Subsonic Radio

I just saw a story on the news saying one of the reasons for the rehab of "A Small World" was, and get this, that the boats bottom out because we're to fat. The story said that we are now larger than the ride was originally designed for. It went on to say that there are to many breakdowns because the boats get stuck on the bottom of the water way. Has anybody out there read or heard any more about this?

I heard about it on a couple of different podcasts this week. I think the time frame was supposed to be about 8 months starting sometime next year? That is the reason they gave, as well. That the 'average weight of the tourists has increased from when the boats were designed in the 60s'. Kind of amusing and sad at the same time. I've never been on IaSW in DL; anyone ever been on a boat that got stuck? Sounds weird.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not making any statements about being large. I'm 245 Lbs (I'm also 47, In my 20's I ran about 175 Lbs). It's my perfect weight! If I was 6' 11", but since I'm only 5'11" I'm not throwing any stones. I just didn't know, as Americans, we've gotten so much bigger.

Jacca5660 wrote:Don't get me wrong. I'm not making any statements about being large. I'm 245 Lbs (I'm also 47, In my 20's I ran about 175 Lbs). It's my perfect weight! If I was 6' 11", but since I'm only 5'11" I'm not throwing any stones. I just didn't know, as Americans, we've gotten so much bigger.

Oh, I didn't figure you were (nor am I - I'm not exactly a supermodel myself; glass houses and all that ). It still strikes me as amusing the boats would be so persnickety as to have this be a problem. I guess they must have had a lower max. weight limit? Though I find that odd, considering I imagine the boats themselves have been replaced since 1960whatever. Given the estimates on the rehab length I heard, I'm guessing maybe it's more that the ride is significantly differently designed to the one I'm used to at WDW (i.e. there must be more or a higher 'track' to it somewhere?). I'll also be surprised if Disney makes some official announcement that their guests are too heavy for the ride to run right. Seems like a bad PR storm waiting to happen...

I still think it sounds weird.

I read an article about this on LA Times and though Disney won't admit it's on account of overweight guests, they are redesigning the boats to make them more buoyant and lowering the moat an inch to make sure the boats stop getting stuck. Small World will be closed for 10 months starting in January.

It's a bit sad that as a country we're starting to sink the boats. My favorite part is that the people who are being asked to leave the ride (when it gets stuck because they bottom out) get a free food ticket for their trouble.

It's a bit sad that as a country we're starting to sink the boats. My favorite part is that the people who are being asked to leave the ride (when it gets stuck because they bottom out) get a free food ticket for their trouble.

Oh my!! That's just too funny!!! Here, you're so fat you're sinking the boat, now go eat something?!?!?! LOL! LOL! LOL!!
Do they offfer you a "WAAFFER THIN MINT"?

Given the estimates on the rehab length I heard, I'm guessing maybe it's more that the ride is significantly differently designed to the one I'm used to at WDW (i.e. there must be more or a higher 'track' to it somewhere?).

I know most Disney Worlder's don't realize that DL's "it's a small world" is in a "trough" rather than a PotC open water ride. Disnyelander's just consider it general knowledge. I didn't even know this until a few years back. I guess it's a little-known fact unless you've been to DL or seen pics. So maybe the problem is with the "trough" (for lack of a better word ).

I read an article saying that the reason (being given) that the boats are getting stuck is that years of patchwork with layers and layers of fiberglass on the moat in certain areas has caused it to be shallower in some areas. It says they have built platforms in those areas by the moat to take people out of the boats.

Oh my gosh - we heard Leno say that and thought he was just kidding!!! That's hilarious!

Yeah, it's sad, but that's hilarious.

MiceAge did a whole bit about this (and the poor cast members who had to ask people of a certain weight to get <i>out</i> of the boats in order to get them unstuck) awhile back.

What I didn't know, and what was amazing to me, is that DL's small world is using the same troughs and boats as were used when the attraction was installed in the 1964 World's Fair in New York - they hauled those things all the way across the country.

While I might be in the minority, I really like "it's a small world" - Disneyland's is definitely better than WDWs though, sad to say.

They will be repainting the facade.

Junglecsipper wrote:They will be repainting the facade.

Does that mean they're changing the color scheme, or just freshing up the paint? I like the current color scheme.

They will just be freshing up the paint and the Gold Leaf.

It's a small world will open on November 28 ,2008

I miss this ride!

I was just there a few weeks ago, and one of the workers said that the ride was down until November. He wasn't sure if they were changing anything except the boats. I hope they add something new!