Disneyland Paris temporarily closed its iconic “it’s a small world” attraction from January 20-31, 2025, for a comprehensive costume refresh. The refurbishment focused on recreating authentic replicas of the original 1992 costumes for the attraction’s animated figures.

Walt Disney Imagineering Paris and Creative Costuming teams collaborated on this restoration project, which required two years of research and one year of production.

The effort involved detailed analysis of archival photographs and documentation to ensure accuracy in color matching and material selection, including specific varieties of velvet, satin, and cotton.

A specialized team of 13 craftspeople, including dressmakers, wigmakers, and milliners, produced sixty new costume pieces. Each figure’s outfit required approximately three meters of fabric, while the wigs utilize four meters of wool.

The project particularly focused on refreshing the attraction’s finale scene, where figures representing children from various nations gather in gold, pastel, and white attire.

Anne-Cécile Houron, Stage Finishing Designer, emphasized the project’s commitment to authenticity: “‘Guests will be able to rediscover the final scene of the attraction looking just as spectacular as when it opened!”

The renovation also addressed practical considerations, with costumes engineered to withstand continuous operation and mechanical movement.

The Creative Costuming department plans to continue the restoration effort beyond the February reopening, gradually replacing additional costumes while maintaining their regular duties across the resort’s other attractions.

This preservation initiative represents an investment in maintaining the attraction’s original artistic vision while enabling longevity for future visitors. Subscribe to AirMagique for more news and updates.

Support AirMagique on Patreon and follow us on BlueSky, Instagram, Spotify (Podcast), Apple Podcast, and YouTube to get your daily dose of Disneyland Paris and European theme parks.