A piece of Disneyland history was marred by a series of shocking acts of vandalism in the mid-1990s, carried out by a group of teens who had annual passes to the park. The once-idyllic journey through the “it’s a small world” attraction, which is known for its cheerful, colorful international dolls and catchy tune, became the target of increasingly disruptive behavior that escalated over time.
According to reports from the era, a group of local teenagers who frequented the park had their annual passes revoked after engaging in what was initially seen as harmless fun in Tomorrowland. These teens, who had a reputation for hanging out at the park, found themselves banned from the attraction after repeated instances of loitering and dancing in areas where such behavior wasn’t allowed. Instead of letting their revoked passes deter them, the group chose to retaliate — but their actions would leave a lasting stain on several iconic rides.
Alleged Incident Resurfaces
While the full extent of their damage remains unclear, it’s been documented that their main target became “it’s a small world”— Disneyland’s beloved boat ride that has delighted millions of visitors with its animatronic dolls from around the world. What started as simple pranks, such as rocking the boat during the ride, quickly escalated into more aggressive actions. The teens reportedly began climbing out of the boats and running around inside the ride’s scenery, much to the dismay of both park-goers and cast members.
As their behavior grew more disruptive, the teens started rearranging the non-animatronic puppets, turning the cheerful and synchronized display into a chaotic mess. However, the pranks didn’t end there. As the teens’ frustration mounted, their actions turned violent. They began targeting the animatronics themselves, with reports of dolls being broken, thrown, and damaged in various ways. One particularly shocking account suggests that parts of the dolls were even thrown at other dolls — a clear act of intentional destruction aimed at marring the iconic ride’s magic.
What Did Disney Do?
The vandalism wasn’t limited to “it’s a small world,” though the documentation of the damage is most extensive for that particular attraction. While there are speculations about similar acts taking place on rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, no verified footage or reports from these attractions have surfaced in the same way that the “it’s a small world” incidents were documented.
At the time, Disneyland’s management struggled with how to address the issue, as the behavior of these teens seemed to be an escalating pattern of frustration with the park’s rules. Their defiance, however, left a lasting mark on “it’s a small world.” The ride, known for its wholesome message of international unity, was now associated with chaos, vandalism, and rebellion — a stark contrast to its original intent.
Small world tarnishing in the nineties.
byu/brdrech inDisneyland
While the damage was eventually repaired and “it’s a small world” continued to operate, many Disney fans still recall the mid-’90s as a period when the park’s atmosphere was unexpectedly shaken by a group of rebellious locals. Disneyland, which had always prided itself on being a family-friendly destination, was forced to reckon with this new kind of disruption.
To this day, there are lingering questions about what exactly happened to Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion during these years of teen rebellion, but the “it’s a small world” incident remains the most infamous. Now, over two decades later, Disney fans and former employees alike continue to speculate about the full extent of the damage done by this group, with some hoping that further documentation or stories might surface to shed more light on these little-known episodes in Disneyland’s history.
