Beginning July 17, 2025, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will debut an updated finale scene in “it’s a small world”, featuring a brand-new verse written by the late Richard Sherman.
Sherman, who along with his brother Robert, composed the original song in 1963, penned this final verse as a personal parting gift to Disney before his passing. According to his son, Gregg Sherman, the new lyrics reflect the attraction’s enduring message of unity and shared humanity.
The new verse will be added to the attraction’s finale scene:
Mother earth unites us in heart and mind
And the love we give makes us humankind
Through our vast wondrous land
When we stand hand in hand
It’s a small world after all.
Disney says the change honors the Sherman Brothers’ legacy and strengthens the attraction’s role as a symbol of global connection and peace.
Alongside the in-park update, a digital single of the updated version will be available on major streaming platforms starting July 17. A special “It’s a Small World” 70th Anniversary vinyl record, featuring the new finale, is available for preorder now and will be sold at Disney Music Emporium beginning July 18, 2025.
WDWMAGIC Intelligence
Answers from our archive, with sources
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