Disneyland Unveils First Characters On Wheelchairs In ‘It’s A Small World’ Ride

People of all backgrounds and stories harmonize in this big world of laughter and tears. Now, Disney’s It’s a Small World park attraction is expanding its scope of diversity with two animatronic wheelchair users, a first for the 66-year-old park attraction.

Although the two inclusive dolls join Disneyland’s festive overhaul of the ride, It’s a Small World Holiday, they’ll remain even when the holiday decorations get taken down in the new year. They’ve taken their place in the Latin American section and the finale, alongside some 300 characters representing cultures all over the world.

The disabled dolls, modeled after characters that once stood in their positions, have been six months in the making, and involved the consultation of Disneyland Resort’s park accessibility team. Designers took care to reimagine the dolls’ outfits for wheelchairs, all while honoring the art style of Mary Blair, the original conceptual artist behind It’s a Small World.

It was important that the wheelchairs mimicked reality, from the way the dolls’ feet were laid on the footrests to the push rims that suggested they could move around like actual wheelchair users.

Erin Quintanilla, Disneyland Resort’s manager of accessibility and a wheelchair user herself, tells CNN that the detailing is “pretty special,” and that she feels seen to have her community represented in the attraction. “I teared up when I saw them,” she adds.

Disneyland says the additions are part of its growing efforts to offer a more accurate representation of the world’s diversity.

Following this, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will have their versions of the attraction updated with similar inclusive dolls.

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New dolls in wheelchairs were added to the “it’s a small world” attraction at Disneyland. #disneyland #smallworld

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[via Parade, Associated Press, CNN, ABC7, cover photo 18811743 © Ypkim | Dreamstime.com]