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It’s a Small World Accessibility Overview

Updated

Ride Overview

  • Park & Land: Disneyland Park – Fantasyland
  • Ride Type: Gentle boat ride through animated scenes celebrating cultures from around the world
  • Height Restriction: None
  • wheelchair-accessible boat available
  • Ride Duration: Around 10 minutes
  • Suitable For: All ages, especially families, guests seeking a calm attraction, and those who enjoy vibrant visuals and music

Accessibility Overview

SEN Suitability

It’s a Small World is a slow-moving indoor boat ride featuring hundreds of animatronic dolls, each representing different cultures and regions of the world, all singing the same tune in various languages.

  • Noise Level: Moderate. The theme song plays continuously, but at a consistent volume without sudden loud sounds
  • Visual Effects: Bright colours, moving figures, and detailed sets in every room
  • Movement: Smooth and gentle; no sudden drops or jerks
  • Storyline: A celebration of global unity and friendship, expressed visually through costumes, architecture, and music
  • SEN Tips: The repetitive nature of the music can be calming for some but overstimulating for others, ear defenders can help guests with sound sensitivity

Mobility Suitability

  • Wheelchair Use: Fully accessible. Guests can remain in their wheelchairs for the entire ride
  • Boarding:
    • A dedicated wheelchair-accessible boat features a ramped entry and a flat, stable boarding area
    • Boarding and unloading are at a level dock with no steps
    • Cast Members are trained to assist and secure wheelchairs in the designated space
  • Storage: Mobility aids like crutches, walkers, or small medical equipment can be kept in the boat without obstruction

Priority & Easy Access Card Information

Guests with a Priority Card or Easy Access Card use the accessible entrance located directly at the main ride entrance.

How to Access It:

  1. Approach the main façade of It’s a Small World in Fantasyland (easily identifiable by its large clock tower and colourful exterior).
  2. The accessible entrance is clearly signposted and leads to the designated accessible queue area.
  3. The pathway is completely step-free and level, making it suitable for wheelchairs.
  4. Present your Priority or Easy Access Card to the Cast Member at the gate for entry to the boarding area.

Queue Conditions:

  • Indoors with moderate lighting
  • Wide, level walkways for easy wheelchair navigation
  • Soft background music from the ride enhances the calm atmosphere

Ride Experience

Guests board small boats that float through a series of elaborately themed rooms, each representing a different part of the world. Animatronic dolls sing the famous “It’s a Small World” song in different languages as the ride progresses.
Expect:

  • Continuous smooth movement along the water track
  • Bright, cheerful colours and moving figures in every scene
  • No dark or startling moments; lighting remains bright throughout
  • Gentle transitions between rooms without sudden changes in pace or direction

Practical Tips

  • Best Time to Ride: Late morning or late evening for shorter waits
  • Closest Accessible Toilets: Near the Fantasyland Theatre or close to Peter Pan’s Flight entrance
  • Quiet Rest Area: Benches along the nearby Fantasyland gardens or in the covered area by the Storybook Land Canal Boats
  • Bag & Medical Equipment Storage: Small items can be kept with you in the boat

Fun Facts

  • Opening Date: April 12, 1992 (Disneyland Paris opening day)
  • Origins: Originally created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair before being installed in Disneyland California
  • Clock Tower: The large façade clock animates every 15 minutes with a parade of dolls representing different nations
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