I never understood the uproar over Disneyland adding Disney and Pixar dolls to It’s a Small World and I’m grateful we won’t be suffering through another “Small World War” with the addition of two Coco characters to the classic boat ride this time around.
Walt Disney Imagineering added Miguel and Dante dolls to the Disneyland dark ride when the attraction reopened on Tuesday, May 13 as part of the 70th anniversary celebration.
Imagineering has done a subtle, tasteful and masterful job of slipping the guitar-playing Miguel and his rainbow-colored alebrije spirit guide into the Mexico section of the attraction.
Miguel wears a mariachi outfit as he stands next to his bird-like dog Dante in front of a marigold bridge in a tribute to the 2017 Pixar animated film.
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After a four-month rehab, Small World has never looked better. The lighting looks spectacular.
Miguel and Dante are in the Latin America section of the ride just before the Three Caballeros.
If you have trouble finding the pair, just watch the riders around you — they will all be pointing them out.
Unfortunately, Miguel’s sombrero casts a shadow on his face. But Dante sparkles in the spotlight, green glitter gleaming on his spirit animal wings.
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The addition of the cute boy and his dog shouldn’t bother anyone except the most diehard purists who never want anything at Disneyland to change.
Disneylanders have always been defensive about changing classic attractions — and I agree with them when the changes are done poorly and arbitrarily.
I would never want Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room to be under new management by Iago and Zazu (like at the Magic Kingdom) or It’s a Small World to be taken over by Marvel super heroes (like at Tokyo Disneyland).
But I also agree with Walt Disney, who never wanted Disneyland to become a museum. Walt was changing things at Disneyland on the day it opened and he would still be in favor updating rides today — as long as they’re done well.
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Disneyland caused a “Small World War” among fans in 2008 when 29 new dolls based on Disney and Pixar animated characters were added to It’s a Small World. Alice in Wonderland was introduced in the England scene, Cinderella joined the France scene and Woody and Jessie from “Toy Story” were featured in a new American West scene.
During the uproar, “disgusted” fans raged online about Disneyland’s “idiotic plan” that would cause “pointless destruction” and “gross desecration” of Imagineer Mary Blair’s designs for It’s a Small World.
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None of the fears or worries were warranted. The Disney and Pixar characters fit into the ride stylistically, thematically and geographically and turned the attraction into a fun treasure hunt to find all of the 29 new dolls.
The new Miguel and Dante dolls add another jolt of excitement to the always leisurely ride with two new characters to seek and find.Imagineering should keep adding more dolls every few years to freshen It’s a Small World. There have been plenty of new Disney and Pixar animated films to draw from over the past two decades — including “Moana,” ‘Frozen,” “Encanto,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Up,” “Ratatouille,” “Brave” and “Luca.”
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The new Coco dolls aren’t the only changes coming to It’s a Small World.
Disneyland will add new lyrics to the It’s a Small World attraction on July 17 as part of the park’s 70th anniversary celebration.The new lyrics penned by the late songwriter Richard Sherman will incorporate a “Last Verse” written for the catchy and infectious earworm song that plays on a continuous loop in the beloved attraction.