Small World

A visit to the Magic Kingdom, Disneyworld, USA.

An English couple observe the USA, finding in The Magic Kingdom a microcosm of the country as a whole. Beginning with shots of New York and Washington DC and concluding with crowds milling around Disneyworld, the main body of the film records a trip to and the sights in Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Sequences include: a marching band procession featuring cartoon characters such as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Snow White, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Alice and the White Rabbit; a record of sights in all the main attractions, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and ‘turn of the [19th /20th] century’ Main Street USA. Shots also include methods of getting around the Magic Kingdom: ferry; monorail; cable car, Disneyworld Express train, and riverboat. The commentary concludes by comparing Disneyworld to the world outside in the USA: ‘Whatever period you are in, or wherever you go in Disneyworld, you’ll never know what you’ll find next, which really is not far removed from the world outside. In its own way Disneyworld is the United States of America. It summarises, classifies, laughs at and glorifies the world of reality. In doing so, it brings home the inescapable conclusion America, the New World, is a big country and it’s a small world.’ This conclusion is followed by shots of the crowds, primarily concentrating on overweight visitors, in the Magic Kingdom.

Featured Buildings

Twin Towers, New York Statue of Liberty, New York Met Life Building, New York US Capitol, Washington DC Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls Cinderella Castle, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Tomorrowland, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Fantasyland, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Adventureland, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Frontierland, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Liberty Square, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando Main Street, USA, The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando

Keywords

Concorde; Disneyworld; The Magic Kingdom; Walt Disney; Cartoons; Mickey Mouse; Snow White; Monorail; Tomorrowland; Fantasyland; Adventureland; Frontierland; Wild West; Walt Disney World Express; Obesity

Other Places

Manhattan, New York; Washington; Niagara Falls