| Walt Disney World Christmas 1999 |
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Christmas 1999
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7 January 2000: Emergency lights all ready for Y2K problems
Above Left: Coronado Springs Resort Bus Stop
Other pictures show Magic Kingdom - the only park to have a large amount
of emergency lighting inside the park. Epcot did have a few
generators and lighting rigs ready, but nothing like the amount at MK.
6 January 2000: New Years Eve!
With a "bang" heard 'round the world -- Walt Disney World -- the Vacation Kingdom ushered in the year 2000 on Friday night with countdown parties, big-name bands and pyrotechnics that painted the Central Florida skies from six locations. More than 13,000 shells exploded over Disney's vast entertainment venues and resort hotels in the largest New Year's Eve sky show in the resort's 28-year history. The festivities also took to the sea, as Disney Cruise Line marked the milestone in grand fashion with guests aboard Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
Guests arrived at Walt Disney World so early that capacity conditions were declared at Epcot at 7:49 a.m. (a record), limiting entry after that time to resort guests and holders of multi-day tickets and annual passes. The Magic Kingdom followed suit at 12:40 p.m., then Disney-MGM Studios at 1:34 p.m.
Festivities were all part of the year-long Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration that continues non-stop through Jan. 1, 2001. Taking the theme of "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand," the year-long Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration features thrilling new attractions, breakthrough technologies and sights, sounds and tastes from around the globe. Among the highlights of the celebration, which is centered at Epcot:
"Tapestry of Nations," a twice-daily moving spectacle
around World Showcase that celebrates the human spirit with
larger-than-life puppets, giant rolling percussion units, an original
musical score and more than 150 live performers.
- "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth," a stunning
pyrotechnics show that takes place on (and above) World Showcase
Lagoon as the daily grand finale.
- Millennium Village, a pavilion along World Showcase that features interactive exhibits and displays from countries around the globe.
Throughout New Year's Eve 1999 at Walt Disney World Resort, pyrotechnics spectacularly lit the night above the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Downtown Disney as hundreds of thousands of revelers across Walt Disney World Resort joined in the fun. It was an exclamation point on a resort-wide New Year's Eve celebration that featured a musical lineup including L.F.O., Hootie & the Blowfish, the B52s, Cheap Trick, STYX and more.
At Epcot, celebratory sounds and global music filled the air in Epcot World Showcase, creating a festive atmosphere for the midnight fireworks.
Crowds filled the Magic Kingdom for a non-alcoholic celebration full of family fun, culminating with the park's fabled "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks show.
Magic Kingdom actually started the New Year's celebration early with an 8:30 p.m. fireworks show. At midnight, a newly created show was presented for guests, featuring a special "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" finale that welcomed the new year with the musical anthem of Disney's millennium celebration. The musical finale also was presented for guests at Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios.
At Disney-MGM Studios, L.F.O. and Cheap Trick were joined by swing's Big Time Operator, comedians, disco music and a '50s-'60s record hop as special entertainment filled every area of the park.
Jazz and a special New Year's Eve performance of La Nouba attracted a sellout crowd to the Cirque du Soleil® theater in Downtown Disney, while a street-party at Pleasure Island featured pop legends STYX, the B52s and Hootie & the Blowfish. Atlantic Dance, a swing-filled, big-band dance hall at Disney's BoardWalk, treated guests to a sold-out party with a five-course gourmet meal and live music, circa 1946.
"Our millennium celebration is giving guests a reason to mark a very special occasion with their families and friends -- and have a wonderful experience," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort. "And for guests unable to be with us on New Year's Eve, they will get the same magic every day and every night for the next 12 months as part of our year-long celebration."
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder of Disney Cruise Line met off Disney's private Bahamian island to ring in the new year at sea with a spectacular nautical fireworks display. As shells seen from both ships lit up the ocean sky, guests danced beneath the stars to swingband sounds, basked in showers of confetti and sang along to "Auld Lang Syne."
As Walt Disney World Resort guests celebrated the momentous stroke of midnight, resort monorails, communications and theme park attractions were reported free of Y2K-related glitches.
Just some of the events to take place Christmas 1999 at Walt Disney World!
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It's Florida and it's snowing. Ice skaters are cutting patterns along the shore of a peaceful lake where others are boating. Country Bears are "pun"-ishing a wintry musical ditty to the rollicking delight of a concert hall packed with humans. Four million twinkling colored lights are prisming into tens of millions of glittering images to the delight of other guests. And a chorus of hundreds is joining an orchestra and celebrity narrator to tell the Christmas Story.
Small wonder that the period from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2 has been dubbed "Disney's Magical Holidays." There are special events, shows, parties, displays and surprises around every corner of the Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom.
The Lights Go on at Disney-MGM Studios Nov. 24 1999
It all begins at dusk Nov. 24 when Disney-MGM Studios throws the switch on one of the truly astounding Christmas light displays anywhere, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. It's 4 million lights -- enough bulbs to light several city blocks and more -- all concentrated on the park's 760-foot-long Residential Street, Washington Square backlot and New York Street.
Started by Arkansas businessman Jennings Osborne, who received worldwide attention for the Little Rock light show he created a decade ago for his daughter, the dazzling display is shining at the studios for the fifth straight year.
Talk about your busy elf: Osborne already is checking twice his list of light display items, including 178 angels, 53 illuminated trees, 50 lighted Mickey Mouse figures and two 30-foot-tall carousels. Disney-MGM Studios guests get to take it all in through special holographic glasses that give the displays even more brilliance -- and some other visual surprises. The display is lighted nightly through Jan. 2.
There'll also be some nightly "snow" flurries falling on the studios' New York Street, plus a Hollywood-style holiday celebration throughout Disney-MGM Studios with performances by favorite Disney characters and talented stage performers.
Snow in Forecast at Magic Kingdom, too
The forecast is for intermittent snow flurries at the Magic Kingdom -- on the evenings of Dec. 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17. That's when the Disney fun-makers will be at work presenting Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a special-ticket event that begins after regular park closing.
From 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. each evening, the Magic Kingdom is aglow with a colorful holiday festival that includes one of the most spectacular fireworks displays of the year -- 360 degrees of pyrotechnics choreographed to holiday music. There also are two performances nightly of "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade." When the parade steps off, Disney magic kicks in as snow fills the air and snowmen fill the street.
The magic continues around Cinderella Castle with the festive stage show "Every Day's A Holiday," and throughout the rest of the park with other shows, including "Mickey's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "Miss Minnie's Country Christmas." To top off the evening guests receive complimentary family photographs, souvenir buttons, cookies and cocoa.
Magic Kingdom Transformed into a Holiday Postcard Nov. 24
The Magic Kingdom is transformed into a picture postcard scene of traditional holiday splendor overnight on Nov. 24. A 65-foot-tall Christmas tree greets guests' eyes as they enter the park at Town Square, and garlands canopy Main Street, U.S.A. Sounds of the season fill the air.
Magic Kingdom guests are treated to performances of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade daily Dec. 18 through Dec. 30. For those spending the holidays at home, ABC-TV will present a special telecast of the parade on Christmas (Dec. 25). The two-hour prime time show (8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain Time) will glitter with special musical performances by stars such as 98ř, James Ingram and SHeDaisy. There'll even be a special performance by world-famous Cirque du Soleil_. Multi-talented Wayne Brady ("Who's Line Is It, Anyway?") will be the "man on the street" for the telecast.
Daily from Nov. 25 to Jan. 2, the Magic Kingdom also is the place to catch a performance of the Country Bear Christmas Special. That same band of bruins that's been banjo-pickin' up a ruckus at Frontierland's Grizzly Hall for more than a quarter century is singin' (if yocan call it that) a different tune for the holidays. The 18 bears, moose, buffalo, stag, raccoon and penguin are all decked out in seasonal togs. They growl through "Makin' Tracks in the Snow," and the romantic Trixie laments those "Aggravatin', Keep-me-waitin' Hibernatin' Blues." They also try their voices on some familiar seasonal songs, and if you can stop laughin' long enough you might recognize tunes such as "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song."
Epcot Presents Candlelight Processional Nov. 26-Dec. 30
The music and the story are both familiar when Epcot presents the Candlelight Processional Nov. 26 through Dec. 30. A Walt Disney World tradition now in its 29th year, the Candlelight Processional is a stirring presentation of the Christmas Story in readings by celebrity narrators and music by a massed choir and 50-piece orchestra. Performances are at 5, 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.
Special dinner packages that combine fine dining
at select Epcot restaurants and preferred seating for the Candlelight
Processional are available by calling 407/WDW-DINE.
The Candlelight Processional is part of Epcot's international holiday
celebration, Holidays Around the World, featuring musical groups,
choirs, special holiday lights and fireworks extravaganza, storytellers,
puppet shows and decorations galore from Nov. 26 through Dec. 30.
Other highlights of Holidays Around the World include:
- Lights of Winter, a shimmering canopy created by thousands of crystal-white lights along the promenade to World Showcase Plaza.
- A brightly decorated, 65-foot tree adorning World Showcase Plaza that becomes a center of attention when Epcot guests participate in a tree-lighting ceremony daily at 6:15 p.m.
- Hanukkah, Ramadan and Kwanzaa exhibits and information presented in the American Adventure.
- Cultural traditions surrounding winter holidays retold by colorful storytellers at all 11 World Showcase pavilions -- such as The Three Kings in Mexico, Taarja in Morocco, the Monkey King in China, P‚re No‰l in France, Santa Claus in Canada.
- Kasperle's Christmas puppet show at Germany showcase, in which the wily servant Kasperle helps Princess Bratwurst be good for a day, foiling Santa Claus' nemesis, Bad Peter.
- Kidcot Fun Stops throughout World Showcase featuring activities themed to the holidays for younger children (TIP: Kids should make sure to pick up a copy of the Holiday Discovery Guide when they enter Epcot).
Disney Institute Adapts "A Christmas Carol" for Radio-Style Drama
The Disney Institute will present a holiday treat you could enjoy with your eyes closed. Returning for a third season, the Disney Institute repertory players' adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" fills the campus Performance Center with the sounds of a live radio drama. On stage is the activity -- voices, music and sound effects -- all brought together by the talented cast.
Disney Institute guests can either be part of the audience or participate as part of the cast during performances Dec. 16, Dec. 20 and Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.
Some of the Holiday Fun Is on the Ice at Downtown Disney
At Downtown Disney, it's Christmastime in the City
beginning Nov. 24 and continuing to
Jan. 2.
There are photo opportunities with Santa, a nightly Christmas tree lighting ceremony and plenty of shops featuring interesting gift items. And when the shopping's done? How about some exercise on the ice of the 5,000-square-foot ice skating rink located lakeside at Downtown Disney West Side.
Globetrotters Bring Holiday Hoops to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex
Basketball fans will feast on dazzling dunks and no-look passes as the world famous Harlem Globetrotters return to the sports complex for another holiday series in December. Led by veterans Paul "Showtime" Gaffney and Matt "Showbiz" Jackson, the Globetrotters will play four games at the fieldhouse, Dec. 26-29. Always hamming it up for the crowd, the Trotters provide the perfect mix of basketball and comedy through their play on the court and audience interaction. Best of all, the players are always available for autographs after the game. Game times are 7:30 p.m. each night, while ticket prices range from $12 (upper deck) to $22 (courtside/children) and $27 (courtside/adult).
Vacation Package Includes Choice of a Special Disney Holiday Activity
A vacation package is offered that combines hotel and choice of dinner-and-Candlelight Processional or dinner-and-"Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party." Disney's Magical Holidays package features four days/three nights from $175 per person based on adult double occupancy at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort or Disney's All-Star Music Resort. The offer is valid most nights from Nov. 27 to Dec. 25. Other resorts and additional nights are available at varying rates.
To make reservations guests can visit a local travel agent or call 407/W-DISNEY. Additional guest information is available by calling 407/824-4321 or by visiting disneyworld.com on the World Wide Web.