In 1956, Walt Disney attended a conference, along with many other notable celebrities of the time, at the invitation of President Eisenhower. The conference was about founding a national organization to help promote world peace through international civilian travel. (This dream became a reality in 1956, when Eisenhower founded the People to People Student Ambassador Program.) Inspired by the ideas from the meeting, Disney returned to California and set to work, creating the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland.

• It's a Small World originated with the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair (it was Pepsi's pavilion.)
• Many of the dolls were created by Joyce Carlson who is honored with a shop window along the Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. The sign there reads: "Dolls by Miss Joyce, Dollmaker for the World
• A major feature is a gigantic three-dimensional clock with a happy face On the quarter-hour, wooden dolls representing different cultures parade out of the clock. After the last dolls exit the clock, a pair of giant doors swings open to reveal two large toy blocks — one block with the hour, and one block with the minutes, written in highly stylized numerals — then a bell tolls indicating the time.
• The name of the ride was originally "children of the world". When Walt Disney demonstrated it to songwriters Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, the ride's soundtrack featured numerous national anthems all playing at once. Disney said, "I need one song." In response, the brothers wrote one of the best known Disney tunes of all time: It's a Small World (After All). It is argued that the song may be the most performed and translated song on earth.
• On Opening Day May 28,1966 (42 years ago In May) Walt Disney poured water from the 7 seas of the earth into the canal in the opening ceremony.

It's a small world has always been our favorite ride when we are tired and want to take some to relax. The 14 minute ride is refreshing and soothing to aching feet that have trekked from Main Street to New Orleans Square to Fantasyland. After It's a Small World we always are ready to jump back in a tackle some more rides.