Disneyland Cuts Small World Holiday Closure From 18 to 14 Days
Disneyland shortened the it's a small world holiday overhaul from 18 days to 14, which Disney says lets 74,000 more guests ride. It reopens Nov. 13.
Disneyland has cut the closure for its “it’s a small world” holiday makeover from 18 days to 14, and Disney says the shorter downtime lets 74,000 more guests ride the attraction this season. The ride closed on Nov. 2 for the transformation and reopens on Nov. 13 with its holiday overlay, according to WDW News Today.
The figures come from a Los Angeles Times article by Todd Martens, who was given a behind-the-scenes look at how the crew converts the ride each year.
How Disney shortened the changeover
Disney told Martens it has been working to reduce the attraction’s downtime. The ride is old, and many of its pieces date to the mid-1960s, when it first opened. Those pieces are fragile, which makes the work harder for the crew.
One answer has been to keep much of the holiday material on the attraction all year. The snowflake lights guests see at the start of the ride, for example, are stored in the South American section.
Four snow animals in the finale used to be kept in the Africa section. They now live closer to their winter spots in the ride. According to Martens, that removes the need to lift the animals or take apart and rebuild set pieces to carry them around the attraction, and it lowers the risk to staff and to the delicate scenery.
The candy cane arch is also stored near the ride. Martens wrote that it is put into place with a series of chain motors linked together.
What this means for guests
David Miller, Disneyland’s director of entertainment tech services, told the Times that the shorter downtime “equates to 74,000 more guests being able to ride the attraction.” The ride’s holiday version runs from its reopening on Nov. 13.
Families planning a visit to Disneyland Park can ride the holiday version from Nov. 13. The reopening date comes from the park’s announcement as relayed by WDW News Today, and the site did not give an end date for the overlay.
For families heading elsewhere in the Disney parks, our guides cover how Disney World and Disneyland compare in size.
Source: WDW News Today
