Are the Disney Fans Wrong?
Hong Kong Disneyland has opened their version of “It’s a Small World” only days ago. Their version differences itself from other worldwide version by adding 38 Disney Characters to the classic ride. Disney fans and purist where horrified by the idea that a classic ride would contain Disney Characters. Especially since the news came out the Disney company would be adding the same Disney characters in the Disneyland Anaheim version. Disney fans stood up and let themselves be heard by expressing their thoughts and feelings all over the web about the upcoming changes Disney wants to do. (Example Save the Rainforest website). They didn’t like it…
But Disney had something to say to the fans. It has always been Walt’s intention to keep working on the park, to keep changing things, to keep adding new things. Imagineers are convinced that the changes in Anaheim will be welcomed by the guests once they have seen it (Everybody loved Jack once he was added to the Pirates attraction)
So, are the Disney fans and purist wrong? Are they complaining to early? Should they wait and see how the new version will be? The Hong Kong version proofs that the general guests like it. Visit Disney Potato to see a collection of videos from the new Small World and visit the Hong Kong Disneyland Source site to see a collection of pictures or have a look at the official website with some great pictures of the characters. Still think it is wrong? Go to the Save the Rainforest website and see how you can make yourself be heard.
Picture copyrights The Chief Spy and The HKDL Source.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
[...] Andy De Maertelaere wrote an interesting post today on Are the Disney Fans Wrong?Here’s a quick excerptTheir version differences itself from other worldwide version by adding 38 Disney Characters to the classic ride. Disney fans and purist where horrified by the idea that a classic ride would contain Disney Characters. … [...]
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:25 am
Hi,
First the outcry concern mostly the original ride in California. The issue is much less argued for the new ride that are built nowadays and IMHO the reworked edition of IASW in DLP is just the best…
I was abble to ride HKDL’ IASW a few days ago. First let’s say it’s a ISAW lite as it feels there is half the dolls of the other rides… Several places look almost bared. The only place with the regular amount is the final; but itself it just half ths size of DLP’IASW.
As for the Disney characters the “pet” ones (stitch, lion king gang…) blend fairly well. The same cannot be said about the ‘humane” characters like Cinderella, that fell a little out of place.
But the main issue for me is that it detract from the main purpose of the ride which is regional cultures AND global friendship. The disney characther, want it or not, transform the ride experience in a “guess who” or “spot the Mickey”.
The best point is the great lightning of the show and various light effects.
A really nice ride I enjoyed a lot but somewhat below the other version.