In this post we give an overview of “it’s a small world”, a whimsical boat ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to “it’s a small world”, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. The Magic Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Magic Kingdom.
“It’s a Small World” Basics
“It’s a small world” is a whimsical boat ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride
does not offer rider switch
is a Tier 2 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 15 minutes long
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, “it’s a small world” is basically a must-do. While our toddler has gone back and forth on many dark rides, “it’s a small world” has always been a favorite.
Where is “it’s a small world” located?
“It’s a small world” is located in the western portion of Fantasyland, opposite Peter Pan’s Flight.
Entering the park, you’ll proceed directly through (or around) the castle and take a left at Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. “It’s a small world” will be on your right and Peter Pan’s Flight on your left.
If you’re riding it first at rope drop as part of Early Entry, you’ll queue with the guests heading into Fantasyland (along the right side of the castle, not the group heading into Tomorrowland). Follow the crowd, and most will go to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, with a few going to Peter Pan’s Flight and very few going to “it’s a small world.”
“It’s a small world” is not a good option for rope drop, and the only circumstance in which we would recommend starting there is if it’s the only ride in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland that you are riding today.
How to Ride “it’s a small world”
“It’s A Small World” is the ride I plan for the least. It usually has good Lightning Lane availability, and its wait times are often among the lowest in the park. It’s a long ride, so you can’t ride it any time you might have a conflict. It’s centrally located, so more or less never out of the way.
Basically, just fit it in when you can, keeping in mind that its length means you might need to prioritize it if you want to be sure you ride it (otherwise, e.g., that 30-minute wait at 8:10PM means you might miss the 9PM fireworks).
“It’s a small world” Ride Experience
“It’s a small world” is a 15-minute leisurely boat ride. The ride takes you through international scenes populated by animatronic children singing the eponymous song in different languages.
Overall it’s the variety of scenes that keep me coming back. This is not an exciting ride, but you’ll get to see how Disney has depicted countries spanning the globe, along with playing your own game of “what country is that?” There’s enough going on that Zoe is always pointing out some animal or effect to laugh at.
It’s cliché (but true) to say the song is somewhat maddeningly catchy. The big downside to the ride is that it can get quite backed up at the end, meaning you’ll be sitting in the last room listening to the song on repeat. The final scene is at least big enough to keep you engaged for a short while.
“It’s a small world” FAQ
Can infants ride “it’s a small world”?
They sure can! The ride has no height requirement which means even infants can ride. It’s actually one of the few rides that entertained our infant back in the day!
How does “it’s a small world” know your name?
At the end of the ride, there is a screen that shows greetings to different guests. The technology developed as part of the MagicBand system allows guests to be identified and their names displayed. I believe this particular effect requires a MagicBand, but I could be wrong.
Does Disney still have “it’s a small world”?
Yes! In fact, it’s the very ride being discussed in this post with versions also found at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland in California!
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.