A Marvel Beginner’s Honest Review of ‘it’s a small world with Groot’ — Highlights and What to Look For

From January 15 to June 30, 2025, Tokyo Disneyland renewed its “it’s a small world” attraction as “it’s a small world with Groot,” a limited-time version that introduced Marvel characters. Some overseas parks have attractions based on Marvel films, but this was the first time Marvel was featured in an attraction at Tokyo Disney, and it became a hot topic among Disney fans.

Now “it’s a small world with Groot” is back again, running from Saturday, December 27, 2025 through Sunday, June 28, 2026!

In this article, I’ll share my impressions of riding “it’s a small world with Groot,” the highlights to watch for, and whether Marvel beginners can still enjoy it.

What is “it’s a small world”?

“it’s a small world” debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair in the United States, then spread to Disneyland parks around the globe, and is now beloved worldwide. Riders board a small boat and travel through areas themed after different countries and regions to the melody of “It’s a Small World,” sharing a message about the importance of cross-cultural exchange and peace.

At Tokyo Disneyland, “it’s a small world” was renewed in 2018 to include Disney characters as well, making it even more popular than before.

How has “it’s a small world with Groot” changed?

“it’s a small world with Groot” adds Marvel film characters on top of the regular it’s a small world experience. The main character is Groot, the popular figure from the film “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The attraction is built around a story in which Groot and his fellow Marvel Studios characters come to Earth on a vacation.

My impressions after riding “it’s a small world with Groot”

To start, when I rode this attraction I was a Marvel beginner who had not seen a single MCU film. I knew the names of a few characters like Groot, Ant-Man, and Hulk, but for more than half of the characters I didn’t know their names or which films they appeared in. Here are my impressions as someone in that position.

It’s fun finding what has changed

Even without knowing the characters or movie plots, it was fun spotting the changes and additions from the renewal. New characters aren’t the only additions — there are also elements added to fit the story of “it’s a small world with Groot,” so there’s plenty to discover.

Groot is just plain cute

Groot looks different in each film, but the most popular version is the young Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” and that’s the version used in this attraction. As in the films, the Groot you’ll see in the attraction has big round eyes and is simply adorable.

Before watching MCU films: it makes you want to watch them

I had always enjoyed Disney and Star Wars films, but for some reason Marvel was the one franchise I never got into. Riding the attraction sparked my curiosity — “What kind of character is this?” “What’s the story behind them?” I had been thinking about watching the MCU for a while but couldn’t take the plunge, so this attraction gave me the perfect push to start.

After watching MCU films: few characters from the early Infinity Saga

Personally, I would have loved to see Iron Man and Black Widow, who play big roles in the Infinity Saga. I imagine they focused on characters active as of 2025, but Iron Man appears in “Reach for the Stars,” and given how often these two show up in the films, it was a shame they weren’t included.

Highlights of “it’s a small world with Groot”

From here, I’ll share the highlights of “it’s a small world with Groot.” I was a Marvel beginner when I first rode the attraction, but I started watching Marvel films afterward. I’ll cover both the highlights that Marvel newcomers can enjoy, and the ones you’ll only spot after watching the movies.

The exterior gets a Marvel makeover too!

“it’s a small world” is famous for its lavish exterior! For this event, new signs were added featuring Marvel characters riding in boats. The background music playing outside the attraction has also been switched to a Marvel theme, and the Avengers theme song occasionally plays.

Watch for Groot’s outfits matching each country and culture!

Since this attraction’s story is about Groot taking a vacation on Earth, be sure to notice how his outfit changes to match the country or culture of each area. For example, in the European area you’ll see Groot dressed as a London royal guard, and in another scene wearing traditional Dutch clothing. It’s adorable seeing Groot enjoy his time on Earth.

Story elements from the films are woven in

If you look closely, you’ll spot details inspired by the films that fans will especially appreciate.

1. Black Panther and the heart-shaped herb

In the films, Black Panther gains special powers by consuming the heart-shaped herb. In the attraction, you can see heart-shaped herbs planted near Black Panther. Black Panther is also the king of Wakanda. Wakanda is a highly advanced city, but its existence is hidden, and outsiders see it as a country full of nature. Since the attraction places him in the Africa zone, surrounded by animals and lush nature, I think this ties back to the story.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy and upbeat music

Guardians of the Galaxy is famous for the 70s and 80s Western pop music that plays throughout the films. In the attraction, they appear in the Latin America area, which fits the story. They show up in the lively, music-filled Mexico section, and the match feels just right.

3. Doctor Strange: Kamar-Taj and the Sanctum

Doctor Strange appears in the Asia area of the attraction. In the film, Doctor Strange travels to Nepal in search of Kamar-Taj to heal the aftereffects of his injury — which is why he appears in the Asia zone. Behind Doctor Strange and Wong, a portal is open, and you can see it leads to the New York Sanctum. I didn’t notice this at all on my first ride before watching the film, but after seeing it I went back through my photos and was deeply moved when I spotted it.

Look for the proof of Groot’s world tour!

At the very start of the attraction, there’s a suitcase next to Groot covered in stickers. The same suitcase appears near the end of the ride, but you’ll notice it has even more stickers on it. Just like travel lovers who buy stickers from each place they visit and stick them on their suitcase, Groot has done the same as proof of his world tour.
This suitcase also shows up as merchandise, and among its stickers you’ll find one from Wakanda — the fictional country from the Marvel films.

Near the suitcase at the end, you’ll also see a paper bag with Mickey’s silhouette on it, filled with park food. Clearly Groot stopped by Disneyland too! The park foods inside the bag are actually sold as merchandise — we even have the pizza play set at our house.

How to enjoy the attraction even more

You can enjoy the attraction without watching the films, but seeing them first lets you catch the finer details and enjoy the experience even more. That said, fully understanding everything would mean watching a huge number of films, which isn’t easy.
At minimum, I recommend “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which features the lead character Groot. Marvel films are famous for being connected to each other, so understanding everything requires watching the whole series, but “Guardians of the Galaxy” stands on its own well enough that you can follow it without much background.
Some people might think “I’ll just watch The Avengers since all the characters appear together,” but the Avengers films are built on each character’s individual story, so without that background you’ll miss a lot. I don’t really recommend starting there.

Wrap-up

How was it? As a Marvel beginner myself, I found plenty to enjoy in the attraction even without having seen the films. For viewers who have watched the Marvel movies, the attraction offers even more details to appreciate. It even gave me the push I needed to start watching the Marvel films, so I’d recommend it to anyone curious about them too.