At a glance
it’s a small world is one of the great Disney classics. The ride was originally designed for the UNICEF pavilion at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, under the name Children of the World, sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and personally overseen by Walt Disney. The art direction is by Mary Blair, famous for her bright colours and geometric shapes, the costumes by Alice Davis and the title song by the brothers Richard and Robert Sherman, who were busy working on Mary Poppins at the time.
The ride is a slow boat cruise through the Seven Seaways sea channels, past nearly 300 Audio-Animatronics figures in traditional dress representing the children of the five continents. Everyone sings the famous tune in several languages, in turn or all together. The Paris version is different from all the others: a single large hall arranged in arches, a soundtrack by John Debney and specific scenes for the Middle East and North America, with Canada and the US.
Outside, the large animated facade in the style of a medieval clock is inspired by the clocks of European cities such as Prague. Every fifteen minutes, a parade of international dolls circles the clock before two figures announce the time.
The ultimate family boat ride. A miniature trip around the world with hundreds of dolls themed by country and that famous tune playing on a loop. Ideal for a quiet break with young children between two thrill rides.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992 along with the park, "it’s a small world" is the Disneyland Paris version of a ride created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, then installed at Disneyland Anaheim (1966), at Magic Kingdom in Orlando (1971), at Tokyo Disneyland (1983), at Hong Kong Disneyland (2008) and at Shanghai Disneyland (2016). Its original visual identity is the work of the artist Mary Blair, while the song was written by the Sherman brothers.
Since 2008, more than thirty Disney characters have joined the dolls, slipped into the country of their original film. A 2023 refurbishment brought in themes of diversity and inclusion, and since February 2025 hundreds of dolls have been wearing new costumes designed by the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris teams.
Technical data
- Duration
- 9 min
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Boat ride
- Opening date 12 April 1992
- Duration 9 min
- Number of boats 24
- Riders per boat 23
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Manufacturer Intamin
- Imagineers Mary Blair (original 1964 design)
- Composers Robert and Richard Sherman
- Sponsors France Télécom (1992-2008), Osram (since 2012)
- Inspiration It’s a Small World (New York World’s Fair 1964)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact high
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair access fully accessible
- Pregnant visitors suitable
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the regular queue whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes over 60 minutes.
No Single Rider here. To save time, count on Premier Access or park opening.
No PhotoPass on this ride.
Not open during Extra Magic Time: it opens at the same time as the park.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- A famous song that sticks with you
- High hourly capacity, so rarely long queues
- Animated clock facade every 15 minutes
Weak points
- A song that stays in your head all day
- The 9-minute ride can feel long
- No big thrills for teens
My verdict
"it’s a small world" is the family ride par excellence: nearly 300 animated dolls in traditional costume gliding past along a 9-minute canal ride, to that famous tune you’ll never forget. Originally designed for the UNICEF pavilion at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, it has been a great Disney classic since Disneyland Anaheim. The hourly capacity is very high, so the queues are rarely very long.
I know the song divides people, but it’s one of my safe bets for families: everyone gets something out of it, from babies to grandparents. My little game to keep everyone’s attention after 8 minutes: try to find the hidden Mickey along the way, there’s one. Also try to be in front of the facade on the quarter hour (every 15 minutes) to see the clock come to life, it’s a show in its own right.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
You’ll find "it’s a small world" at the far end of Fantasyland, between Le Pays des Contes de Fées and the Bella Notte restaurant.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long queues for the most popular rides?
To avoid long queues at Disneyland Paris, I combine several tactics. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille and Spider-Man, as long as you’re happy not to ride with your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that gives you priority access to the headline rides. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and it’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without queuing. Finally, heading to the most popular rides during a parade or a big show empties the queues considerably.
02 Are the queue times shown in the park reliable?
Yes, the queue times shown in the app or on the screens around the park are generally reliable. They’re often the same as, or slightly longer than, the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be closed for refurbishment during my trip?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website, several weeks in advance. Because the parks are open all year round, the maintenance teams sometimes work on days when the parks are open, which leads to temporary closures. My advice: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before booking, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 Which rides might scare young children?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can frighten young children even without a height restriction. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling scenes. La Tanière du Dragon, under Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, plays on a ghostly atmosphere and is really intense for toddlers. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful moments and darker scenes. I’d suggest watching how your child reacts before you get on.
05 How far in advance does Disneyland Paris announce ride closures?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of ride closures around 2 to 3 months in advance. For major rides, the park tells visitors about planned construction work at least two months before it starts. I recommend checking the official calendar (or my dedicated page) a few weeks before your visit, as dates can change. That way you avoid the nasty surprise of finding out on the day that your favourite ride is being refurbished.
