“it’s a small world” Holiday Transforms Into A Winter Wonderland for the Holidays
For many guests at the Disneyland Resort, a visit during the holidays means a must-do voyage through the heartwarming “it’s a small world” Holiday. Now in its 22nd season, “it’s a small world” Holiday is transformed from the classic attraction into a winter wonderland. It depicts children of the world dressed in seasonal costumes and happily singing a mix of holiday songs, along with the “It’s a Small World (After All)” theme. The story of the attraction changes from a charming party with dolls, toys and decorations representing children of many nations, all joining in a song of unity, to a celebration of holidays across the globe.
Disney FastPass is available for this beloved attraction. This makes it easier than ever to embark on the happiest cruise that ever sailed. Guests will enjoy “it’s a small world” Holiday from Nov. 9, 2018, through Jan. 6, 2019.
Fun Facts:
- New this year, guests will journey through a “gingerbread” archway as they enter Europe. Adorable gingerbread men and oversized candy canes also adorn the arch.
- Jolly decorators use 50,000 lights on the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday. They also use an additional 350,000 mini-lights in the trees, hedges and animal topiaries surrounding the attraction in whimsical Fantasyland. Thousands of additional lights decorate the shops and food kiosks around the attraction. This brings the total to more than 400,000 lights adding sparkle and wintry ambiance to the plaza around “it’s a small world”
- The warm holiday atmosphere of the plaza area is further enhanced with colorful garland, festive poinsettias and beautiful, international holiday
- After dark, the smiling clock at the front of “it’s a small world,” decked out in a Santa hat, reveals a sparkling projection Multiple times each night. The brightly light façade of the attraction is transformed into an enormous clockwork mechanism with advanced 3D-projection technology. The gears and springs pull back to reveal a world of holiday wonders hidden behind the whimsical clock.
Fun Facts Continued:
- Guests on “The Merriest Attraction on Earth” sail through 10 scenes inspired by places around the world. Some of these places also include Europe, Asia and Africa, each representing unique cultural holiday traditions celebrated in these
- Among the holiday special effects inside the attraction are scents of fresh pine from a glistening winter forest and peppermint from tantalizing candy canes in the European scene. Furthermore in the South Seas scene, hundreds of iridescent bubbles float through the air.
- Nearly 150 giant candles decorate the Christmas Tree and surrounding areas in the European section. Once a common tradition in Western European countries, the lighting of candles has inspired the string lights seen on modern Christmas trees today.
- The attractions’ finale features a 14-foot snowman made of glimmering crystal snowflakes that shine. The snowman also stands atop a 10-foot-wide snowflake and holds a beautiful “icicle” sign that spells out “Happy Holidays” in colors that change as guests drift along. The snowman joined this festive attraction in 2011, bringing an extra sprinkle of holiday pixie dust with him.
Fun Facts Continued:
- The iconic music of “it’s a small world,” written by the legendary Sherman Brothers, is one of the attraction’s signature elements throughout the regular year. During “it’s a small world” Holiday, guests may still hear this classic tune woven in between the joyous caroling of holiday favorites “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls.”
- Many languages of the world can be heard serenading guests, with cheerful tunes in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Scandinavian. Festive signs and banners throughout the attraction also spread holiday greetings. They are displayed in such dialects as French Canadian, Dutch, Asante and Hawaiian.
- The Disneyland Resort has its own team of holiday “elves” who help create the magic of “it’s a small world” Holiday. It takes a talented and dedicated team of nearly three dozen cast members 35 days to install the glittering façade. It also takes nearly 18 days to decorate the holiday attraction’s dazzling interior.
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Is this done at Walt Disney World as well? Thanks!
Hi Tasha! Unfortunately at this time only the Disneyland version of “it’s a small world” receives a special holiday overlay. Fingers crossed that someday it makes it to the East coast 🙂