AP preview of enhanced "it's a small world"

[MasterGracey]

these characters do add to the story and in fact enhance the message in my opinion. Disney stories are diverse and cross cultural boundaris. Characters come from different cultures and nations, and it was a good move to set them within their context. It positions Disney as a unifier in a world that is far from accepting. It gives guests a reason to look at parts of other cultures they were familiar with, but don't necessarily associate with that part of the world. Therefore subtlety giving more depth to the Small World concept.

If I'm not mistaken, at Hong Kong Disneyland they placed Bambi in the North Pole and Pocahontas in Canada.

Seeing characters "within their context"? Hardly.

[refurbmike]

Why does it matter that the park opened up with a lot of attractions based on movies?

I had said that all of the original attractions had film counterparts.

You responded with that list, saying those attractions had nothing to do with films.

I'm merely pointing out none of those are original attractions.

these characters do add to the story and in fact enhance the message in my opinion. Disney stories are diverse and cross cultural boundaris. Characters come from different cultures and nations,

and planets, and toy shops....

I dunno. It's almost demeaning to the theme when you place fictional characters in there. Almost like they're saying, "The day you and I become friends is the day that alien over there starts surfing."

And that's not even touching the greater point of having the characters invade yet another attraction.

[Mortimer]

^But it's like 50 years later and everybody knows that world peace and unity is a crock of horse crud. I say add the characters.

The original intent was a nice thought, and at the time it was intended for World's Fair consumption. Disneyland audiences some 50 years later don't care about what World's Fair audiences cared about then, you know nuclear proliferation was a fairly new concept.

Now they want characters they can relate to, like Woody and TLM. Not the crock of some Palestinian child holding hands with a Jewish child.

[MasterGracey]

^But it's like 50 years later and everybody knows that world peace and unity is a crock of horse crud. I say add the characters.

The original intent was a nice thought, and at the time it was intended for World's Fair consumption. Disneyland audiences some 50 years later don't care about what World's Fair audiences cared about then, you know nuclear proliferation was a fairly new concept.

Now they want characters they can relate to, like Woody and TLM. Not the crock of some Palestinian child holding hands with a Jewish child.

As if people actually believed the world peace was possible 45 years ago (in the middle of the Cold War no less!)? Please.

I have a hard time believing that if contemporary audiences no longer cared about the show, the show would still be around, let alone duplicated at EVERY Magic Kingdom-style park.

The show and its original message just as relevant today, than its ever been.

[Mortimer]

As if people actually believed the world peace was possible 45 years ago (in the middle of the Cold War no less!)? Please.

I have a hard time believing that if contemporary audiences no longer cared about the show, the show would still be around, let alone duplicated at EVERY Magic Kingdom-style park.

The show and its original message just as relevant today, than its ever been.

Sure it is. Tongue and cheek was my intention.

I guess though, a little bit of Disney magic added brings merriment to the real world situation. It's not a big deal to have Woody, Stitch, Mermaid, you now recognizable characters added to share joy and happiness prior to our obliteration .

[PirateGuy 815]

When I go to DL, I go on IASW once, maybe twice. And coming from the newest generation, most kids don't care about the ride and don't go on it. You have people that would rather wait 2 hours for Splash Mountain then 10 minutes for IASW. And don't say that I'm dumb and I'm lying, because I was polling kids in study hall.

I also don't think it's that popular, except during the holidays. When was the last time the ride had over a 30 minute wait? Anyone know?

Also, this adds absolutely nothing to the ride. Nada, bupkis. It lets people who are completely bored with the attraction (like me) find something fun to do, and puts a little twist on the ride. It doesn't take away anything because the dolls are pretty much incognito. There still the same creppy things that were screaming at you last year.

[1FoolishMortal]

What I'd like to know is why the existence of mermaids since the attraction's conception is somehow excusable, but now when Disney wants to add characters in there's an uproar. Both mermaids AND Disney characters are fictional creations. Why does one get a freebie while the other doesn't?

And DON'T give me the reason, "Well, Disney is trying to sell more merchandise, those greedy bastards," because we all know that's not true. Disney has been making IASW merchandise with Disney characters for a LONG time now. That ain't nothin' new.

[JumpinZephyr]

You can add me to the camp that doesn't care. Its an excuse for them to market an attraction more that can use a ridership boost. You can't market an attraction as "enhanced" when it's just been re-painted and has new boats. You CAN however market an attraction that has been enhanced when you place something "fun" for Guests to spot while riding the attraction.

Its all about return on investment.

One can argue a similar situation happened with X at Magic Mountain. The ride was in dire need of new trains...But how do you get the higher-ups to approve the money for the new trains? You add something to the ride...Fire effects, soundtrack, and a new paint job.

If you ask me, adding characters gives something new for new and returning riders to try and spot throughout the attraction. And it seems like it has been done tastefully.

[PirateGuy 815]

That's a new way of thinging about it. Why do all this work to get the same exact people who were riding it before on again, when you can add a few more without changing anything.

[MasterGracey]

What I'd like to know is why the existence of mermaids since the attraction's conception is somehow excusable, but now when Disney wants to add characters in there's an uproar. Both mermaids AND Disney characters are fictional creations. Why does one get a freebie while the other doesn't?

And DON'T give me the reason, "Well, Disney is trying to sell more merchandise, those greedy bastards," because we all know that's not true. Disney has been making IASW merchandise with Disney characters for a LONG time now. That ain't nothin' new.

The mermaids are anonymous. Ariel, on the other hand, is not.

Whimsy and make believe in the ride are fine -- the ride is riddled with it. But the problem lies with recognizable faces that will detract from the anonymous Children of the World uniting for World Peace.