Disneyland Duck Races turn It’s a Small World into the world’s biggest bathtub — See photos
Hundreds of yellow rubber ducks decorated to look like Spider-Man, Maleficent, Madame Leota, Kermit the Frog and even Donald Trump waded around the It’s a Small World waterway in the annual Disneyland Duck Races.
The 2023 Disneyland Duck Races around the Small World canal were held on Friday, July 7 before the Anaheim theme park opened to the public.
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The loop around Small World took the fastest ducks about 15 minutes — pushed along by the same water flow that propels the attraction’s boats.
The annual race that started just after 6 a.m. with a group launch of hundreds of rubber duckies turned the classic Disneyland boat ride attraction into the world’s largest bathtub.
Disneyland visitors at the park on Friday may spot a few stragglers in the Small World canal that didn’t reach the finish line.
Good luck little ducks! #disneycastlife pic.twitter.com/3wKsJ3lVw1
— ktina (@chandutailz) July 7, 2023
The rubber ducks were hand-painted and bedazzled for the competition in Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and theme park attraction designs by Disneyland cast members — Disney parlance for employees.
Design categories ranged from “Most Like Donald Duck” to “Least Sea-Worthy.”
The “Most Disney Themed” category featured some of the most elaborate creations — including Hunchquack of Notre Dame, Toy Story Claw Machine and an animated Beauty and the Beast ballroom dance scene.
It was a great morning for a duck race! #disneycastlife pic.twitter.com/SstNOFHzBN
— ktina (@chandutailz) July 7, 2023
“Most Creative” was also a showcase category with ducks sitting inside Mad Tea Party teacups, Haunted Mansion doom buggies and Splash Mountain logs.
Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Ahsoka Tano ducks were among the highlights in the “Superhero” category.
A Maleficent dragon floating in a pond of fiery gold glitter and a duck weighed down by a massive anchor lived up to the title of “Least Sea-Worthy.”
The “Most Like Donald Duck” category featured the irascible fowl blowing his top, a trio of ducks dressed up to look like the Three Caballeros and even a Donald Trump duck with a distinctive orange pompadour.
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There was no shortage of creativity or inspiration. Ducks were incorporated into everything from Madame Leota’s crystal ball and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique salon and the Cozy Cone Motel food court.
Awards were handed out for first, second and last place in the race as well as in each of the appearance-based categories. Cast members were encouraged to post photos and videos of the competition and designs to social media using #DisneyCastLife.
The Disneyland Duck Races began in 2008 as a friendly competition among Small World employees before expanding to all cast members in 2011. Proceeds from entry fees will be donated to the My Day Counts nonprofit organization that offers life and work training to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.