The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (31 page)

Not
all Guests were happy with the refurb.  Purists would prefer to see not a single button-eye altered, nor to hear a single note changed.  Others are pleased with the refreshed look and richer lighting, but would rather not see identifiable
Disney
or
Pixar
characters in an attraction that had hitherto been focused solely on the world’s children.

Marty Sklar
, Executive Vice President and
Walt Disney Imagineering
Ambassador
, wrote an open letter defending the refurb.  In the note he expressed his belief that the refurb was strictly about enriching the attraction and making it even more interesting for and accessible to younger generations.  He also noted that every effort was made to ensure that the new dolls and figures blended harmoniously with the original
Mary Blair
style, and pointed out that
Walt
himself was one of the biggest “change agents” in the history of
Disneyland
.

Sklar
has gilt-edged credibility; he’s an old-school
Disney
genius, with roots sunk long before the era perceived by
Disney
critics as more commercial.  He was there when the park opened and he knew
Walt
. 
Sklar
retired on July 17, 2009 and has been given one of the greatest tributes in the
Disney
universe, a window over
Disneyland
’s
Main Street
.  His window is over
City Hall
, deservedly prime real estate for a prime architect of
Disney
magic.  (
Sklar
’s recently released book
Dream It!  Do It!
is a must-read for
Disneyland
fans.)

After its voyage to all corners of the globe, the
“small world”
cruise culminates in a grand finale, with dolls of all regions garbed in sparkling white.  It’s an upbeat conclusion to a joyful ride.  Boats emerge from the massive show building and glide along the
Seven Seaways Canal
to the debarking platform.  Once again, speakers announce safety instructions in multiple languages.  Remain seated and keep your arms and feet (and kids!)
inside the boat
until directed to exit.

Use the same caution w
hen stepping out of the boat that you did upon entering it.  A staircase guides you upward and back out onto
Small World Promenade
.  Parents, take note:  One exit path leads you directly onto
Small World Promenade
, while another leads you into a toy shop.  If you are trying to avoid shops, take the left path.  If you want to enter the toy shop, bear right.

Although
at the extreme northeast of
Fantasyland
,
“it’s a small world”
is one of the
Fantasyland
attractions that closes during the
Magical Fireworks
show.

On the whole,
as evidenced by some of the outcries surrounding the 2009 refurbishment, Guests are not lukewarm about
“it’s a small world”
.  They either love it or loathe it.  Most people love it, hence its ongoing popularity, but there are those who find the
”small world”
dolls (and dolls in general) a bit creepy, and those who are driven to distraction by the song, finding it repetitive to the point of madness.

Bottom line:  T
his is a classic with a great theme.  Unless you are severely doll-phobic, you and your party should give it a chance, especially if there are children in your group.  Build this attraction into your schedule, sit back, and enjoy
the happiest cruise
ever. 
Did You Know?
  If something about the style of
“it’s a small world”
looks familiar to you, it’s probably no coincidence. 
Mary Blair
, a chief colorist and stylist for
“it’s a small world,”
also contributed her unique vision to animated features like
Cinderella
and
Alice in Wonderland
.
Did You Also Know?
If you’re hungry when you exit
“it’s a small world,”
you’re in luck, because it’s located at the nexus of some great snacks!  Head northeast toward
Troubadour Tavern
for bratwurst or flaky cinnamon-apple batons.  Go south toward
Fantasyland
proper for popcorn, ice cream, lemonade, and churros.  Head east toward
Tomorrowland
for the famous, ginormous
Disneyland
Turkey Legs
, which are marinated in a super-secret brine elixir, or head west for healthy fruits and veggies at the
Fantasyland Fruit Cart
near
Frontierland
. 
Did You Also Know?
 
“it’s a small world”
is such a popular and iconic attraction that it’s been reproduced at the Florida, Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo
Disney Theme Parks
.
Blair Vision:
 
Imagineers
crafted a subtle
“small world”
tribute to
Mary Blair
:  A small, blonde, blue-eyed doll on the Eiffel Tower, smiling up at a red balloon.
Night Vision:
  At night
“it’s a small world”
is beautifully lit, a beacon drawing Guests to the northeast corner of
Fantasyland
.  During the holidays the light show is even more colorful and elaborate, featuring holiday color palettes and festive animated footage projected onto the attraction’s façade.  In late January 2011, the park unveiled an exciting new nighttime show called
“The Magic, The Memories and You!”
that combines
Disney
artistry with 500 new Guest photos each night.  Every ten-minute show is different, as fresh photos of Guests enjoying
Disneyland
are woven into the spectacular.  Sophisticated animation and technology utterly transform the attraction in
magical
, sometimes seemingly impossible ways as Guests look on from the
Fantasyland Esplanade
.  Show times are typically 7:30 pm Monday through Friday and 8 pm and 9:10 pm Friday through Sunday, but check online or refer to a current
Entertainment Times Guide
when you’re planning your visit.
Holiday Vision:
  Every holiday season since 1997,
“it’s a small world”
mashes its traditional
Sherman Brothers
tune with “Deck The Halls” and “Jingle Bells” and adds extra lights and holiday magic to the mix.  The holiday version of
“it’s a small world”
is not-to-be-missed; locals make a point of experiencing it at least once a year. In recent years, more lights and more decorations have been added to the
“small world”
scenes within, and holiday footage is periodically projected onto the façade. In 2012, gingerbread and peppermint scents were added to enrich the holiday flavor. 
FastPass:
  No. 
“it’s a small world”
became a
FastPass
attraction in 1999–it was in fact the first
FastPass
attraction at
Disneyland
.  However, it’s no longer linked to the
FastPass
system.  In August 2008 there was a retired
“small world”
FastPass
sign up for bid online at the “Mouse Surplus” section of eBay (they wanted $3,499).  Given that this is one of the most efficient queues at
Disneyland,
no
FastPass
is needed for this attraction.  Even on very crowded days, wait times will be 30 minutes–45 minutes, as opposed to lines of 60 minutes or more that you’ll find at
Indiana Jones Adventure
,
Space Mountain
, or
Splash Mountain
.  If you queue for this attraction when the park opens, expect lines as short as 5 – 10 minutes long. 
Kid’s Eye View:
  It’s really scary, and the song gets stuck in your head, but little kids will probably like it, say ages four – six, because I used to like it when I was six.

King Arthur Carrousel
 
(
Opening Day
Attraction)

[
FastView:
 
The carrousel perfected, the way we all remember it from out collective childhood memories.  Take a spin, and see if you can spot
Julie Andrews’
horse.
]

For kids of all ages, including
Walt Disney
, a carrousel is a quintessential image of childhood joy. 
Disneyland
’s
King Arthur Carrousel
was one of the opening day attractions and has always been highly visible, positioned so that it can be viewed through the
Sleeping Beauty Castle
arch by Guests as far away as
Main Street
.  It beckons us not only to
Fantasyland
but to the happiest of our childhood memories.  It invites us to put aside all cares, and for a couple of minutes ride a heroic white horse to an old-time calliope soundtrack of classic
Disney
tunes.

We all remember rushing to board the merry-go-rounds and carrousels of our childhood, determined to
ride a horse that moved, rather than a stationary beast.  On the
King Arthur Carrousel
,
every
horse gallops nobly!  This is typical
Disney–
taking something wonderful and finding a way to make it even better.

The
72 heroic, leaping white stallions come from different carousels.  Some are Dentzel horses, crafted in the 1800’s and early 1900’s by the famous American carousel company with roots in Germany.  Some are from Coney Island amusement parks.  Once the carrousel and the horses were put in the hands of
Walt
’s team, they were assembled in an artistically pleasing whole.  Although the carrousel always looks classic, periodically it’s subtly enhanced and improved, just like any other attraction.  A new turntable and steel frame were installed in 2003.  It underwent its most recent annual refurb in fall 2013.

Being centrally located, this attraction is closed during the evening’s
Magical Fireworks
shows, but it reopens once the show has concluded.

If you and your party want to revisit the
carefree rush of spinning around a carrousel on a galloping steed, queue up for this adventure!  For those who are unable to climb onto the horses there is one bench on the carrousel.

As you board and ride, look for interesting details–like the fact that horses grow smaller the further removed they are from the outer rim; “A” horses furthest from the center are always the
largest and most elaborate.  And note that the sides of the horses facing away from the center, toward Guests, are more elaborately carved and painted than their opposite sides.

In this age of thrill rides and mega-coasters, is a vintage attraction like the
King Arthur Carrousel
losing its luster?  Not a chance.  As recently as November 2012,
Los Angeles
magazine noted that this carrousel is “one of the most heavily trafficked … in the state” and described it as “sparkling perfection”.

Even i
f carrousels aren’t your cup of tea, you’ll still vicariously enjoy this attraction; its color, song, and movement at the center of
Fantasyland
add immeasurably to this district’s charm. 
Did You Know?
  Why does
Fantasyland
have a
King Arthur Carrousel
, anyway?  Fairy tales and medieval lore always held a fascination for
Walt
, and were powerful inspirations for him and his
Imagineers
.  In 1963,
Disney
released
The Sword in the Stone
; based on the popular book of the same name, this animated feature explored
Arthur
’s childhood and his tutelage by magician
Merlin
. 
Did You Also Know?
  In keeping with the
Arthurian
theme, there’s a sword lodged in an anvil immediately to the south of the
Carrousel
.  Do you have what it takes to pull the sword from the stone?  Give it a try, and have someone snap your photo while you do!  In times past,
Merlin
the magician appeared and invited Guests large and small to try to remove the sword.  The brief, humorous
Sword in the Stone Ceremony
concluded with a child pulling the sword free.  It was a thrill for the child, and another great photo op.  Kids had to put the sword back, but
Merlin
gave them a souvenir to commemorate their triumph.  Children were chosen randomly from the crowd. 
Hidden Mickey:
  Look for the
Hidden Mickeys
on
Jingles
, the horse with the bells! Seek a pattern of one large jewel (representing
Mickey
’s face) and two small jewels (representing his ears).
Jingles
is the carrousel’s lead horse and was rededicated in honor of
Disney Legend
Julie Andrews
on April 8, 2008.
Jingles
’ painted flowers are a nod to
Ms. Andrews
’ love of gardening. If you ride
Jingles
, look for an image of
Mary Poppins
and
Julie Andrews
’ initials on the saddle.
Hidden Gold:
  The horse with the gold tooth, fourth in front of
Jingles
, was
Lillian Disney
’s favorite!
Disney Urban Legends:
  According to
The Vault of Walt
, a fascinating book by
Disney
historian
Jim Korkis
, many Guests and Cast Members believe that there is a special
Cinderella Horse
on
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel
at
WDW
.  In June of 2010 the attraction was renamed the
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
.  Guests continue to search for the
Cinderella Horse
when they visit the attraction, but
Korkis
and
Disney
carrousel craftswoman
Isle Voght
insist that this it simply does exist.  The 2
nd
-row horse with the gold ribbon in its tail is simply a horse with a gold ribbon.
FastPass:
  No.  As with most
Fantasyland
adventures, the format of this attractions doesn’t lend itself to a
FastPass
queue system.  If you make this one of your first or last rides of the day, lines will be shorter.  Even during peak times, waits are not as long as those for, say madly popular
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
or perpetual traffic jam
Peter Pan’s Flight
.
Kid’s Eye View:
  I’ve ridden on the carrousel bench.  I think it’s more for two or three-year olds to have something they can do.