The self-proclaimed happiest place on earth, coincidentally, has a snapshot of the whole world in a single ride. Interestingly, this world-in-a-ride is the favorite of my kids. Now, I’m certain they don’t have a firm grasp on what it is I do for a living. In fact, it was a bit embarrassing that I couldn’t immediately name every single country represented in the ride (some are a bit abstract, even for me). But they surely don’t really understand how enlightening it is to have been to many of them.
Somehow they just liked it. So they wanted to ride it over and over again. We held them off, only going twice. I’m sure Edison’s fascination with the ride is it’s plethora of mechanical moving parts. He tries to study stuff like that to figure out how it works (typical guy thing). Erin likes the song, and the cute people, and the balloons, and so on.
They could both sing the song, and they both like the ride (though maybe for different reasons), but neither of them really comprehend how small the world really is. Maybe they have a better grasp than some kids their age as they’ve traveled around the United States quite a bit. But if they grow up traveling like I do now, they’ll never really know how big the world once was. The fact that Disney recognized the incredible shrinking world near the beginning of the jet age is remarkable. More impressive is the timeless nature of the ride and of the song. And somehow, it’s even more impressive to read it:
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
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
So laugh, smile, share a friendship, and remember, it’s a small world after all…
V-
Flying a small world
I never flew till I was 18 and going to Navy boot camp back in 1982. I remember thinking holy crap this is great, maybe I should have picked an ariel program. Though the general public is probably much safer with me in boiler rooms.
They used to have smoking back then on the planes, smoking and non- smoking in a metal tube lol.
I look at old pictures of people flying and they are all groomed up in suits and dresses.
It is amazing that I can now fly cheaper today than I could back in the 80’s.
Hope all is well -Pat K
Re: Flying a small world
Well, you know I’m not a big fan of government, but it doesn’t disappoint me all that much that all U.S. flights are non-smoking now.
Now, the world is about to get smaller again… (off to work!)
V-
It’s a Small World
I TOTALLY agree with Edison & Erin. I LOVE that ride and even though I am MUCH older than them, I would ride it over and over again. The song is infectious and the joy it evokes the same! This is an awesome entry :))