As of September 2021, there were no official plans to close the “it’s a small world” attraction at any of the Disney theme parks.
“It’s a Small World” is a classic attraction that first opened at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York before being moved to Disneyland in California. The ride features over 300 audio-animatronic dolls dressed in traditional costumes from around the world, all singing the famous Sherman Brothers song “It’s a Small World (After All).”
Despite being a beloved attraction, “It’s a Small World” has faced some controversies over the years. In 2008, the ride was temporarily closed at Disneyland in order to remove several offensive stereotypes and scenes from the attraction. For example, the ride previously included a scene with a group of Asian children wearing conical hats and carrying signs that read “Bangkok,” while the song lyrics included the line “where they send the rice they grow.” These elements were removed in order to create a more culturally sensitive and inclusive experience.
In recent years, there have been some rumors and speculation that Disney may be considering closing or significantly altering the “It’s a Small World” attraction. However, there has been no official confirmation or announcement from the company to support these claims.
In fact, in the past, Disney has made efforts to update and refresh the attraction while still preserving its classic charm. For example, in 2018, Disneyland introduced a new holiday overlay for “It’s a Small World,” featuring festive decorations and a special soundtrack that includes holiday tunes from around the world.
Overall, it seems that “It’s a Small World” remains a popular and iconic attraction at Disney theme parks around the world. While there may be occasional rumors and speculation about the ride’s future, there is currently no official information indicating that the attraction will be closing anytime soon.