2. World’s Fair
• In 1963 Walt Disney decided to
create 4 attractions for 1964-5
New York World’s Fair
3. Testing new ideas
• Saw it as cheap way to explore
new ideas, as each exhibit
would have corporate sponsor
• If they proved successful they
would be installed at
Disneyland
4. New York Disneyland?
• Disney exhibits were very popular
• Fair organizers invited Walt Disney to
build New York version of
Disneyland
• He was already working on Disney
World project, so declined
5. Magic Skyway
• Sponsored by Ford
• Dinosaurs later used in Primeval World
Diorama
• Vehicles modified into PeopleMover
• Opened at Disneyland 1967, closed 1995
• Similar ride remains at Disney World
(Tomorrowland Transit Authority
PeopleMover)
7. General Electric’s Progressland
• Became Carousel of Progess
• At Disneyland until 1973
• Moved to Walt Disney World
• Still there
8. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
• Moved to Disneyland Opera House on Main
Street USA 1965
• Originally planned as part of Hall of
Presidents at Disneyland but never opened
there, did in Disney World 1971
• Most ambitious audio-animatronic figure to
date
9. It’s a Small World
• Sponsored by Pepsi-Cola
• Originally called “Children of the
World”
• Was always planned as boat ride past
singing audio-animatronic dolls from
six continents
• Type of ride called “old mill”
10. Done in a Hurry
• Pepsi approached Walt Disney
only 6 months before Fair
opened
• Very successful: 10 million
tickets sold in 2 years Fair was
open, proceeds donated to
UNICEF
11. That Song…
• Designers realized that they could not all sing
own national anthems simultaneously
• Disney songwriters Richard and Robert
Sherman wrote one song that would play for
entire 15-minute voyage
• Recent poll ranked it world’s worst earworm,
ahead of “Gagnam Style” and “Who Let the
Dogs Out?”
12. Mary Blair
• Responsible for style of ride
• Art director on several Disney
animated films, including
Cinderella , Alice in Wonderland
and Peter Pan
13. Disneyland
• Moved to Disneyland and
opened 1966
• 1400-foot “river” takes guests
past 300+ singing dolls
• Supposed to show that
happiness is a global emotion
14. Sponsorship
• Sponsored by Bank of America
until 1992
• Subsequent sponsors: Mattel,
Sylvania
15. A Truly Global Ride
• Version exists today in all 5
Disney Parks
16. Walt Disney Talking about the Development of “It’s a Small World”
• Click here
