The Small World Dolls are citizens of Fantasyland who live in a miniature world within the Glockenspiel clock-building. All of them are child-like dolls which live in miniature recreations of different regions of the globe, all tied together by boats and rivers.
Due to the success of the attraction, the "It's a Small World" attraction was later constructed at Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland, still featuring the dolls throughout the attraction. In addition to the attraction's success, the dolls have been featured in many merchandise inspired by the attraction.
Appearances
It's a Small World
The dolls appear all throughout this attraction, representing the people of different nations. As guests pass by, they sing the song, "It's a Small World" to promote world peace.
In this film Dr. Drakken mentions what he's doing in the field of torture, we see that the prisoner in question is being forced to listen to singing dolls like those on the ride.
In Kronk's New Groove, when Yzma and Kronk take a boat to their secret lab, they ride past an Yzma version of It's a Small World. The leisurely boat ride turns into a flume similar to Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain.
In Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, Heinz Doofenshmirtz is sent through a theme park-style dark ride as he rides a chair to his second dimension counterpart's office. He rides past animatronic characters and scenes that parody It's a Small World with a Dr. Doofenshmirtz theme as the dolls sing "He's Doof".
The dolls notably appeared in a 2004 advertisement for Disneyland, which revolved around the Hitchhiking Ghosts going on attractions throughout the California parks. After joyously going on Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, they go on It's a Small World and are horrified by the dolls.
The dolls were parodied in the Phineas and Ferb episode "The Lake Nose Monster" as "Lair Entrance: The Ride", a ride inside the entrance of an OWCA lair.
The dolls serve as the central cast for the It's a Small World segments of this game in-which players are guided by a sailor doll on their cruise of the dolls' small world.
In Kingdom Keepers I: Disney After Dark, the Small World Dolls attack the lead characters when they ride on It's a Small World. The dolls here are puppets of Maleficent and the Overtakers, being described as having teeth like piranhas which they use to try and tear the heroes apart.
Trivia
The Small World dolls are often the subject of mockery due to many guests seeing them as very creepy. This may be namely due to their uncanny appearances, empty eyes, and the eerie nature of their repetitive joyous singing. It may also be pediophobia, the fear of dolls which is fairly common.