Of Cabbages and Kings

With less than a month until "it's a small world" opens at Hong Kong Disneyland, speculation continues to mount about how close this dramatically different version of the attraction will be to what is set to hit Disneyland near the end of this year/early next year. The most that Disney has said is that characters are coming. No real word on the endangered Rainforest. Just that Disneyland will not be getting a clone of the Hong Kong Disneyland attraction. Amongst the speculation is questions over how these characters will be placed within the existing scenes with the supposition being that placement could mean the different between changing and not changing the attraction's intent and message.


This image of Cinderella and Prince Charming shows a clear departure from the intention of "it's a small world" as a showcase of world cultures through the innocence of children. While the surroundings are not know, the positioning of the dolls alone and in front of the Castle makes them the stars of enough of the attraction to get such a photograph. Scenes such as these will turn "it's a small world" from an attraction about the children of the world into a showcase of various Disney properties.


Beautiful Africa represents the other end of the spectrum of how the characters are being implemented at Hong Kong Disneyland, and how they can potentially be implemented at Disneyland. Can you spot the characters from The Lion King? At the center of the scene, up on the cliff is Simba sitting atop Pumbaa with Timon balancing several plates of bugs next to them. All three are being watched over by the spirit of Mufasa, seen here as the sun. This is the subtle, seamless integration, approach. At first the scene appears to be nothing more than the Africa scene, completely character free. It is not until further inspection that one actually spots the Disney characters. Hidden treasures to the observant guest have been a long standing tradition with Disney, but there are two factors that prevent these characters from entering the realm of Hidden Mickeys or other hidden gags and tributes.

The first factor that prevents a truly seamless integration is the characters who are the focus of a scene and clearly steal the show. This would be the Cinderellas and Prince Charmings of the additions. These prominently placed characters will instantly notify guests that Disney characters have taken up residence at "it's a small world". This recognition will encourage guests to be on the look out for other Disney characters as they progress through the attraction.

Second of the factors is simple advertising. The addition of several dolls represents an investment on the part of Disney that the company wants to see returns on. At the official Hong Kong Disneyland website a side item calls on guests to "Keep your eyes open! The Hong Kong Disneyland version of 'it's a small world' is the first ever to feature Disney friends - the attraction includeds 38." (Of a more interesting note, a bullet on the main body of the page that read "Search for all the 38 Disney Characters that make their first appearance in this attraction, including Peter Pan, Aladdin, Pinocchio, and much more as they come to life as Small World Dolls." has been removed sometime between the publishing of the article, 9 April 2008, and 29 March 2008, when the quote was retrieved by the author.) These items make clear an intention besides enjoying a showcase of the world. Guests to Hong Kong Disneyland are being asked to participate in a game not unlike "Where's Waldo?" while sailing through "it's a small world".


The additions of Disney characters will ultimately shift the direction and purpose of "it's a small world" at Disneyland. Characters featured prominently steal the show from the children of the world. Those hiding amongst the children and scenery will engage guests in a game the attraction did not intend to play. In the end, between a new showcase and a game, what is lost is Walt Disney's powerful message of "all that we share" told through Mary Blair's striking visual style.