Iconic Disney Attraction Gets Weird New Overlay

Many classic rides are looking much different than their original counterparts, but a new change to “it’s a small world” is erasing a groundbreaking contribution.

Many of the new reimaginings announced at this year’s D23 Expo, namely those at Disney World, overhaul traditional park fixtures. However, the new Beyond Big Thunder projects seem to replace many Walt Disney originals, and another icon might just be on the chopping block.

Related: Disney California Adventure Big Transformation Is Nearly Complete

There are two types of people in this world: those who hate “its a small world” and the rest of us. While the attraction is known for its infectious theme song, it’s one of the most iconic Disney park attractions in the company’s history, and it’s also getting a massive makeover.

Sayonara “small world”

Often called the happiest cruise around the world, “it’s a small world” has delighted (and annoyed) Disney Park guests for generations, and at nearly every Disney park around the world, there is at least some incarnation of the ride. The attraction that debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair was initially created as a temporary exhibit sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and later became a permanent fixture at Disneyland in 1966.

Related: Space Mountain Is Next to Close at Disney World

Although Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers brought it to life, Disney artist Mary Blair created the iconography of the hundreds of singing dolls representing the children of the world. Blair was not only a prominent painter and color artist for the studio but also instrumental in some of Disney’s most recognizable features.

Even if you don’t know her name, you’ve more than likely seen much of Blair’s handiwork throughout multiple iconic Disney films. Blair lent her brush to such films as Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), and Peter Pan (1953), just to name a few, but “small world” was her magnum opus.

According to Disney,

“Walt later asked Mary to assist in the design of the ‘it’s a small world’ attraction for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair; the final result was an attraction that is purely Mary Blair in its style and concept. Over the years, Mary contributed to the design of many exhibits, attractions, and murals for the theme parks in California and Florida, including the fanciful murals in the Grand Canyon Concourse at Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort Hotel.”

Blair’s hand in creating the iconic attraction was so iconic that every version of the ride, no matter the Disney park, relies on her original designs. However, as seen in Tokyo Disneyland’s video below, this new version is about to have some new friends coming over to visit.

It’s a Small… Multiverse?

It was previously announced that Groot would be leading the charge as members of the Marvel Multiverse join the ride for “it’s a small world” with Groot, a new Marvel-themed overlay that features dollish versions of the Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as members of the Avengers like Thor, Black Panther, Ant-Man, and Captain America.

Related: Marvel Officially Downsizing, Cancels ‘Hulk’ After Bob Iger Criticism

There’s no denying that the puppet-ish versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes aren’t absolutely adorable. However, it might come across as covering up Mary Blair’s original designs.

Mary Blair would have LOVED “Thor: Love and Thunder.” pic.twitter.com/DUdoKThOyQ

— Gratuitous Theme Parks (@GratThemeParks) August 29, 2024

Although @GratThemeParks makes this observation in pure jest, there is indeed an element of truth to this observation. As adorable as they are, the Marvel cast doesn’t exactly fit in with the sense of world unity the attraction stands for. 

Related: Mickey Mouse Canceled, Deemed Bad Role Model for Children

Of course, the same thing might also be said for the various Disney cameos sprinkled throughout the Disneyland original, and this writer would be lying if he said he didn’t want to see the Marvel characters on the “small world” ride here in the States. Still, those Disney purists out there are bound to find something wrong with the not-so-secret invasion.

The upcoming MCU overlay will run at Tokyo Disneyland in Japan from January 15, 2025, to June 30, 2025. Eager Marvel fans might want to have their passports ready before Groot and his gang flies back across the galaxy.