A sister attraction to the original 1966 version at Disneyland, It’s a Small World opened with Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. Designed by Walt Disney, Mary Blair, and Alice Davis, the ride brought the message of global unity and peace to the East Coast, featuring the same iconic Sherman Brothers theme song and whimsical doll-filled scenes.
Unlike Disneyland’s elaborate outdoor façade, the Magic Kingdom version was housed entirely indoors due to Florida’s unpredictable weather. The entrance and queue area were originally themed with a medieval circus-style tent, consistent with the broader Fantasyland aesthetic of the 1970s.
For decades, the attraction remained largely unchanged—until a major refurbishment began in April 2004, lasting nearly a year. During this overhaul:
- The tent-style entrance was removed
- The queue and boarding area were completely redesigned to more closely resemble Disneyland’s iconic white-and-gold façade
- A new sound system and updated lighting effects were installed
- The loading and exit areas were repositioned to opposite sides of the ride path
- The original queue music loop, curated by Jack Wagner and used from ~1977 to 2004, was replaced with the Disneyland area music, still in use today
This refurbishment marked a shift toward a more unified global aesthetic across Disney parks, while still preserving the ride’s timeless charm.
