8 July 2002:

Opening Date: October 1, 2001 (unofficially opened to Guests on September 24, 2001), in honor of the "100 Years of Magic" Celebration at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Walt Disney.

Show Length: 30 minutes

Location: From Mexico to Morocco in World Showcase at Epcot®

Description/Theme: "Tapestry of Dreams" celebrates children, dreams, and the legacy of Walt Disney. The spectacle begins with Dream Seekers dancing alongside the Dream Catcher -- an enormous "float" that interacts with Guests. This magical event is a "visible dream," in which ideas, images, and emotions are evoked through a series of extraordinary puppets and music.
Additional Highlights: "Tapestry of Dreams" is divided into the Parade and the Celebration.

• Parade:
o The Parade blends music with children's voices, each telling their own dream, interspersed with a narrator revealing the power of dreams. There are three Dream Seekers: Elfin (representing nature, magic and emotion) and Cosmo (representing space, the universe and infinity) dance the parade route, interact with Guests and "harvest" dreams; Leonardo Columbus (representing discovery, invention and genius) rides the Dream Catcher float, operates its gigantic "wings" and manipulates the float so that chimes and bells ring magically.

• Celebration:
o The Celebration is a spectacular street festival combining color, music and larger-than-life puppetry that weaves its way through World Showcase. During this joyous celebration, whimsical puppets dance together with Guests. Each puppet's specific movements emphasize its distinct character.

Audio System: The largest networked audio system in the world with 416 speakers throughout the promenade and 137 amplifiers, totaling 164,400 watts of power

Lighting: Features 412 lighting fixtures throughout the promenade

Music: Original music was composed by Gavin Greenaway and Jonathon Barr, and recorded in London by members of the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic.

Performers: There are 112 Cast Members, including drivers.

Puppets: Eight different puppets and 54 designs. Colorful, larger-than-life puppets soar 12 to 19 feet high with wingspans between 8 and 16 feet wide.
The puppets include:
• Angel -- A spiritual, uplifting, heavenly puppet whose movement is graceful, inspiring, free, and interactive.
• Aztec -- A primitive guardian of the human spirit who moves in a precise, regimented, and uplifting manner.
• Birdman -- A tribal, eagle-like protector whose movement is majestic, statue-like, slow, and commanding.
• Discman -- A teenager, class clown, a rag doll who loves people, very interactive, thinks he's a dancer but is uncoordinated.
• Hammerman -- A futuristic, powerful, and mature spiritual warrior that is friendly, with moves similar to a praying mantis.
• Reverse Marionette -- A toy-like, fatherly teacher who moves in a tender, gently protective way.
• Sprite -- A fragile, vulnerable, shy character who moves in a graceful ballet-like manner.
• Wiggle Girl -- A flirt, child-like, funny and beautiful, who moves like a dancer in a playful, explosive, interactive, and unexpected manner.
 

29 December 2000: Official Confirmation of the extension

-- Because some celebrations are too good to end, smash-hit entertainment from the smile-making, record-breaking Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration is being extended indefinitely at Epcot.

That means the moving spectacle of “Tapestry of Nations” and the sky-filling fireworks-and-laser dazzler, “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” won’t end when the year 2000 does. After entertaining millions of Epcot guests, both spectaculars will be continued so millions more can experience them, announced Karl Holz, vice president of Epcot.

“Response to these two shows has been phenomenal,” Holz said. “Our guests told their friends who told other friends. Their message became clear: don’t bring the curtain down on these smash hits.

“That’s welcome news to those who weren’t able to make our millennium celebration or for those guests who did attend and want to come back for an encore.”

Here’s a closer look at the shows:

“Tapestry of Nations” -- To the sounds of an Emmy Award-winning musical score, “Tapestry of Nations” performs twice daily around World Showcase Lagoon. Puppets soaring nearly 20 feet tall and maneuvered by performers dressed in elaborate costumes follow the World Showcase Promenade dancing, enchanting and interacting with Epcot guests. The colorful puppets are joined by gigantic percussion units, designed to resemble colossal timepieces in an unforgettable celebration of the diversity and splendor of our world.

“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” -- This dazzling nightly finale on and above World Showcase Lagoon is filled with the fiery glow of torches, high-energy music, lasers and booming fireworks. The sky transforms into a kaleidoscope of colorful pyrotechnic bursts. Comets streak across the sky as video images are displayed on the giant Earth Globe, the floating centerpiece of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Then, the sphere blossoms like a flower, revealing a brilliant ball of fire. Dreams of hope for a better tomorrow are cast as the music builds, lasers shoot skyward, fireworks light the night and flames leap across the surface of the lagoon.

That’s not all. Starting Jan. 1, 2001, work begins on changing out the “2000” crowning the famed Epcot icon, Spaceship Earth. In its place: the gloved hand and star-topped magical wand of Sorcerer Mickey will hold an exciting new and more permanent symbol. The name “Epcot” will be dramatically spelled out, script-style, in 250,000 glittering eye-catchers, accompanied by “starfetti” crowning Spaceship Earth. Glowing at night in festive red lights, “Epcot” will be visible for miles.

The makeover should be completed in spring 2001.

The popular Millennium Village, a pavilion created especially for the millennium celebration, ends its successful run on Jan. 1, 2001, after 15 months as a World Showcase celebration of countries and cultures. Guests were treated to exhibits from 24 countries ranging from a Brazilian rainforest to the four seasons of Sweden, as well as a marketplace of artisans from around the globe and stirring performances by more than 65 international groups. As planned, the space will become a convention and meeting facility opening in the spring of 2001.

“By any measure,” said Holz, “our millennium celebration was a huge success. “We will continue the fun and spirit of that celebration right into the new year.”

4 December 2000: Tapestry Extended

Tapestry of Nations has been confirmed to be extended for at least another 16 months.  Epcot are currently recruiting additional cast for the show.

Spellbinding and Spiritual 'Tapestry of Nations' Nightly Centerpiece of Millennium Celebration

Fifteen massive, rolling percussion units...120 towering puppets...720 drums and 150 live performers...19 giant torch towers...fountains of fire and a symphonic score -- all combining at Epcot every evening for the celebration of the century.

International fellowship intertwines with artistic images to create a patchwork of pageantry in "Tapestry of Nations," the new entertainment odyssey presented twice-nightly at Epcot as part of the 15-month Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration.

" 'Tapestry of Nations' combines hundreds of artistic elements to create a celebration like no other," says creator, writer and director Gary Paben. "The size and scope of the pageantry will dazzle, amuse and mystify as puppetry, masks, costumes and moving tableaus give this millennium spectacular a signature all its own."

The celebration's giant puppets, towering nearly 20 feet in the air, are a collection of 120 designs in eight basic styles. Consisting of gossamer and gold squares, mirror-plated circles, flapping wings, vivid geometrics and colorful panels, the articulated figures create a fun-filled cavalcade of motion along World Showcase Promenade.

Engineered to move effortlessly with the breeze, the puppets were designed by noted artist Michael Curry, whose work includes award-winning creations for "The Lion King" on Broadway. The puppets are manned by costumed performers who playfully interact with Epcot guests.

"Tapestry of Nations" forms around Epcot World Showcase in three sections, each led by the Sage of Time -- a stilt-walking performer clad in a massive silver cloak who symbolizes the indomitable human spirit.

Nineteen torch towers with flames rising at nearly 30 feet surround World Showcase Lagoon to ignite the spirit of the celebration. Giant rolling percussion units, carrying 720 drums and 30 drummers, join in and add a primal, multi-tone rhythmic spirit to the artistic, orchestral arrangement. The musical score, written for "Tapestry of Nations" by Hollywood film composer Gavin Greenaway and supervised by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer ("The Lion King"), builds as the celebration heralds the arrival of the new millennium.

"Tapestry of Nations" moves around World Showcase Promenade twice each evening. The evening's second performance utilizes theatrical lighting, internally illuminated puppets and a magnificent starlight effect that surrounds the lagoon.

Brilliant international colors also light up the celebration, from Irish Green and French Blue to Italian Sienna and Canadian Sunset-Orange.

Children will also be able to join the artistry of "Tapestry of Nations" by wearing masks they can create at Kidcot Funstops throughout Epcot World Showcase. Each Funstop features kid-size tables and chairs with cultural representatives from each World Showcase pavilion on hand to help children create their own mask designs.

Following "Tapestry of Nations," the nightly millennium celebration culminates with the performance of "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" -- the all-new extravaganza featuring more than 2,800 pyrotechnic shells, video imagery on a three-story spherical screen, a spectrum of lasers, water fountains, fire and orchestral music. The show is presented on (and above) World Showcase Lagoon.

• A Twice-Nightly Celebration: Two performances take place each evening during the 15-month Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration. The nightly millennium celebration culminates with the performance of "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth."
• Puppets: Towering 18 feet above the ground, each of the 120 puppets is engineered to move effortlessly with the breeze. Each puppet is manned by costumed performers who interact with Epcot guests. The figures were designed by artist Michael Curry, whose famous creations include the award-winning puppets for "The Lion King" on Broadway.
• Torch Towers: Nineteen giant torch towers, with flames at nearly 30 feet above World Showcase Lagoon, ignite the spirit of celebration.
• Drums: Fifteen massive, rolling percussive units carry a total of 720 drums and 30 drummers.
• Performers: More than 150 costumed performers star in "Tapestry of Nations."
• Orchestral Arrangement: The original score for "Tapestry of Nations" was written by British-born composer Gavin Greenaway, noted for his work on Hollywood movies, and supervised by Hans Zimmer, Oscar-winning composer for "The Lion King." The music was recorded at London's Abbey Road Studios made famous by The Beatles.
• Production:
  Senior Show Director - Gary Paben
  Producer - Paul Marosi
  Managing Producer - John Haupt

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