52 years ago today, It’s A Small World opened in Fantasyland at Disneyland. Also stylized as “it’s a small world,” the interior boat ride features 297 animated children, 256 toys, a canal filled with 233,000 gallons of water, and the 30-foot tall kinetic clock tower centerpiece, which puts on a show every 15 minutes as a parade of characters mark the time with pomp and fanfare.

Following its run as one of the four Walt Disney-developed attractions at the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York, “it’s a small world” was shipped piece by piece to Disneyland, where it debuted in Fantasyland on May 28, 1966.

Walt was joined at the opening ceremonies that day by over 50 foreign consulate representatives along with children wearing the traditional dress of many countries. Some of these children helped Walt pour water collected from every ocean plus major rivers and bodies of water from around the world into the flume, truly symbolizing the attraction’s theme of global unity.

It was the park’s first continually loading high-capacity ride. The day was marked by special ceremonies attended by Walt Disney himself in which water from all over the world is poured into the attraction’s moat.

Showcasing the classic work of Disney Legends including art director Mary Blair and costume designer Alice Davis, with an unforgettable theme song by the Sherman Brothers, the Disneyland version of “it’s a small world” famously introduced the gleaming white and gold-tinged facade, incorporating legendary international landmarks.

Disneyland threw another grand opening celebration for the attraction two days later. It’s A Small World proved to be so popular that versions were later added at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.