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2000
Epcot
2000
2000 Monorail Spiel
Millennium Village
Tapestry of Nations
New
Year's Eve 1999 & 2000
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections
of Earth
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Epcot 2000 Highlights
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December 31, 1999
| December 31, 2000 | IllumiNations 2000 NYE Version
December 31, 1999
New Year's Eve 1999
was an eagerly awaited day by many around the
world. Epcot being the center of WDW's
Millennium Celebration was a very popular choice for
Disney guests that day. Resort guests told of
stories that there were three Disney Transport busses
at their resort that morning taking people to Epcot
and all three were full while there was only one for
the Magic Kingdom. The Epcot Auto Plaza opened at
7:30 that morning and was closed within just a few
minutes as they found that the International Gateway
entrance to the park had a very long line
building. And the resort busses dropping guests
off at the front of the park brought in even more
crowds. It was soon announced that the park was
closed except to Annual Passholders and Resort Guests
and then shortly thereafter, it was closed to Annual
Passholders as well. The line for the
International Gateway entrance stretched all the way
to the dock at the Yacht Club. Even with long
lines just to get in, the crowd was very festive.
Once inside the park, lines at the counter service
restaurants were unbelievable and people cheered when
anybody got food. The line for Spaceship Earth
early in the day wrapped around the entire Global
Neighborhood building. The wait for Test Track
was hours long. However, by around 11am, lines
at most attractions were fairly manageable. By
mid-afternoon, the park seemed as crowded as any
other day. Lines at counter service restaurants
around 4 to 5pm were fairly non-existent. The
reason for this was that Disney's policy is that the
first park you enter that day as a resort guest, you
are guaranteed readmittance if you should leave the
park to go back to your resort or to another
park. However, if, for example, you left Epcot
(the park you started in), went to the Disney/MGM
Studios, left that park and then wanted to return to
the Studios later, you may not get back in if the
park is full. But you could get back into Epcot
even if it was full because you entered that park
first.
Disney sent a letter to resort guests explaining
this policy and suggesting that they return to their
resort for rest in the afternoon before returning to
the park in the evening. This left the park
much more manageable. And, it made traversing
World Showcase during Tapestry of Nations' 3:30 and
5:15 performances much easier.
Full service restaurants were 100% booked and even
an extra full service dining area was set up just
outside International Gateway to accommodate the
crowds. Most attractions ceased operation
around 11:30 to allow everyone both guests and cast
members a chance to see the spectacular fireworks
display. In addition, it allowed the
attractions to be tested just after midnight to make
sure they were working properly before guests got to
ride in them.
Live entertainment could be found in Millennium
Central and the Fountain Stage in Future World as
well as at the America Gardens Theatre, MoRockin',
Off Kilter, and the British Invasion in World
Showcase. A laser light disco party was held at
the Italy courtyard and a video disco party was held
at the Japan courtyard. Noisemakers and party
hats (featuring the 2000 logo) were handed out to
guests starting at 6 at Germany, The American
Adventure, island between UK and France, the
Rosewalk, near the Magic Music Days stage, and near
the Universe of Energy.
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December 31, 2000
Even though it had been technically pointed out
that this was indeed the last day of the second
millennium, crowds were not as intense this
year. Cold weather also kept some people
away. However, both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom
filled to capacity during the day.
Entertainment was similar to that of the year before
in the same locations mentioned above. This
year's hats had a colorful logo with the date
'December 31, 2000' written at the bottom. More
information on the two versions of IllumiNations
2000: Reflections of Earth is described below.
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December
31, 1999 & 2000
The
information on this site may not be reproduced in any
form on the Internet without express written
permission from EDC.
Epcot went all out to celebrate New
Year's Eve in style. On December 31, 1999,
guests grabbed positions around the lagoon starting
early in the morning for that evening's
fireworks. On December 31, 2000, cold weather
and an effort to reduce crowds leaving the theme
parks, prompted the park to present two editions of
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth.
The first showing (which only
included the normal show) was presented at
7:30pm. After the male announcer gave the
closing narration hoping that we enjoyed the show,
the Epcot female announcer gave this announcement.
Female
Announcer: (2000)
Thank you for being a part of this special New
Year's Eve performance of IllumiNations 2000:
Reflections of Earth. For guests who may be
leaving us at this time, the entire Epcot family
wishes you and yours the happiest of New Year's
and a safe journey home. Thank you.
New Year's Eve Tag
In both years, the normal
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth show started
off the evening's celebration at 11:40pm. The
2000 sign over Spaceship Earth remained lit during
the entire show. After the main show ended with
"We Go On," the instrumental theme to
"Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" began
and this announcement was heard replacing the usual
closing narration by the male announcer.
Female
Announcer: We are
together here at Epcot. Each of us a bold
explorer - an individual marking a moment in a
new millennium. And, before this special moment
escapes us, here at the dawn of a new age, before
we move on to pursue our separate paths of
discovery, let us become a single spirit inspired
by the innovations that have brought us to this
moment, amazed by the promises of tomorrow,
creating hope for a better world. Let us be
brought closer together for all time by this
single truth: that there is nothing we cannot
accomplish hand in hand.
"Celebrate
the Future Hand in Hand"
The song begins as fireworks are launched from
behind Germany to Morocco in 1999 and in the lagoon
in 2000. This is the same version of the song
as heard on track 18 of the 2000 Official Album CD
from Walt Disney Records
- Music by Ira Antelis
- Lyrics by Cheryl Berman
- ©1999 Wonderland Music Co., Inc. (BMI)
- Music Produced by Ted Ricketts
- Music Arranged and Conducted by David T.
Clydesdale
- Vocal Solos by Michelle Lindahl and Jeff
Smith
- Music Mixed by Andy de Ganahl at Trans
Continental Studios, Orlando, FL
Put your hand
On the future
Share a dream together
Around the world
With a voice from every country
A face from every land
We'll celebrate the future hand in hand
We'll celebrate the future hand in hand
The future is coming
We gotta catch it if we can
The magic's unfolding
And you can hold it in your hand?
We can touch tomorrow today
To make some memories
That will never fade away
Put your hand
On the future
Share a dream together
Around the world
With a voice from every country
And a face from every land
We'll celebrate the future hand in hand
Join the celebration
It's an invitation
Feel the inspiration
A dream we all share
From the very start of it
You can be a part of it
At the very heart of it
Everyone from everywhere
Put your hand
On the future
Share a dream together
Around the world
With a voice from every country
And a face from every land
We'll celebrate the future hand in hand
We'll celebrate the future hand in hand
We'll celebrate the future hand ... in
Hand in hand
Every land
Celebrate
Hand in... Hand!!
By this point, the Earth Globe has closed again
and images of clocks and time keeping devices (such
as hour glasses) appear on the screens. The
sounds of clocks ticking are heard. During the
countdown, the numbers are flashed on the screen
followed by "Happy 2000" and "Happy
New Year!"
1999
Female Announcer:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the moment
has arrived. Let us greet the new year hand in
hand as we count down together to welcome the new
millennium. 10 (dong with count) ... 9 ... 8 ...
7... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Happy
New Year!!
2000
Female Announcer:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the moment
has arrived. Let us greet the new year hand in
hand as we count down together to welcome the new
year. 10 (dong with count) ... 9 ... 8 ... 7... 6
... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Happy New
Year!!
Auld Lang Syne plays for about a minute and a half
while fireworks erupt from the middle of the lagoon
and from behind the pavilions providing an astounding
and breathtaking vista in 1999 and in 2000 the
fireworks fill the lagoon area only. Due to the
noise of the screaming crowd, it was hard to hear the
first part of this closing announcement in 1999.
1999
Female Announcer:
[Happy New Year everyone and thank you for being
here at Epcot to share this celebration. We
invite you to enjoy the remainder of the evening
with us.] We wish you a safe journey home and on
behalf of the entire Disney family, we extend to
you and yours happy, prosperous, and fulfilling
days ahead in the year 2000 - the dawn of a most
promising new millennium. Thank you.
2000
Female Announcer:
Happy New Year everyone and thank
you for being here at Epcot to share this
celebration. We invite you to enjoy the remainder
of the evening with us. We wish you a safe
journey home and on behalf of the entire Disney
family, we extend to you and yours a happy,
prosperous, and fulfilling new year. Thank you.
Smoke filling the sky, the crowds to guests begin
to leave the park or hang around until it closed at
2am in early 2000 and at 1am in early 2001. The
normal exit music played after the show the first
year, but for the second year, IllumiNations 2000:
Reflections of Earth pre-show music played in the
background until 1am. A few minutes after the
show ended that night in early 2001, the female
announcer invited guests to stay in the park to
continue celebrating until 1am.
Female
Announcer: Walt
Disney World [ ? ? ? ] ... would like to bring in
the new year with style as Epcot celebrates the
year 2001!
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© EPCOT Discovery Center
Created January 29, 2001 / Last modified
February 17, 2011
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