It's a small world
"it's a small world" (the name is officially lowercase and encased in quotation marks) is currently an attraction at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney, and Disneyland Paris. Like several other Disneyland attractions, "it's a small world" got its start in the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair, and after the fair closed the ride was transferred to Disneyland; when the other parks opened they, too, had versions of the ride.The outer facade of the building is a gigantic white clock. On the quarter-hour, stick puppets representing different cultures parade out of the clock, then a bell tolls as a pair of giant doors swings open to reveal two large toy blocks -- one block with the hour, and one block with the minutes, written in highly stylized numerals.
The gardens around the building are decorated with topiary animals.
Inside the building, the ride features stylized animatronic dolls in national costumes singing the title song in numerous languages. At Disneyland, boats carrying the riders visit the regions of the world in separate rooms -- while at the other Disney parks, the path of the flume winds around one large room, emphasizing its theme that the world is small and interconnected.
The ride and its song are contrived so as to be sweet, though many find them quite annoying; still, "it's a small world" remains one of the most popular attractions in the parks.
During November and December, the ride is decorated with Christmas and New Year decorations, and the chorus of "Jingle Bells" and a bridge of "Deck the Halls" are added to the song.
The English language lyrics of the song, written by the Sherman Brothers, are as follows:
"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
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 ev'ryone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
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 world after all
It's a small, small world"