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Credit: Flickr/Michael GrayDisney makes a surprising change to one of its most iconic theme park rides.
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Disney’s “it’s a small world” is perhaps the most famous theme park attraction of all time. Despite its age, the classic boat ride continues to be one of the most popular and cherished experiences offered at the Disney Parks.
Over the years, “it’s a small world” has remained relatively the same, with minor changes like new paint and other small details being added at different points.
One of the more noticeable changes Disney made to the attraction was the addition of several new inclusive figures, with “it’s a small world” now featuring several dolls in wheelchairs.
This update is in line with The Walt Disney Company’s focus on inclusivity at its theme parks, as several other rides and attractions also recently changed to be more welcoming to all visitors.
However, the most recent change to “it’s a small world” may surprise even the most hardcore Disney theme park fans.
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A version of “it’s a small world” can be found all across the world, with versions of the ride being built for the original Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland Paris in France, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and Hong Kong Disneyland in China.
Each version is practically the same while offering a few twists unique to their respective parks.
However, for many, the definite version of “it’s a small world” can be found in the Magic Kingdom. This whimsical boat ride takes guests all around the world, showing how everyone is connected despite their differences.
During a section of the ride, guests are taken through a jungle, which features several life-size creatures, such as a hippopotamus and some monkeys.
Several monkeys can be seen dangling, some of which come close to the water. Since the ride opened, one monkey has been hanging near where guests pass by, with its tail practically dipped into the water millions of times over the years.
However, this monkey was recently adjusted, with its tail being pinned up to avoid contact with the water.
This update was noticed and shared by Reddit user Fally11204 on the Walt Disney World community page.
They pinned up the Monkeys tail 😭😭😭
byu/Fally11204 inWaltDisneyWorld
“This is at Its a Small World. In this scene the monkeys tail is normally down,” said the guest. “[The tai] has been down all my life.”
The monkey’s tail is something many eagle-eyed guests will notice, as most animatronics and props inside Disney rides rarely, if ever, touch water.
It’s unclear what prompted Disney to make this small tweak to “it’s a small world,” but it’s assumed the monkey was getting dangerously close to the actual water featured on the ride.
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Magic Kingdom is home to Walt Disney World’s largest selection of classic attractions. From immersive dark rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and Haunted Mansion to thrilling old-school adventures like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom has something for everyone.
This is not to say that the decades-old theme park hasn’t seen upgrades recently, with Magic Kingdom receiving two “E-Ticket” attractions over the last two years.
In 2023, TRON Lightcycle / Run, a roller coaster based on the digital world of Disney’s Tron franchise, finally opened after several years of design and construction.
The exhilarating new coaster is located next to Space Mountain and has quickly become one of the resort’s most popular rides.
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In June of this year, Disney debuted its newest ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom. This new spin on Disney’s classic Splash Mountain log flume adventure transports guests into the world of Disney’s 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog.
During the ride, guests encounter a variety of musically influenced critters and Princess Tiana herself.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure features incredible theming and several jaw-dropping audio-animatronics, making it one of the most advanced experiences offered at the Florida resort.
A version of the attraction is being constructed for the Disneyland Resort in California, though the ride’s opening date is yet to be revealed.
Do you enjoy riding “it’s a small world”? What’s your favorite ride at Magic Kingdom?