American Woman Goes to Paris—Then Sees How US Is Depicted: ‘Mind Is Blown’

An eye-opening video filmed inside Disneyland Paris has gone viral on TikTok, as one American traveler shares her surprise at how the United States is portrayed by the park’s iconic “It’s a Small World” ride.

The viral video, posted by 29-year-old Myriam Estrella (@myriamestrella8), who is based in the United States, has racked up more than 10.4 million views since it was shared on June 4. In the short clip, Estrella documents her experience on “It’s a Small World,” the famed boat-ride attraction known for its cheerful global vignettes.

Estrella told Newsweek: “I went to Disneyland Paris in May with my partner—it was my first time there, and we were just on vacation. The video was taken inside the ‘It’s a Small World’ ride.”

She said: “I thought the U.S. section was super-cute and it made me smile, so I wanted to share it with my followers so they could get a smile from it as well.”

Text overlaid on the video reads: “POV [point of view]: When you go to Disneyland Paris and go on it’s a small world and get to see how the U.S. depicted.”

The footage reveals the whimsical depiction of the United States, complete with animatronic dolls in a horse-drawn hayride scene, symbolizing American heartland life. Other visuals include tributes to major landmarks such as New York City’s Statue of Liberty, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles—serving as miniature mascots of American identity.

There is even a nod to sports culture, with dolls representing football and baseball players, and a park ranger placed among pine trees, alongside figures dressed as Native Americans.

Estrella’s caption shared with the video simply says: “My mind is blown!!!”

There has been a downturn in international travel to the U.S. Preliminary data from March 2025 indicates a 14 percent drop in visits compared to the same month the year prior, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Travel Association warned that, if this trend continues, the U.S. could lose up to $21 billion in travel-related exports by year’s end.

The decline is especially pronounced among travelers from historically high-value markets including Canada, Western Europe, Asia, and South America, the association noted.

Despite the U.S. being a popular destination for many around the world, a June 2021 Pew Research Center survey revealed that about 27 percent of Americans have never traveled outside the country. However, the majority—71 percent—have gone abroad at least once, with income playing a significant role in the frequency of international trips.

‘This Is Fabulous’

Estrella’s video struck a chord with viewers who appreciated the international lens through which American culture is viewed.

TikTok commenters responded with humor and nostalgia.

User @eliodismagic commented: “omg [oh my God] this is my favorite ride. this is fabulous.”

Another user, M.bermudez22, wrote: “Okay but this is actually really cute.”

Chris praised the inclusion of Native American figures, writing: “Love that they included indigenous people.”

User 48phd summed up the scene by saying: “this is literally how we view you?? statue of liberty, Hollywood and cowboys.”

User @alix.bsh said, “this is exactly why as a kid i thought ny [New York] and la [Los Angeles] were walking distance lol [laugh out loud],” and Hallsja7 added: “This is how us Europeans see America to be fair.”

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