Sklar's Letter to Disney Fans.

Re-Imagineering's Reaction to the Letter.

Re-Imagineering's Animator Comments.