Epcot's Forgotten Party | The Millennium Celebration
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ต.ค. 2023
- The Millennium Celebration across Walt Disney World brought many changes to the resort, including the addition of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to the Magic Kingdom, Tarzan Rocks to Animal Kingdom and most notably, a slate of new attractions to transform Epcot. This included Journey Into Your Imagination, Test Track, Millennium Village and entertainment offerings like Tapestry of Nations and Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. In addition, plenty of other additions came to Epcot that ultimately ended up being a mixed bag, but at the very least, had a lot of spirit and artistic ambition that the current form of Disney is lacking. So come join me as we take a look back at Disney's most spectacular park event and explore both the good and bad of the Millennium Celebration
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A quick correction:
theweeklyfilmproject7551 pointed out that the simulator attraction in the Israel booth was known as "Journey to Jerusalem" and not the "Time Elevator" which is a different attraction located in the country of Israel itself.
journey to Jerusalem was my favorite reason to go to that venu. it really should have been a perm attraction
Palestinians threatened to bomb Epcot so it had to be removed@@ChouhouinNeko
@@ChouhouinNekowhat was it like?
@@TheSuperMelinda it was long ago but masicly you where lead around the holy city by a tour driver in a movie threater. think kind of like the china and French movies in those pavilions
For me it felt like the series finale to the original EPCOT. This was the last celebration that really felt like the Disney Co. was trying to add to the guest experience rather than just being some marketing ploy.
Same with 100 Years of Magic.
I going say this but the last good Disney celebration was Disneyland 50th Anniversary Celebration.
@@andrewkellogg8762 Yes the Disneyland 50th anniversary was awesome it was one of the most beautiful times in Disney history.
Yeah agreed, this felt like a send-off to EPCOT. Many of the original pavilions had already been changed beyond recognition by this time, but this celebration felt like it was in the spirit of the park's original philosophy. It really was EPCOT's swan song.
That’s what it seems like!
I was there on December 31, 1999. I remember that the entrance line stretched 6 people deep from The Swan and Dolphin hotels to the back entrance to France. They capped the number of people at between 100K and 120K (I've heard both numbers), and it was nearly impossible to pass between people in some areas of the World Showcase. It was a people wall. The parking lots closed in mid morning and the cars stretched back to I-4, hoping to get in. By mid morning, if you didn't have some kind of inside pull with a cast member etc., you probably weren't getting in. It was exuberant, overwhelming, and felt truly once-in-a-lifetime. The Illuminations show is still seared into my mind as one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and faces all around me were streaked with tears by the end. For one brief moment, 100K people let themselves believe in a common future.
That sounds like hell, yet it's such a unique life experience. It's wild how many people can fit into Epcot though. I knew it was quite a lot, but I didn't think 100k was achievable or even allowed.
I was there too. Getting into EPCOT was a challenge. Leaving was a nightmare. We went out the back gate to catch a bus at The Beach Club. Took 2 hours to get from there to Pleasure Island. So many people, but glad I was there.
@@keithbarnes9419omg that’s insane do you remember the crowds just being massive and lines for everything being super long
Yes, We walked to American Adventure to try and get something to eat. Line was almost back to the walk way. Couldn't find a table inside or out finally shared a table with another family. We finally went back to the space outside the giftshop by the back gate (about 4) and just stayed there until the fireworks were over.
@@phillinsogood
I was there as well. I think we got there super early as we were staying at a Disney Hotel at the time. I think the park filled to capacity by 8am that morning. It was cool that each country had a large screen set up that showed that country's live New Years celebration.
Nothing Disney produce now will ever beat Illuminations. It was just amazing in sight, sound and colour. Just waiting for the lights to go out was exciting. I was really sad when they stopped it. We managed to see the parade twice when we went in September 2000. Loved it. We bought the CD of the music of both the parade and Illuminations at a later date.
Harmonious was such a clear failure and I really hope it's not just because of sightline issues. I doubt Illuminous will be very good, but here's to hoping that they learned something from how many people Illuminations drew in.
@@PoseidonEntertainmentbut who knows, maybe they’d just slap IPs on it just for the heck of it.
Great video.
The millenium celebration look like something from a distant past. It felt like a completely different company back then. The millenium celebration were more then just to promote ips. The nineties were a time of optimism, because the cold war was over and nine eleven didn't happen yet.
I think that the nineties were a golden era for american themeparks. Disney was still far ahead of its competition. Six flags was still strong and even had themeparks in europe.
Agreed. Looking back, Disney was a company that valued artistry and believed that the guests did too. It's unfortunate that this is long gone.
Six Flags was a good chain until 2005-2006. Things went downhill afterward and were never the same.
I LOVED the Tapestry of Nations Parade! It was actually three identical parades that started simultaneously in three different section of the World Promenade. One came in at the United Kingdom gate and headed towards Morroco. One came in from Morocco gate and headed towards Italy.. And one came in from the Italy gate and headed towards Mexico. The three parades would eventally meet and become one - encircling the entire World Showcase. When they started moving again, they would leave through the gates the other units had entered through. So each unit only traveled 1/3 of the World Promedade. It was breathtaking - and so Epcot. And follow that with Illuminations? How could you not leave that park with inspiration in your heart. That was before Mickey Mouse found his way into Epcot , instead of staying in his own Kingdom. The same thing has happened to Animal Kingdom. They are concept parks that have been cheapened by IP.
My favorite parade of all time! Just met a CM that was a drummer on one of the rotating drum floats. They play a very small clip of the music during "Epcot forever". I miss it so much.
I knew that the parade was split into parts but a lot of the info on it was incomplete. I was under the impression that it lasted as three parts for 2 months, was consolidated into 2 parts for another short time, and finally ran for the next two years as a single parade route.
Epcot has had few parades historically. And while this way going on Magic Kingdom had a day and night parade, MGM had a day parade, and AK had a day parade at the same time. So all four parks had parades simultaneously for what I think was the first and last time.?
@@PoseidonEntertainment I believe it was consolidated into one parade when it became Tapestry of Dreams.
I was working at WDW driving monorails at the time. For Dec 31, 1999 I distinctly remember that I was closing on the Resort beam that night stationed at the Polynesian. I was paired with a really old gentleman who on any other night would have been fine to drive however on this particular night took way too long to make it around the track. Like many things technological Disney (and Bombardier for that matter) didn’t quite know how the trains would react to the change in the century so we turned off all the trains at 11:55 and didn’t turn them back on again until 12:10a on the first. Everything worked just fine and we pretty much didn’t finish the night until until 6am dealing with the massive crowd exits from Epcot and Magic Kingdom.
The crowds sounded crazy, but at least it made for some interesting memories. I like reading people's stories of that night and I don't think WDW will ever see anything like that again.
I was at EPCOT in 2000 for a choral competition and was amazed at the Millennium Parade. The costumes and puppets were incredible. And the theme music - let's just say that I love listening to the CD that was produced over and over again. Thanks for reminding us that at one point in time - Disney was in peak form to produce such spectacles. How times have changed. Wonderful job on the video.
I think the word “nostalgia” gets over used a lot these days, or maybe I just don’t get nostalgic very often, but the Epcot Millennium celebration is THE definition of nostalgia for me. So many fond memories related to it. The parade, the music, everything.
Man I miss old Disney so much. The company desperately needs new upper management.
Hit or miss, at least there was heart.
@@PoseidonEntertainment A lot of it❤!
This was a direct shot of nostalgia.
I was 6 years old when the Millennium hit, so I was young but I have really deep memories of being here, of being at the Pavilion and seeing the parade.
It's really sad to me that we don't have more footage online of the Pavilion, because it was REALLY cool for me as a kid.
I was the same age too. It was for sure better.
I was at EPCOT New Year’s Eve 1999 for the turn of the millennium. The fireworks were so intense, the sky was white! It was an awesome evening, and I have never seen so many people at EPCOT. We were at a EuroPop dance party in front of the China Pavilion packed together like sardines, but it was so fun. You really felt a part of something special. I had a Leave a Legacy photo and had no idea those photos were still up!
Wish I had been there though I do remember another New Year’s Eve being at Epcot and taking us hours to get out of the parking lot!. I did an e one of those fireworks leaving the sky’s as bright as daylight during the bicentennial fireworks in 1976 in Philadelphia
I still don't understand why they removed Illuminations reflections of earth as the nighttime show at Epcot...Such a masterpiece!
To market IPs
@@christopherjunkinsunfortunate.
The og test track seems like it was definitely one of the greatest rides, sad I never got the chance to experience it.
From someone who was able to ride it, it really was! I hope Test Track 3.0 will come close hopefully.
It's a ride that's truly impossible to experience on video. Getting baked in the heat chamber, to driving through what was essentially a walk-through freezer was incredibly memorable. Also, the corrosion room had a nostalgic but weird chemical smell to it that just stuck with you. Test Track 2.0 not only ripped out distinct scenes, but toned down the thrill to the point where it may as well not even bother.
I remember that too! It was so much fun! Especially the launch and high speed part that took you back to the start! 😊
The millenium celebration soundtrack is a masterpiece.
As a member of the media, I was able to attend the 2000 preview in October 1999. Epcot was absolutely amazing during that event. There were fake autumn leaves all over the ground, and the drinks bars were made of ice sculptures, etc. They pulled out all the stops, and it was something I’ll never forget.
I still have fond memories of the Millennium Celebration at Epcot. It really seemed to celebrate Walt's dream of a beautiful tomorrow, as well as harmony and diversity across the world. At the time, to me, this was what Disney embodied.
My Mom has a Millennium Celebration CD with music from Tapestry of Nations and Reflections of Earth, and I still love listening to it to this day.
Anyone whos seen it hasn’t forgotten it. It was exquisite
The wife and I saw a very early iteration of Tapestry of Nations, possibly one of the first test runs. September 1999? I think. As it was not advertised or announced, crowd reaction was crazy excited. The way the performers interacted with guests, the way guests were invited to play & dance, everything about it seemed surprising & innovative. So very much NOT a typical Disney parade that we'd always gone out of our way to avoid. Thank you for the wonderful video.
This celebration easily had some of the best music ever composed for Disney. Gavin Greenaway's music for Illuminations Reflections of Earth as well as the Tapestry of Nations parade. Also wrote the very moving "We Go On." I watched the 1999 Superbowl halftime show which had the millennium celebrations part of the center, and when they sung "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" it made me sad. Just made me miss old Disney, times were so optimistic back then.
Oh I didn't forget amount the millennium celebration. This is a core memory of my childhood
I remember this like it was yesterday and still look up the music from time to time…wish they would revive the Taoestry of Nations parade along with the old Spectro
I worked at WDW from 1999-2000. This is complete nostalgia overload. I may be crying a little bit. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! BUT - Tarzan Rocks was the rest thing that ever happened at a Disney park - it was like a rock concert and a circus mixed together, and if you sat down in the front section the skaters circled around you making you feel like you were part of the show. I LOVED it! Also, fun fact, when Tapestry of Nations opened there were three different parade routes that ran simultaneously, I believe they were Mexico-Germany, Germany-Morocco, Morocco-Canada but my memory may be wrong on the exact entrance and exit points because I always watched it at the Germany location so I could watch the performers making their entrances followed by the previous tracks performers making their exits. This level of execution for a celebration is why I think I've been so disappointed with the 50th Anniversary followed by 100 Years of Magic. One of the biggest marketing tools for the millennium era at Disney was "every day's a holiday." Now we're living with one celebration leading directly into another, literally, so there's no magic left in celebrating the special...
The millennium celebration is one of my all time favorite aspects of late classic Epcot. It’s atmosphere, the music, the celebration soundtrack, it just felt like a last hurrah to the eisner era as well as the Disney decade. In a way, it technically was.
It’s also one of my earliest memories of EPCOT, and it’s impact lasted for years after the celebration was over.
I have so much to say about this topic. We were in EPCOT for the new year's eve fireworks and it was absolutely packed dense with people. I remember the sky being bright like the sun was shining there was so much smoke and light.
It was an absolute mad dash to get back to your hotel. It took us 4 hours to get to Port Orleans. We stole an unoccupied stroller out of necessity it was so insane. We got trapped in the monorail when they wouldn't move for what felt like a half hour and refused to let us out. People were banging on the doors until they opened them and we left for the buses.
We heard a story about someone driving on the street with their motorized wheelchair in an attempt to leave, and they were pulled over by the police. Apparently the bulk of security quit that night, which contributed to the insanity.
The flowers were demolished, but they were perfect and fixed the next morning at opening.
I have yet to corroborate these tales with ANYONE! I remember it very vividly, but I was also seven, soo I don't trust my own memory. My family still claims it happened exactly like that.
We hold that night as a treasured story. It was the same trip we got stuck sideways outside in the rain on Test Track! It was such a great vacation. Thanks for reading.
That's a wild story, but also, it makes a lot of sense. I wasn't old enough to appreciate the impact of the turn of the millennium but I'm sure it felt like a big deal to be in the park at the time.
So interesting that a different commenter verified your memory about the monorail when they told their story of working at monorail that evening and shutting it down around midnight for 15 minutes or so cause of fears of potential computer glitches
That’s wild! It’s crazy how times have changed, if the same thing happened in todays times people would be losing there mind and say it was a horrible vacation! Miss these times as a kid
The big thing this channel has taught me is that I should've did all my traveling back then. I'm doing it now to make up for loss time, but all I found were old "has been" attractions that are falling apart or mediocre replacements. I took too much for granted back in my youth.
this magic is missing from disney today
There hasn’t been anything as fantastic as Millennium Celebration! I was there for it and if I could go back in time, I outlet love to relive it
According to former Cast Members at Disney, The Millennium Celebrations serves as a follow up to Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Celebration which lasted from late 1995 till early 1998. I vividly remember how much effort was put into WDW's 25th Anniversary compared to the botched 50th Anniversary Celebration. Heck, the 100 Years of Magic Celebration (honoring Walt's 100th Birthday) even became the sequel to The Millennium Celebration across WDW.
Yeah, whether you hated the Cake Castle or not, at least it was conceptually interesting.
@@PoseidonEntertainment I still have fond memories of the Share A Dream Come True Parade which ran from 2001 - 2006. That parade was in tons of advertisements for WDW in the early 2000s and was super charming as a child. It also contains one of my favorite parade scores at any Disney Park (which eve shares the same composer as Iluminations: Reflections of Earth).
As someone who primarily grew up at the beginning of the 90s, I remember seeing how just how much centered around themed entertainment and the back lot experience. I really, really, wanted to go to Nickelodeon Studies to see Figure It Out live. Sadly, none of that ever happened, but I still enjoyed catching it all on TV.
I grew up in the early 2000s, so I only experienced the end of this era. Still, things were so much better which is why I think a look back will be really interesting.
@@PoseidonEntertainment Yeah, it really was. A lot more optimism back then that I truly miss.
I really enjoyed this celebration and it went on for a long time. I was a teenager when it existed wish Disney would do something like this again.
The Tapestry of Nations parade was so cool! It was one of my favorite parts of the whole millennium experience. All those abstract, imaginative performers/puppets were so inspiring and wondrous.
Oh man, I was around for this! It was a great time to go to Disney, vile structure on Spaceship Earth aside and some of the more ghastly changes to Epcot (yes I still miss Horizons) that serve as a vague portent of doom now. Really excited for the longer video about the 90s.
I will never forget this celebration, truly a formative experience in my life
I remember having the travel planning VHS of this and played it on rotation with the animated movies even though it was a few years after the tape came out when I was little. Everything looked so magical and in hindsight, seeing what came to be or left sparked my interest in both promotional video and defunct theme park events and rides. So thank you for covering topics like this!
Their marketing was so much better back then, highlighting what made them so unique and special. Today, it's all very "come see your favorite IPs" in a weirdly condescending tone.
Beautiful video! It makes me quite sad to compare what exists now with what existed when I was a kid, but I guess I should just be grateful. Epcot will always have a place in my heart, even if it's only a memory.
Even though I was born a year after the Millennium Celebration was over, I knew the celebration well. That was when the infamous Spaceship Earth wand was added, Leave a Legacy was added, Tapestry of Nations made its debut, and one of the best if not the best EPCOT fireworks show debuted.
Well we loved Tarzan Rocks. And we loved the parade at Epcot. The wand (that didn't want to go away for the longest time, was an eye sour just like the stupid hat at the Studios and the ugly graveyard.
I haven't forgotten. This celebration truly made for a special Disney trip. It was magical, as they say. It embodied everything that EPCOT initially stood for while bringing something new. Other than opening with the crappy JIYI, i consider this to be the climax of the park's history. It's mostly just downhill from here.
I was there at the parade during New Year's eve, even danced with one of the puppets as a child. At the time I was slightly terrified of them but glad I have that memory none-the-less.
It's interesting how the parades used to be interactive with the audience. I wonder what changed that?
Not entirely sure when it changed either. I wasn't as much of a frequent guest to Disney World Epcot as some, but I know for sure COVID ended what little was left if anything at all. @@PoseidonEntertainment
Oh my gosh! I remember this celebration!! I remember doing the world celebration indoor attractions, I thought it was great to see more countries for Epcot. I do miss a celebration like this, I mostly miss the Illuminations fireworks show. Every once in a while I listen to the soundtrack and get chills. Harmonius is a good one, I still find Illuminations better from its own story and music. I remember doing the tapestry of dreams like cardboard mask for the parade. Those puppets were so cool. There won't be another parade or a celebration like this ever again.
My brother and I did Leave a Legacy all the way back when it started. It was actually quite emotional to revisit 23 years later with my wife and kids to show them the picture from what felt like a life time ago. Many happy memories came back. I really hope Disney leave it up in its new spot. Its impact will only grow as more time passes.
Honestly, this analysis yields some depressing (but warranted) truths about the state of Disney today. I never did go to this celebration, but I remember seeing it advertised like crazy back then, and my family had collected those four drinking glasses that Disney had released with all the characters and trivia on them. That brings back memories!
By the way, do you think Men in Black: Alien Attack was meant as a two-pronged answer to both Buzz Lightyear and Alien Encounter? It crossed my mind because it's the same type of ride as Buzz Lightyear, but more thrillong and closer to the original "Nostromo" concept for Alien Encounter where you would have shot Xenomorphs.
I'm not sure if it follows in the footsteps of Alien Encounter, but I think the influence from Buzz is pretty obvious. I think it's probably the best shooter dark ride out there too, but I think its primary purpose was to draw people back to USF after the opening of IoA.
@PoseidonEntertainment @PoseidonEntertainment Oh, I definitely agree with you there! After all, considering the success of the film, it just makes sense. I also think that's a sign of just how differently themed entertainment was taken back then. Within the span of just a few years, we got Alien Encounter and the Tower of Terror/Sunset Boulevard, Test Track, Buzz Lightyear, Rock 'N' Roller Coaster, T2-3D, Animal Kingdom, Men in Black, the continued boost in support for Halloween Horror Nights (I believe Jack came along during the timeframe of '94-'99, right?) AND Islands! Of course, there was a lot more than that introduced, but that just adds to the point. Universal, from what I hear, has still been pretty decent about adding worthwhile additions to their parks at a good pace, but Disney...yikes their pace has slowed, lol.
i still have one of the banners they put on the light poles around the property from the millennium celebration :)
Ah, but how did you get it?
I don't think I'll ever forgive Disney for scraping IllumiNations. I think many of the additions at Epcot in the late 90s and early 00s made the park by far my favorite at the complex.
Thank you for this. I remember seeing the Epcot parade and now know it was the Tapestry of Dreams version. I don't recall the year but I clearly remember the Sage of Time. She was so Tall and regal and Beautiful and so mesmerizing. I think cast members handed out stars ahead of the parade and when the Sage came by you made a wish and put your star in a net type bag ( like a butterfly net) that she or others carried. I remember her looking my way and nodding when I put my wish in the bag and me being so overcome with emotion. Even now when I try to describe it I get choked up. Everything was so beautful and wonderful about that parade. I'm 62 now and was 38 then. I had lost my mom and my father in law and my grand mother all in one year so I'm sure my wish was for them and I was thinking of the time I had spent with each of them in the parks. I know Disney is not what it once was but I have to believe that Walts dream will weather this time we are in now and endure.
Totally agree OG Test Track and Journey into Imagination were the best. I thought the wand in Spaceship Earth was cool. It was the 25 year castle cake in Magic Kingdom that I could not tolerate. LaurieO
Took our 5 and 8 year old on our big Disney World Trip last Christmas. I wanted them to experience it at least once while they were young still possessing precious innocence and wonder. And even though the Magic and creativity were not even close to the 80’s-2000’s level, my kids did not know what they were missing, and we focused on the best of the best, like riding Splash Mountain mere weeks before it was destroyed, my son’s absolute favorite ride (both kids loved the music and sang it throughout our whole trip). So sad to see what is happening to Walt Disney World. I don’t know if we will ever return, but it will take a lot of commitment, on their part, to bringing back the magic and unparalleled creativity that once made them the undisputed kings of innovation in theming and immersion. My childhood and College Program memories of visiting and working at Walt Disney World almost seem like they couldn’t have been real, they were so amazing, but they absolutely were. Keep making these videos @Posiedon, though bittersweet, they always make me smile:)
Tapestry Of Nations was the most creative, most amazing parade ever at WDW. #willdieonthishill
I kinda agree. I may not have existed to experience it myself, but seeing videos of it really shows how much effort went into it.
Me and my friend's kids loved what we called the schmela parade. Boy, do we miss that almost as much as we miss Horizon.
I love the puppets from the parade. They remind me of the puppets used in the Atlanta 1996 opening ceremony.
Imo, it’s the best era of Epcot. Never got to experience it but I wish I could
I feel like Reflections of Earth was the one thing that was holding the entire park together from 1999 all the way to 2019. Right when Disney took it away the park immediately became a much more visible disaster. Disney's current thought for EPCOT is to make it "more timeless, more relevant, and more Disney." But taking away IllumiNations is quite the opposite. You couldn't of had a more timeless show that never aged after twenty years. You never have had a more relevant problem than our human connections across the globe. And you couldn't get anything more Disney than a show so technologically advanced and so incredible and expensive that only Disney could create it. I think we still don't have a true EPCOT fireworks replacement due to this. (Also I'm just saying, Reflections of Earth ended in September 2019. That's just a few months before the entire world changed forever. And it arguably hasn't been the same since. Coincidence? I think not.)
Most people hated the replacements. Including myself. I had the unfortunate situation to go out of my way to watch the garbage show nobody liked called harmonious. Terrible mistake. Worst show at WDW ever.
Spaceship Earth makes a spectacular backdrop for the show!
Knowing what Epcot could be vs the reality of how it is currently being treated is just a sad thing to think about. This video has me longing for the days when Epcot's vision and theme were lovingly carried out in basically everything they did. The corporatization of the Disney parks has brought forth the death of the true spirit of Epcot.
That was the reason my family went in late 2000. I still fondly remember it to this day. Itll never be forgotten for me.
And as always, the oddest promotional collaboration between Disney, McDonald's, and the United Nations occured during this time, The Millennium Dreamers Awards, occured and nobody seemed to acknowledge it. I was one of 2000 kids at the time chosen to go to this big event that included a symposium, behind the scenes tours, free park admission for a week, catered meals, classes, and meeting celebs and members of the media promoting our stories about how we helped our community. That event was insane and I'd be happy to help do a video on it.
Gotta say, love the humor in this one. Some of your Tarzan Rocks takes especially had me rolling 😂
I was 3-4 years old when I saw this celebration. I can still remember the awe I was in at the stilt walkers, being on my dads shoulders walking around the showcase as illuminations began, seeing the torches light and the earth floating on the water.
It’s still my favorite park to this day.
I CRIIEEEDDD when we went back in 2008 and the wand was gone from the epcot ball lmao. It was all I had memory of, I didn’t know one without it!
I HAD A MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION DVD AS A KID!! I would play it over and over and over. The big walking puppets were like a lightning bolt of nostalgia for me LOL. Did anyone else own this DVD??
Interestingly, the Millennium Village would occasionally have live performances by band from across the world. Once when I was there I actually got to see the Finnish group Loituma, best known for re popularizing the song Levan Polka. This was of course a few years before it became a meme, so I didn't realize the significance of it at the time, but it's pretty cool that I got to be in the front row to what would later be internet history.
I was very fortunate to open Tapestry of Nations as one of the Sage Of Time performers and also drove the (RPU) Rolling Percussion Units. I eventually became entertainment technician and worked on ROE for 4 years. I can tell even after being with the company 25 years, there was no better time to work for Disney then the Millennium Celebration. Your videos are so important in preserving what in my opinion was far superior Disney themed entertainment and storytelling then any of the corporate sludge we get today. One way they can start… dust off the original blueprints and bring back the original Imagination! Your videos should be shown to all of the executives that make decisions down there, only maybe they can reflect on actual good constructive criticism and realize the irreparable damage they are doing.
Keep up the good work!
I mourn this every day of my life. The parade is a core memory for me.
In my opinion, this is one of your best videos yet! I think I like it so much because you're covering an event, and not so much just one individual ride or experience. No matter what, good job! 👍 I remember being a little kid and seeing all these experiences, this video unlocked some really nice memories for me. So thank you 🙂
I remember going to Epcot for the first time back in 2006 on a school field trip and being so amazed by the giant Mickey hand. I also vaguely remember the honey I shrunk the audience show.
Nobody believes me when I say there used to be a giant Mickey hand with the wand lol
I attended this in November 1999 and it was amazing. The parade was awesome! I also got a passport and when you visited the different countries, they gave you a stamp and you did a craft there. It was all free.
My family and I are on leave a legacy wall. Every time we go to Disney world even though it has been years, we always stop and look. It’s always surreal.
The Millennium Celebration was amazing, and the soundtrack is one of the best. Wish they could continue similar multiple events like the parade and fireworks, but it is just too crowded now.
Great video, currently watching this from the magic kingdom parking lot before I go in
I love phill Collins his music is wow. Tarzan and brother bear soundtrack is wow. Welcome to our man..n i can't recall the Tarzan songs maybe creatures like me. But all his songs r wow.
I remember being at the Millennium Celebration! I think I still have the Sorcerer's Apprentice light wand that synchronized with the event.
I didn't know that was a thing. That sounds awesome though.
the first year my family went to disney was in spring of 2000 when i was just about to turn 5. i only have very vivid flashes of memory from this trip, but i definitely remember the puppets from the tapestry of nations!!!! my brother and i also had our photos on the leave a legacy graveyard (rip) lol!!
i truly believe the reason that my family and i have stayed disney fans and still have loyalty to the parks is because of how grand and interesting the parks were when we started going in the early 2000s, and how well they treated their guests. the “disney difference” was REAL, and my parents, who were already big on traveling and brought us to many different places around and outside of the country growing up, still kept returning to disney for that reason. we still go back to disney now, albeit not with our whole family and only VERY occasionally because it has just gotten way too expensive, but there is a very clear decline on how guests are treated and how special these “special” events are. everything is double the price while quality is declining. i’m not saying everything is terrible, as i am still enjoying a lot of the park offerings and new things being introduced!!!! but overall i don’t think we would have the brand loyalty we have now if we only started going to the parks in the past few years.
I vaguely remember this. I remember watching it on TV with my mom. Definitely a more innocent time.
I like the wand icon beside Spaceship Earth. (Both versions featuring the 2000 and Epcot text). I still like it to this day. That's the Spaceship Earth I first saw and grew up with , so the wand will always be in my good books. I still wish it existed. Same goes for the hat.
Forgotten? I listen to the soundtrack from this celebration almost every day of my life!
my mom did the "leave a legacy" photos on like the last day, i love it!
My parents did it toward the end as well, it had become much cheaper! Around 2005 is when my sister and I were added. It was fun to have family send us photos of it still being there when they would visit over the years
Thank you for summing up harmonious, It had pretty flashing lights and colors but absolutely no heart or soul. The comparison between it and Illuminations RoE is stark and truly saddening.
My parents took me to Disney for a dance competition in 1999. We still have a bunch of park merch with the “2000” logo.
I went to disney world in 2000 as a kid! We had one of the promotional videotapes that talked about all the millennium-specific things. I was very excited for the tapestry of nations parade -- the video said the puppets "bend down and touch our guests."
When that exactly happened to me, I turned to my mom and shouted, "they really do touch our guests!"
We still talk about that moment, 23 years later
I was there at 7 years old, might need to talk to my parents because my memory is a little off. This was Disney firing on all cylinders and they were the best.
So glad i got to experience the millennium celebration in December of 1999. The Epcot parade was so incredible and we also got to go on the Winner for a cruise afterward. Such a wonderful time. I'm so sad about Disney's changes in recent years... The corporate greed and sad diminishment of Disney excellence makes me not want to go back 😢
This is one of my earliest memories of Disney! We were there for the millennium parade and we would dance next to it hoping the puppets would shake our hand! And it worked a few time from what I remember! It’s a memory that I still cherish to this day!
I also distinctly remember the rotating drums! I thought they were so cool when they came by!
I listen to the music all the time, still gives me the feels
We have pictures from the celebration in 2000 when I was 2. Wish I could remember it!
I was here when I was 4 years old. I was TERRIFIED of the characters in the tall puppets for no reason. One came to touch me and I remember just breaking down in horrified tears 😂
Omg I saw tapestry of nations when I was little!!! I still have fuzzy but really fond memories of the butterfly marchers dancing with me :’)
One memorable part of my millennium experience at Disney World back then was my unique take on autographs. I was getting a little tired of getting autographs from the characters, but the introductions of a second (mini) World Showcase with the Millennium Village gave me a great idea. I went up to staff members from different countries (which was fairly easy to tell from their badges) and asked for their autograph, gathering an international collection for the new millennium. Still have the autograph book somewhere, just don't know where...
The Super Bowl has been broadcast on four local networks: CBS (every subsequent year due to streaming on Paramount+), NBC, FOX and ABC (only in MM in the beginning of the millennium with TAPESTRY OF NATIONS). The next Super Bowl is being held on my birthday but not where I was born.🏈
I'm very excited at the idea of a history of 90s theme parks/restaurants/experiments. A whole series would be even better than one giant video :D
And dang, that first clip was so extremely exciting, can't deny.
I know that I have to split it into two parts just because it will be so overwhelming and time consuming. I don't like the idea of doing a third part, but that's a distinct possibility as well.
I took my family for the first time in 99. I was absolutely amazed place. We would vacation there 1 to 2 times a year as my children were growing up. We loved the place. It breaks my heart to see what it has become.
I remember attending Disney World in early 2000 with my friend, her mom, and her aunt. It was right after my dad passed away and Illuminations changed me, man. I legit tear up every time I hear it because, well, nostalgia and the emotions teenage me was feeling during that time. Great experience, though I recall the Tapestry parade being a little too weird for my tastes...
I worked in the old figment ride and that horrible change too.
The Tapestry of Nations music was a banger.
I remember part of the Millennium Village; specifically, the Israeli simulator ride and the big Swedish eggs lol.
Forgotten by many, but seared into the brains of people now in their 30s forever. I miss going from country to country coloring my masks.
I really liked exploring the Millennium Village, as I already liked walking around World Showcase. I just regret that I only got to go through it a couple of times, and we sort of had to rush through things.
Thank you for this . Tapestry of Nations was my first Disney parade ever!
Tom Morrow 2.0! Loved seeing that little guy on the Disney Channel, never realized at the time it was a promotion for the Millennium Celebration
I think about the millennium celebration all the time, and I wasn't even alive, but it's spirit lives inside my head, and it created so many beautiful things, that i still remember what it created all the time.
It will never be forgotten
I was on the college program back in the fall of 2000 and I was working at Epcot so I had a front row seat for that