Click on any photo to see a larger version of it.



The concept for the ride was simple.  They wanted to show children from all over the world of all cultures and nationalities.



Tying it all together Walt turned to the legendary Disney songwriters Robert and Richard Sherman to put together a song that could be sung in all of the various languages that exist on this planet.



As a result you have one of the catchiest and easiest to ear worm song of all time.



For the boats that transport guests through It's A Small World Walt turned to his ride brain trust.



If you guess that I was going to mention Arrow Development you were correct.  Ed and Karl designed the boats, waterway and system of pumps that propel the It's A Small World boat through the ride.

Just a quick historical thought is had Walt not gambled it all and not built Disneyland would the small shop of Arrow Development grown into Arrow Dynamics that brought us mine train and modern looping coasters that dot the amusement park landscape?  Probably not.



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Copyright 1999 - 2025

Paul B. Drabek