Disney World and Disneyland to Debut ‘it’s a small world’ Finale Scene Lyrics 

When it comes to classic Disney music, it’s hard not to think of the iconic tune from the beloved attraction, “it’s a small world.” This fan-favorite experience has captivated audiences for decades, with its catchy melody first introduced at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and later at Disneyland in 1966 before enchanting Disney parks around the world.  

The late Richard and Robert Sherman wrote the song’s original verses, and before his passing, Richard wrote a new verse as his final gift to Disney. We are honored that the last verse of this beloved song will debut in the finale scene of “it’s a small world” at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort beginning July 17, 2025.  

The update to the finale scene is meant to add to the attraction’s legacy and further emphasize the song’s meaning. As Gregg Sherman, son of Richard Sherman, explains, the new verse is intended to “celebrate that there’s more that unites us than divides us, and reinforce the message of that song.”  

For those who want to experience the new last verse outside the parks, they can listen to the digital single wherever they listen to music. Fans can also preorder the “It’s A Small World” (70^th Anniversary) special edition vinyl today or purchase at Disney Music Emporium starting July 18, 2025.  

Since its conception, the beloved attraction has become a symbol of unity and embodies hope for a world where all people are celebrated through the connections that make us all human – a message that’s still important to this day. 

To bring this vision to life, Walt Disney asked Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman – who wrote music for many Disney classics including “The Jungle Book,” “Sword in the Stone” and “Mary Poppins” – to write an unforgettable theme song that could be sung repeatably and in different languages. The resulting song became one of the best-known Disney tunes of all time, “It’s a Small World (After All).”

The song pairs masterfully with the art style of Disney Legend, Mary Blair, a celebrated Disney artist who played a key role in shaping the visual style the attraction has become known for. To this day, the ride remains one of the most recognizable around the world.  

For more history on the “it’s a small world” attraction, see here.