![]() Though there are other renditions at various Disney parks, this is the original, and there’s no other ride quite like it in the world. There was no stylebook that accompanied this attraction when it was created. Rolly Crump conceived the ride’s oversized toy façade - a clock that comes alive, perpetually locked with a determined smile - as a way to welcome guests into a world of colorfully silly vignettes. The innocent dolls and abundance of playfulness were all designed in the style of Mary Blair, so much so that it can feel like a constantly moving art museum dedicated to her color-heavy, whimsical methodology. Was that always there, you’ll often wonder, and the answer is most assuredly yes, but It’s a Small World is so filled with toy-like details that you’ll never be quite sure. Marvel at an off-kilter sun, smile at blue-tinged goats and star-filled kangaroos, and try and fail to count the creatures, the musicians, the hot air balloons, the squawking ducks or any of the other countless objects of weirdness.Įach time I ride - and I’ve probably ridden more than 100 times - I’m still able to see characters and creatures as if discovering them for the first time. More than that, the ride, a symbol of the idealism of globalism, is filled with wonders that continue to reveal themselves after dozens of rides. No other ride at Disneyland so directly represents the flair and artistic style of the people who created it, making It’s a Small World not just a gem of an attraction but an endangered species in an era of all movie-and-TV-inspired rides. One of the park’s most recognizable and long-standing attractions remains among its most striking and visionary. The charm, the whimsy, the dolls, the unforgettable song - only Sleeping Beauty Castle more instantly says “Disneyland” than It’s a Small World. ![]() Some of the rides I ranked lowest tend to be ones I visit regularly, sometimes simply because the lines are shorter. Disneyland tells a story of not just Southern California but America as a whole.Ī disclaimer: I would never call an attraction at Disneyland “bad,” per se, so think of this as a list from the best to not the best Disneyland has to offer. The façades of Main Street, U.S.A., may have a backlot feel, and Sleeping Beauty Castle may lack the full majesty of its German inspiration, but they aren’t “fake” - they’re very real landmarks. Disneyland’s relationship to Southern Californians isn’t all that different from that of other monuments - Griffith Park, Dodger Stadium, the Santa Monica Pier - a destination that collects shared experiences. ![]() How, for instance, does one weigh nostalgia, an individualistic trait, versus public popularity? And what takes greater precedence, historic value or the bleeding edge? How do the newer attractions at California Adventure fit within the broader context of the Disneyland Resort?ĭisneyland is a capitalist theme park, but it has become something akin to a national park. That makes any ranking of its top attractions a deeply personal challenge.
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