Yes, the exterior of "it's a small world" at Disneyland in California does indeed use real 22-karat gold leaf. When the attraction was redesigned for its 1966 debut (after the World's Fair), the legendary designer Mary Blair and Imagineer Rolly Crump wanted the facade to shimmer with a distinct, high-quality luster that paint could not replicate. The white and gold aesthetic is achieved through the meticulous application of gold leaf to the geometric shapes and clock face. Because gold is highly resistant to tarnishing and oxidation, it remains brilliant even in the sunny, sometimes damp California weather. Every few years during major refurbishments, Disney artisans "re-gild" sections of the facade to ensure the "Small World" holiday overlay and daily operations continue to sparkle. While the gold is real, it is applied in incredibly thin sheets (leaves), meaning that while it is valuable and authentic, the total weight of the gold on the building is much less than the dazzling visual effect suggests.