Disneyland Resort has made a significant change to the beloved “it’s a small world” attraction, temporarily removing its iconic clock face. The change is part of a larger refurbishment project as Walt Disney Imagineers prepare the attraction for the Southern California Disney park’s 70th-anniversary celebrations.
The “it’s a small world” attraction first opened in Fantasyland at Disneyland Park on May 28, 1966, after initially debuting at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Created by Walt Disney, Mary Blair, Rolly Crump, Marc Davis, and Alice Davis, the attraction has become a timeless part of Disney theme parks worldwide. The cheerful tune by Richard and Robert Sherman is something guests can’t help but hum for hours after their journey on The Happiest Cruise on Earth.
As Disneyland Resort gears up for its 70th anniversary, major updates are being made inside “it’s a small world.” The ride closed for refurbishment in January, and while there’s no official reopening date, Disneyland Resort has confirmed that guests will soon see new additions to the attraction. These include dolls inspired by the movie Coco (2017) and a brand-new verse of the classic song. A new nighttime projection show, “Tapestry of Happiness,” will be featured on the ride’s exterior as part of the celebrations.
While “it’s a small world” remains closed, with construction walls covering it, visitors have noticed some of the ongoing refurbishment efforts. Recently, Disneyland Resort focused on replacing some brickwork around the attraction’s exterior, adding to the list of updates taking place.
However, just this week, another noticeable change caught the attention of park guests. According to WDWNT, the ride’s iconic 3D clock face, which traditionally spins and smiles at guests, has been replaced. In its place is a 2D decal of the clock face, now displayed on a square box that covers the area where the original clock face once was. It’s likely that the clock face has been temporarily removed for refurbishment and will be reinstalled once work on the ride is completed.
Disneyland Resort has yet to announce a reopening date for “it’s a small world,” but it’s expected to coincide with the Disneyland70 festivities. Disneyland Park’s official birthday isn’t until July, but the celebrations will kick off on May 16, 2025.
In addition to the updates to “it’s a small world,” Disneyland70 will bring new entertainment to the Disney parks. Highlights include the return of the “Paint the Night” nighttime parade, the “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks show, and the new “Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.” Over at Disney California Adventure Park, new offerings include the all-new “World of Color Happiness!” show, an updated version of Toy Story Midway Mania!, and the return of the “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade.
Which Disneyland70 offering are you most excited about? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
