Singing on a Dock in a Bay: Hong Kong Disneyland's Small World
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This past week the fifth incarnation of it�s a small world was dedicated by Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government John Tsang and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo.
Although the fundamental conceit is identical to the original attraction that was first created for the New York�s World Fair in �64 the Imagineering team led by Executive Producer Tom Morris (who also worked on the Disneyland Paris version as the Executive Producer for Fantasyland) made several changes for the new Hong Kong version namely:
The largest ever Asia section including Hong Kong icons like Victoria Peak, the Star Ferry and the IFC building;
New soundtrack sung in nine languages including four new ones - Cantonese, Putonghua, Tagalog and Korean;
New color palette; and
The addition of Disney character dolls and toys.
It is the latter change that is currently being debated heavily amongst the Disney fan community as the original Disneyland version is currently under refurbishment and it has been rumored that the Anaheim attraction will reopen with Disney character elements added throughout. Campaign websites dedicated to the cause of preventing these changes have sprung up in recent months.
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Although the design treatment is likely to be different for the Disneyland version we thought that readers might enjoy reading an excerpt of an exclusive interview that will be featured in Issue 12 of Tales from the Laughing Place Magazine that is currently on pre-sale and will ship in May. The interview was conducted by Tales publisher Lee J MacDonald (LM), and featured Executive Producer Tom Morris (TM), Show Producer Jodi McLaughlin (JM) and Senior Color Stylist Katie Olsen (KO).
LM: So why is it�s a small world being built at Hong Kong Disneyland?
TM: it�s a small world needs to be in every park as it is part of the DNA. We couldn�t get every block of DNA into the park on opening day. We all felt that after 10-15 years the original show had begun to go downhill but the refreshing of the attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World has made the difference.
JM: The art and artistry of it�s a small world gets taken for granted or overlooked or forgotten. Part of the resurgence is the appreciation of that.
TM: For a lot of people they don�t want to admit that they like it or have even been on it. Especially if you are a teenage boy! But it is like McDonald�s � somehow billions are served!
LM: So why not just put in Disneyland or Disneyland Paris� version of the attraction?
TM: We just can�t replicate existing rides any more and drop them into new locations. Plus it gives Hong Kong Disneyland bragging rights as they have something new. No single attraction is perfect so each iteration of a classic can be a little bit better. As we move into international territories we get new opportunities through local culture, costume and music to incorporate aspects into a show like it�s a small world. South East Asia had never been fairly represented � usually just Polynesia, a bit on Japan and then a nod to China with bamboo and a panda! We had to make sure that the areas likely to be most familiar to the guests riding it would be adequately represented. So we extended it to Cambodia, Thailand and making China bigger � and even creating a distinction between the mainland and Hong Kong.
JM: This is the largest Asia section ever built for a it�s a small world attraction.
LM: Big Buddha [the icon of Lantau Island where the park is located]?
KO: No but we do have the IFC building and the Star Ferry.
LM: Is this the first time that modern architectural structures have been added?
TM: Actually in Paris we put in the Chrysler building, Empire State Building and even the Twin Towers � which are still there � and we added contemporary scenery. So we had already opened up that avenue for us to explore. By the time you go through the North America show you have seen so many trees and waterfalls that seeing a cityscape brings something more visually unique to the show. The cities glue it all together. We took that same approach with China and Hong Kong.
President and Managing Director, Asia, for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Bill Ernest (left) and Senior Vice-President and Portfolio Leader, Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort for Walt Disney Imagineering Joe Lanzisero (right.)
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