Magical Holiday Memories
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The innocent looking entrance

December 4
One of the more recent additions to Disney's holiday line-up is "It's a Small World Holiday". Each year Disneyland transforms the 1966 classics "It's a Small World" into a holiday treat featuring the familiar dolls in holiday scenes and combining the classic song with Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls . "It's a Small World Holiday" opens in early November and a ride on it early in the season is sure to get anyone in the holiday mood.

But sometimes ....

It's A Small World Holiday Nightmare

Dark was the night when our ship set to sea
With twelve lucky guests whose limits were to be
Tested and pulled to the ends of their rope
By singing and dancing dolls of good hope

Our captain did load us too heavy a'stern
I questioned, but he said, "Go ahead, it's your turn."
So onward we went with out boat riding low
Nearly taking on water as it rocked to and fro'.

Thus did our journey start out that night
Toward a kaleidoscope building - a marvelous sight.
A rainbow of lights shimmered like twinkling rivets
And together they told of holiday spirits

Inside the grand building were hundreds of children
Singing Christmas jingles like tiny little pitchmen
They sang to a beat ever joyous and merry
"'Tis the season of joy, so you better be wary."

Oblivious we floated, boat bottom scraping the slew
Toward the first dark corner, could we make it, who knew?
On each side of the room the wee dolls were preening
Our boat nearly stopped, but we freed it by leaning.

"Wahoo!" we all cried as the boat carried through
into Canada, Ireland, then below the sea so blue.
There swimming mermaids jingled their shells
And we laughed and told jokes, for we thought all was well.

Our cursed tour continued all festive and happy
In it's a small world holiday the mood was getting sappy.
Alas that all changed when ahead we did view
A back up of boats with no way to sail through.

A few minutes later and we still hadn't budged.
As boats stacked up behind us we were constantly nudged
Not a yard. Not a meter. We moved not an inch.
Then a voice from above advised we were in a stich.

We cried to the heavens, please set us free
At least turn off the music we're down on our knees
Madness seeped in as we all sat waiting
But the little dolls just stared their song not abating.

Someone started 'the wave' -- it went from boat to boat
The weird wavy motion forced water out of the moat.
"Stop!" I cried, "The water is getting lower"
"If this goes on, our exit will be slower"

Still the song went on it drove us all mad.
If we didn't move soon, it was going to be bad.
And then joy of joy, we moved back three feet
Could the jam be letting up? Our punishment complete?