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Have You Experienced This “it’s a small world” Rite of Passage?

A colorful boat ride scene from "it's a small world" features a small boat with a doll dressed in traditional attire, holding an instrument. In the background are three more dolls dressed similarly, each holding a tambourine, with vivid decorations and lighting all around.
Credit: Disney

When it comes to visiting Walt Disney World, there are some things that every Guest experiences at least once. Disney rites of passage, if you will.

These rites of passage include some of the simple, magical stuff, like eating a Mickey bar, watching the fireworks show over Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle, meeting Mickey Mouse himself, etc.

But sometimes, these rites of passage can be less pleasant, such as an ankle getting hit by someone’s stroller, losing your car in the massive theme park parking lot, and getting stuck on “it’s a small world.”

A colorful, whimsical scene from a theme park ride features a fantastical setting with flying carpets, a mini palace, and various animated figures in vibrant costumes. Orange and yellow hues dominate, creating a lively and magical atmosphere.

Credit: Disney

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We mention “it’s a small world” specifically because it seems that every Guest who’s visited Magic Kingdom more than once has a story about getting stuck on ‘the Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed.’

One anonymous fan asked an online Disney community about their “funniest ride malfunction” stories, and the attraction that was named the most was none other than “it’s a small world.”

One Guest brought their friend to a Disney Park for her birthday, and during her very first experience on an attraction, it broke down:

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Another guest made it through the entire attraction, only for the slow-moving boat ride to break down on their way out:

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Lastly, another guest witnessed something spookier than usual:

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In short, Magic Kingdom’s “it’s a small world” attraction is infamous for breaking down or backing up, taking a long time to resume. It’s so infamous for this that it seems every frequent guest has a story about ‘the Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed’ breaking down.

On the bright side, at least the attraction is entirely inside and air-conditioned!

Do you have a story about “it’s a small world” breaking down?

About Isabella Reimer

Isabella Reimer grew up visiting Walt Disney World and relocated to Central Florida to be even closer to The Most Magical Place on Earth. She earned her Bachelor’s from Florida State University, where she studied Creative Writing and Women’s Studies. Her biggest hobby is bonding with the ikran at Avatar Flight of Passage, and her retirement plan includes becoming the 1,000 Happy Haunt of the Haunted Mansion.

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