It’s a small world after all
Oct 28th, 2005 by Accidental Thinker
Last week I took Maia to Disney with a friend for “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.” We of course rode the “It’s a small world” ride, which got me thinking. I love that ride. I’ve been on it so many times that I usually start out having already concluded there’s no way I could enjoy it yet AGAIN. I mean really, how can it possibly compare to the more modern, thrilling rides? But no matter how many times I experience it, it always makes me feel, well, happy. And all week I’ve been thinking I have something to say about that. About how I wish the world were really more like what is reflected in that brief tour, where everyone gets along.
For those who aren’t familiar with the ride (I know not everyone is lucky enough to live in the land of the Mouse House, though if you don’t at least know the song, stop reading now and go crawl back under your rock), it’s a boat ride through several different rooms, each reflecting the countries of a different continent, more or less. It’s actually very educational—I love it that my daughter can immediately recognize many of the countries represented, through the costumes and activities and settings, even though she hasn’t studied that kind of thing in school yet. Near the end there is a large carnival. All the characters from before are represented again, only this time all are dressed in white. You can still recognize what cultures and countries they represent from the style of their costumes, but this time they are a lot more the same than different. It’s one big party and everyone is invited and everyone is happy to be there with their fellow citizens of the world. At the end there are “goodbye” signs in a flood of languages. Adios. Arrivederci. Au Revoir. Sayonara. Shalom. Aloha. Auf Wiedersehen. Goodbye. And many others. To me this all says something about acceptance and tolerance. And through it all, the constant refrain of the song.
It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears
It’s a world of hopes, and a world of fears
There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all
(Chorus)
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world
There is just one moon, and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all
(Repeat Chorus)
I love the ride, I love the song, I love the message. After all, we do all share the same planet. We are all more alike than different. Every single one of us has hopes and fears and dreams. And we all need friends.
This is an absolutely sweet post and the message is nothing less than noble.
BUT !!!!
I was coerced into experiencing the ride in Anaheim when my daughter was young …. a neverending tunnel where dolls dance around you and tape loop repeats -It’s a small world after all, It’s a small world after all, It’s a small world after all …. it made me CRAZY. By the time I got out of there my I stared ahead, my pupils were non-reactive and pinpoint, I wet myself and I couldn’t remember my name for 30 minutes.
In fact, Saturday Night Live did a skit about that ride – we still joke about it.
Sweet and noble, that’s me! Uh, maybe.
You make it all sound so… sinister! How can you not love such a classic ride? Even though I don’t always want to go on that ride, I do always feel happier when I come out than I was when I went in. And the song is one of the few I consistently sang to my kids at night as babies. That’s saying a lot because I don’t sing. At all.
Thanks for putting a new perspective on that ride and the song.
Have a great weekend!
Lois Lane
We used to live in So. CA. So we’ve been to Disneyland in Anaheim many times. I like that ride too. And the song. Silly old me.
I like that ride, too 🙂