History Main / ItsASmallRide

* In the first ''Literature/KingdomKeepers'' novel, ''Disney After Dark'', "It's a Small World" plays a key role in defeating the [[BigBad Overtakers]], with a clue hidden in the tableaux. When the main characters ride it, many of them quickly hate the song, and [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]] enchants all the dolls to attack and bite them on sight.

* ''WesternAnimation/HamsterAndGretel'': In "Earworm", a flashback is shown with the family going on ''It's a Big Big World''. Dave is shown to love it but the rest of the family didn't. [[spoiler:[[ChekhovsGun The song is later used]] to break the titular heroes out of their jingle-induced trance.]]

* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' has the Gremlin Village levels, all of which are based on sections of "it's a small world". The area culminates in a battle with the Clock Tower on the ride’s exterior, which [[IncessantMusicMadness has finally snapped after hearing the ride's song one time too many]]- for good measure, a creepy version of the song plays for the fight.

* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' has the Gremlin Village levels, all of which are based on sections of "it's a small world". The area culminates in a battle with the Clock Tower which serves as the exterior of the attraction, which [[IncessantMusicMadness has finally snapped after hearing the ride's song one time too many]]- for good measure, a creepy version of the song plays for the fight.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' spoofs the ride in the form of an information booth that introduces visitors to the kingdom of Duloc by opening up to reveal a miniature theater with little animatronics singing a song with a similar tune when a lever is pulled. This doubles as a parody of the F.A.O Schwarz toy store's "Welcome to the World of Toys", which also features animatronics and an annoying, catchy tune on a loop.
** The booth returns in the ''Scared Shrekless'' TV special, but since Duloc has been completely abandoned ever since Lord Farquaad died, the booth has been updated to reflect this. By contrast to the movie, where Shrek thought the song was stupid, he actually likes it this time.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing'', Scar demands the imprisoned Zazu sing something cheerful, but the bird's initial choice is the one song Scar can't stand: "It's a Small World".

* ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' has the Gremlin Village levels, all of which are based on sections of "it's a small world". The area culminates in a battle with the Clock Tower which serves as the exterior of the attraction, which [[IncessantMusicMadness has finally snapped after hearing the ride's song one time too many]].

Of the many attractions created for the Ride/DisneyThemeParks, Ride/ItsASmallWorld remains one of the most famous/infamous. Originally one of several Disney company-designed attractions that made its debut at the 1964 World's Fair, and later exported to all the "Magic Kingdom"-style parks aside from Shanghai's, it's a sunshiny indoor boat ride with a universal brotherhood theme, as the boats drift past tableaux of adorable Audio-Animatronic dolls representing children, and their cultures, from all over the world (thoroughly indulging in CultureEqualsCostume), and performing the Sherman Brothers' intentionally catchy and simple song of the same name. Owing to its cutesy optimism and the EarWorm of the song, people tend to love or hate this ride, which has made it ripe for parody -- [[CompanyCrossReferences even by the Disney company itself]]. The ride or its {{Expy}} are usually either portrayed as annoying or secretly (even not-so-secretly) [[CuteIsEvil evil]] to some degree.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': In the episode "The Lake Nose Monster", when Perry goes to receive his mission from Major Monogram, he first goes on a boat ride filled with animatronic animals singing about...how Perry's about to get a mission.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': In "The Lake Nose Monster," Perry enters his secret lair through a new attraction called "Lair Entrance: The Ride," because a focus group of five-year-olds preferred it to Perry getting a bonus check. He rides a log through a slow river while animatronic animals sing about him getting a new mission. It even ends with signs saying "Aloha" and "Come back" as a reference to the exit of ''"it's a small world."''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E13SelmasChoice Selma's Choice]]", she is tasked with looking after Bart and Lisa at Duff Gardens theme park. There they ride the "Little Land of Duff", which is full of animatronics singing about a two-line song about Duff Beer. Bart, creeped out and annoyed, wants off; when he can't leave, he dares Lisa to drink the ride's "water". When Selma, shooting down their resultant argument, tells Lisa to do so too, she does -- and starts hallucinating.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In the episode "Anatomy Park", Morty is sent by Rick into the body of a homeless man named Ruben where Rick has built a theme park called Anatomy Park. Several of the rides are parodies of Disney park rides including "It's A Small, Small Intestine". The ride is a boat ride through the small intestine that contains animatronics resembling blue children singing about the function of the small intestine. According to one of the park employees, the ride and its song goes on for miles, relatively speaking.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Selma's Choice", she is tasked with looking after Bart and Lisa at Duff Gardens theme park. There they ride the "Little Land of Duff", which is full of animatronics singing about a two-line song about Duff Beer. Bart, creeped out and annoyed, wants off; when he can't leave, he dares Lisa to drink the ride's "water". When Selma, shooting down their resultant argument, tells Lisa to do so too, she does -- and starts hallucinating.

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': Numbah 3's favorite ride at Rainbow Monkey Land is a Small World-esque boat ride which is based around ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet''.

[[folder: Parodies in Other Disney Media]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'': "Tunnel of Glove" has [=SpongeBob=] and Pearl getting stuck on the ride in the title after [=SpongeBob=] accidentally causes a heart to get stuck in the operating gears. Patrick enters a room with the ride's controls and pushes multiple levers and buttons, one of which speeds up [=SpongeBob=] and Pearl's boat into a hall with animatronics called "The Hall of Romance", then pushing a button that causes their heads to explode, [[HostileAnimatronics after which they attack [=SpongeBob=] and Pearl]]. The episode ends with The Tunnel of Glove exploding after Patrick uses the water supply room as a bathroom. Pearl admits she found the ride to be fun despite initially finding it boring.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'': "Tunnel of Glove" has SpongeBob and Pearl getting stuck on the ride in the title after SpongeBob accidentally causes a heart to get stuck in the operating gears. Patrick enters a room with the ride's controls and pushes multiple levers and buttons, one of which speeds up SpongeBob and Pearl's boat into a hall with animatronics called "The Hall of Romance", then pushing a button that causes their heads to explode and attack SpongeBob and Pearl. The episode ends with The Tunnel of Glove exploding after Patrick uses the water supply room as a bathroom. Pearl admits she found the ride to be fun despite initially finding it boring.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'': "Tunnel of Glove" has Spongebob and Pearl getting stuck on the ride in the title.

* ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'': The level "Fatherland Follies" can be best described as "it's a small world" with Grulovian propaganda. [[spoiler: Taking place inside the mind of Gristol Malik (who infiltrated the Motherlobe under the guise of Nick Johnsmith and replaced Truman Zanotto's brain with his), the ride tells the story of the fall of Grulovia from Gristol's perspective, painting Ford Cruller as the villain and revealing his plan to bring back Maligula to restore Grulovia to its former glory.]] Raz also finds the music obnoxious, as he breathes a sigh of relief after destroying the phonographs playing it.

* ''Ride/TheSimpsonsRide'': Featured at Krustyland is "Happy Little Elves in Panda Land", a fantasy kiddie water ride complete with singing elf animatronics. Sideshow Bob's [[spoiler:killer panda mech]] matches the theme and design of this ride, suggesting it originally came from Happy Little Elves before being refurbished.

* ''Ride/TheSimpsonsRide'': Featured at Krustyland is "Happy Little Elves", a fantasy kiddie water ride complete with singing elf animatronics. Sideshow Bob's [[spoiler:killer panda mech]] matches the theme and design of this ride, suggesting it originally came from Happy Little Elves before being refurbished.

[[caption-width-right:350:It's a duff world after all!]]