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Friday, June 3, 2016

"it's a small world" at 50 Part 5- Home at DISNEYLAND

At the end of the World's Fair, Walt Disney offered Pepsi the opportunity to continue its sponsorship of the permanent attraction when it was moved to DISNEYLAND. Joan Crawford thought it was a great idea, but the Pepsi board was still feuding with her and reluctant to fully acknowledge how she had saved them from embarrassment. The company declined the opportunity. Walt Disney quickly found a new sponsor- Bank of America. With Manchester Avenue closed up, construction began on the expanded Fantasyland which included the elaborate new it's a small world facade that couldn't be built in New York due to time constraints.

 

Invisible to park guests were other infrastructure improvements, including a parade barn behind the ride. Up until this time, parades kicked off in Frontierland. The happiest cruise that ever sailed  would get a grand new home at the happiest place on earth.

 

Fifty years later, it's a small world still enchants DISNEYLAND visitors of all ages with its simple message of world peace.

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.