walt disney world tour 2001

Remembering 2001’s “100 Years of Magic” as Disneyland kicks off “100 Years of Wonder”

Disneyland Resort’s Disney100 celebration is in full swing, but do you remember “100 Years of Magic?” The 2001 campaign celebrated Walt Disney’s 100th birthday with the iconic sorcerer’s hat, new parades at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, and other anecdotes since lost to Disney history.

Mickey Mouse's sorcerer's hat at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Let’s take a trip back in time and explore everything “100 Years of Magic” had to offer.

A Tale of Two 100s

In 2023, The Walt Disney Company kicks off “100 Years of Wonder,” sometimes also called “Disney100.” The year-long event honors the centennial anniversary of the date brothers Walt and Roy Disney founded the company in 1923. Disneyland Resort in California serves as headquarters for the party . There, Sleeping Beauty Castle shows off an updated look, “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” opens in Toontown, and two new nighttime spectaculars debut after dark.

Minnie and Mickey Mouse in silver outfits for Disney100

The celebration has an impressive lineup. It naturally brings to mind the other Disney 100th anniversary from 22 years ago. Don’t worry, the math checks out. “100 Years of Wonder” commemorates the birthday of Disney the company, while “100 Years of Magic” celebrated the birthday of Disney the person. It kicked off Oct. 1, 2001, and lasted through Feb. 2003. (If you questioned why the 2023 event chose the word “wonder” as its descriptor instead of perhaps the more appropriate “magic”, now you know. The name was already taken, by Disney itself!)

Pin depicting Mickey Mouse painting the number "100"

Conjuring a Controversial Park Icon

Much like Disneyland serves as home base for “100 Years of Wonder,” Walt Disney World was the party host for “100 Years of Magic.” Specifically, Disney’s Hollywood Studios — then still called Disney-MGM Studios — put on most of the festivities.

In the middle of the park, directly in front of the recreation of Grauman’s Theater, Disney constructed a bold centerpiece for the celebration: the sorcerer’s hat. The 122-foot-tall structure recreated the magical, blue cap Mickey Mouse borrows from his instructor during the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment of 1940’s “Fantasia.”

Disney's Sorcerer's Hat Demolition: Time-lapse music video from three views

Despite a mixed reception , the sorcerer’s hat stuck around well past the 2003 conclusion of “100 Years of Magic,” and remained at the center of Hollywood Studios until 2015, when Disney removed it . Today, the space on which the hat stood is an open plaza and the view of Grauman’s Theater is unobstructed once more.

Keeping Walt’s Memory Alive

Part of your day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2023 might include a visit to “Walt Disney Presents,” the museum-like walk-through attration chronicling the story of Walt’s life. At the conclusion of the tour, you might stay for a biographical short film about Walt narrated by Julie Andrews. Did you know the experience began as “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream” and opened with “100 Years of Magic”?

Early studio photo of Walt Disney with Mickey mouse plush toys

In a 2001 press release preserved on WDW Magic , Imagineer Roger Holzberg said, “When we were researching the attraction, we found that many of our guests under the age of 15 did not know Walt Disney was a real person. They thought it was just a company name.”

Today, “Walt Disney Presents” looks a little different than when it debuted. It now includes a character greeting with Sulley from “Monsters, Inc.” It also regularly swaps out the biopic for a sneak peek of the latest Disney film. The tour remains a refreshing change of pace during a day in the park, even if its focus now partially strays toward the Disney company rather than Walt himself.

Mickey Mouse in a parade float resembling a snowglobe

Parades in All Four Parks

A 2001 article in the Orlando Sentinel recapped the entertainment Walt Disney World rolled out for “100 Years of Magic.” At Magic Kingdom, “ Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration ” debuted on the castle stage. The show featured classic characters, like Mickey and Snow White, as well as new ones for the time, like Mulan and Shan-Yu. Interestingly, Cinderella spoke her lines live into a microphone attached to her person, while every other character had pre-recorded dialogue.

Puppets in Tapestry of Nations Parade at Epcot

The real showstopper of “100 Years of Magic” was all four Walt Disney World parks premiering new parades. While technically true, the statement stretched the truth just a little. Epcot’s parade, “ Tapestry of Dreams ,” was a rebrand of “Tapestry of Nations,” which had initially debuted for the Millennium Celebration.

At Hollywood Studios, “ Disney Stars in Motor Cars Parade ” was a procession of motor vehicles tricked out with creative designs. Aladdin and Jasmine’s car, for example, resembled Genie and the magic carpet. The parade performed through 2008.

Magic Kingdom premiered “ Share a Dream Come True Parade ,” with each of its floats being giant snowglobes. Keeping the focus on Walt, the parade featured him as a face character in its opening unit. The production also had narration from Julie Andrews and Peter Pan, making note of sharing Walt’s dream.

Final Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom

The parade morphed over the years, retaining the same floats, but changing its name and music. In 2006 it became “ Disney Dreams Come True Parade .” In 2009 it transformed into “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” before finally retiring in January 2014 . The villain float lives on annually during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Additionally, one of the floats in the present-day “Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade” — the one carrying Mirabel from “Encanto” — seems like it could be the shell of a former snowglobe float.

Final performance of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The longest-running parade that was first part of “100 Years of Magic” was “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade.” Hosted by Mickey and Rafiki from “The Lion King,” it trekked through Disney’s Animal Kingdom until June 2014 .

A Necessary Delay

The Orlando Sentinel noted at the time that Disney had to change its marketing strategy in light of 9/11, which occurred just before “100 Years of Magic” was slated to kick off. The resort opted for a soft launch due to the sudden decrease in travel. It then introduced a more traditional marketing campaign a few months later.

McDonald's Disney 100 Years Of Magic TV Commercial HD

That marketing strategy included a huge tie-in at McDonald’s. The collection of Happy Meal toys had a staggering 100 different options, all depicting favorite Disney characters. Diners could also purchase four collectible glasses , one representing each Walt Disney World theme park.

Long-Term Investments Attached to Short-Term Regalia

Several of the aforementioned publications cited new attractions as part of “100 Years of Magic” that were likely already scheduled to open regardless of any ongoing anniversary. These included “TriceraTops Spin” and “Primeval Whirl” at Animal Kingdom, “The Magic Carpets of Aladdin” at Magic Kingdom, and “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage!” at Hollywood Studios. All made their debut during the event and remained open long afterward, with both Dumbo-style rides still operating today.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway carnival scene

Comparing 2001 to 2023

Despite being different celebrations created two decades apart, one can’t help but compare 2001’s “100 Years of Magic” to 2023’s “100 Years of Wonder.” Both leveraged permanent openings as add-ons to their promotion. “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway,” for example, was likely going to open at Disneyland regardless of the company’s 100th anniversary. The celebration, though, gives the permanent attraction a logical opening date to coincide with the event and help it feel bigger.

Both also centered their festivities around one specific place, heightening the atmosphere there perhaps at the expense of other destinations. Disneyland fans probably felt left out when Walt Disney World got all the love for “100 Years of Magic” in 2001. At the time, though, this was simply par for the course. Disneyland and Walt Disney World didn’t share marketing campaigns, and wouldn’t until 2005.

In 2023, the hype at Disneyland and lack thereof at Disney World is probably more a result of the latter’s 50th anniversary, “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” still ongoing. It continues through March 31, 2023. Starting “Disney100” in Florida while the 50th’s pomp and circumstance is still everywhere would be confusing. Reading between the lines, the pandemic may have delayed the original start date for WDW’s 50th. In an alternate timeline, the 50th celebration might have begun earlier than October 2021. Therefore, it would have finished in time for Florida to partake more in the 100th.

Thus far, Florida’s only participation in “Disney100” is a new line of merchandise. It sends somewhat mixed messages on shelves right alongside the 50th collections. Disney promised Epcot’s upcoming fireworks show — the one that will debut at a to-be-announced date following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever” — will connect with the 100th. Details about that show, though, are still under wraps.

At Hong Kong Disneyland , Mickey and friends debuted their “Disney100” outfits. The park will construct a new statue honoring Walt.

Beyond theme parks , 2023 might have 2001 beat. A traveling exhibit, an ABC News documentary, a coffee table book, and more will give Disney fans the opportunity to join in on “100 Years of Wonder” even if they aren’t able to make it out to Disneyland.

Another way to stay connected to all the fun? Don’t miss our coverage of everything happening as part of “Disney100,” which will continue all year long. So far, we’ve taken a tour of the “Runaway Railway” queue with Imagineers and got to see an advanced showing of “World of Color – One.”

Full Wide-Angle POV – Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Disneyland Park

One Comment

Nice look into this.

Get the latest news direct to your inbox. Simply submit your email address below.

Thanks, but I’m not interested

おトクにキレイになる情報が満載！

【ためるチャレンジ】ボーナスコインGET N
【スタンプカード】毎日押して大量コイン☆ N
【プレゼント】コインが当たる！ N
【すごろく】1位で必ず1万円分のコイン★ N
samsdisneydiary.com
10,000円(税込)以上のお買い物で送料無料

メンテナンスのお知らせ | 新お買い物特典プログラム

激安/新作シャーベル　の　SSH モデル名不明です

※ 商品のお届けについてはこちらよりご確認ください。

SHOPPING が販売、発送いたします。

当日発送可 (14:00までのご注文が対象)

※ ご注文内容・出荷状況によっては当日発送できない場合もございます。詳しくはこちらよりご確認ください。
※ ポストにお届け / 一点のみ購入でご利用可能です。ゆうパケットでのお届けの場合はサンプル・ノベルティが対象外となります。ゆうパケットには破損・紛失の保証はございません。詳しくはこちらよりご確認ください。

タイプ···ストラトキャスタータイプ中古で入手しました。前のオーナーが塗装を剥がしたようで、元の色は黒です。金のFloyd Roseが付いてましたが、退色していた為手持ちの黒いコピーモデルを付けました。（元の部品も、お付け致します。）ピックアップは、Jackson のロゴが付いてます。ボディー&ネックはしっかりしてるので、改造ベースとしていかがでしょうか？ ※ 見ての通りの状態なのでノークレーム&ノーリターン　でお願い致します。本体はプチプチを巻いてギター用ダンボールに入れてお送り致します。

★★★★★ 2024-03-20 大きさも色も丁度いい感じで、姉にプレゼントしたら喜んでくれました。 bdf*****さん 35歳アトピークチコミ投稿 1件購入品

★★★★★ 2024-03-19 本体も綺麗でコントローラも使用感がなくとても満足しています。PS3のゲームを今更ながらやってみたのですが、ソフトも格安で楽しく遊んでます。 fbf*****さん 35歳アトピークチコミ投稿 1件購入品

ホビー・楽器・アートの商品一覧を見る
楽器・機材の商品一覧を見る

ホビー・楽器・アートのデイリーランキング

専用stonz666様 SE Custom24 エレキギター

1964年東京オリンピック　1972年札幌オリンピック　記念硬貨プルーフ硬貨

SANKYO Pフィーバーダンベル何キロ持てる？　パチンコ　セルのみ

Bacchus BSH-850/RSM LPB

LED照明付き風量120m3/h コンパクトキューブ型塗装ブース

このカテゴリのランキングをもっと見る

この商品を見ている人におすすめ

スタジオ27 トランスキット YZR500 WGP 94

1つだけのアドベントカレンダー

イグニッションモデル　RX7

化粧品・コスメのクチコミランキング&お買物

試せる、出会える、運命コスメ

ヘルプ&ガイド

ショッピングサービス利用規約
個人情報の取り扱いについて
特定商取引法に基づく表示
商品に関するお問い合わせ
お問い合わせ（メンバー用）

SHOPPINGについて

への掲載・ビジネス活用

Let’s Take a Tour of Walt Disney World’s Website in 2001

Imagine if you could go back to early 2001, fire up your Gateway computer, and log on to your AOL account. What would the Walt Disney World website have looked like back then? Thanks to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine we can do a little time traveling and find out.

In the FAQ section you can find answers for every possible question you could ever possibly have about dining in Walt Disney World. Just kidding. As you can see, the dining FAQ has ONE SINGLE question and answer.

Circling back to the FAQ, you can see this section which shows attractions that had recently closed in 2001. It’s sad to see some all-time classics on the list!

They were practically giving away annual passes in 2001. A Premium Annual Pass was $469. That’s $686.54 adjusted for inflation. This pass is currently known as the Platinum Plus Pass and goes for $1,379.18. The Annual Pass (now know as the Platinum Pass, $1,272.68) was $349, or $510.88 adjusted for inflation.

We’ll revisit other ancient Disney websites at some point but for now that’s going to do it.

What internet memories do you have from the early 2000s? Share them in the comments below.

Guy Selga Jr.

Disneyland writer for TouringPlans.com and co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland. Also a Disneyland local and appreciator of Disney theme park history. Twitter and Instagram: @guyselga

4 thoughts on “ Let’s Take a Tour of Walt Disney World’s Website in 2001 ”

Speaking of old stuff on websites… I had a double-take when I saw this one, especially nowadays given what’s been built at the place that shall not be named – but if I’m not mistaken, Nintendo merch still hasn’t been evicted from the Japan pavilion at Epcot. (not 100% sure about the last part) https://disney.go.com/partners/getbehindthewheel/

These are my early childhood when I was 3 years old in 2001!

I would love for someone to find the WDW website from the 90s when the internet was in its infancy. It was so basic in design but had a cool homepage song.

I am loving this series SO MUCH.

Walt Disney World 2001 | 50 Days to 50 Years

Travel · Walt Disney World

Happy 30th Anniversary Walt Disney World 2001 ! To celebrate, Beth graciously returns with another personal Disney moment. There’s just 20 years left in our countdown to the World’s 50th Anniversary !

Walt Disney World 2001

In 2001, Walt Disney World saw the addition of many new things. It was the debut of One Man’s Dream, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed its first guests and Playhouse Disney Live brought favorite Playhouse Disney characters to life. Though all of these are significant in themselves there is one more thing that opened that has become a milestone for one of my children. It is The Magic Carpets of Aladdin .

Honestly, when this attraction first began taking guests on magic carpet rides, I was not impressed. I enjoyed the former openness of Adventureland. With this attraction plopped right into the center of this land, it seemed more distracting from the landscape than a positive addition. Of course, I am not always great with change. Howevert, I don’t think I was the only person who thought that.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Opens 2001

Fast forward to February of 2006. This was the year that I brought my son, Joey, just 14 months, to Walt Disney World for his first trip. Of course, the first thing we did was to head to the Magic Kingdom. And Joey got his first personalized Mouse Ears. After that, we tried to decide the best attraction for his first Walt Disney World experience. Since I was 5 months pregnant for Hayley at the time, and definitely wanted to be with Joey for his first ride, we went with the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Not only was it a ride I could experience with him, but it had the shortest line at the time!

I wasn’t sure what he would think. But let’s just say, it only took a moment or two before he started giggling. He was just beaming from ear to ear. That is when I knew I had a Disney fan on my hands. If he was impressed with the Magic Carpets, I knew he was going to love the rest of Disney. Originally, I never thought Magic Carpets of Aladdin was a great addition to the Magic Kingdom. But now when I think of it, all I can picture is Joey’s big smile and all I can hear is that giggle. Of course, that seems like yesterday, even though he is now in high school! Fititngly, the Magic Carpets has become an attraction all three of my kids love.

50 Days to 50 Years

Walt Disney World 2001 saw the addition of One Man's Dream, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. #DisneyWorld50 #50Daysto50Years #AnimalKingdomLodge #Disneyhistory #OneMansDream

(I want to say thank you to Orlando-Florida.Net for the timeline info I used in this post!)

Beth, thank you for being so generous with your family’s magical memories!

Tomorrow, Stelle (@thatsostelle) formerly from This Happy Place blog will transport us to 2002 !

Don’t miss out!

Finding a silver spoon in the everyday..

About Doctor Disney
I’m So Disney… FB Group
Crown To Castle Travel
Adventure Awaits Travel

Doctor Disney

The Ultimate Walt Disney World Guide

Annie Leibovitz’s Disney Gallery
Disney Countdown
Disney Infinity
Disney Movies
Disney Quizzes
Disney Webcams
Hidden Mickeys
‘Lost’ Walt Disney World
WDW Abbreviations
Attendance Levels
Attraction Height Requirements
Extra Magic Hours – Morning
Extra Magic Hours – Evening
FASTPass+ Attractions
History Of WDW Vacation Package Release Dates
Special Events
Transportation
WDW Info For Pregnant Women
Magic Kingdom Attractions and Shows
Future World Attractions and Shows
World Showcase Attractions and Shows
Attractions and Shows
Other WDW Areas
Value Resorts
Moderate Resorts
Deluxe Resorts
DLR / DCA Refurbishment Schedule
Theme Parks
Disney Recipes
Disney Drink Recipes
Dining Credits for DDP Restaurants
Levels, Prices, and Explanations
Menus – Disney Parks
Magic Kingdom Gluten-Free
Epcot Gluten-Free
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Gluten-Free
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Gluten-Free
Disney Springs Gluten-Free
Carioca’s Menu
Lumiere’s Menu
Disney Wonder
Disney Dream
Disney Fantasy
DCL Deck Plans

What it was like to be in the Disney Parks on September 11, 2001

I had just moved to Orlando, FL, about a week and a half before so I happened to be in my new home on the morning and day of 9/11.

With that being said, life was going on inside of the Disney Parks, and for those that don’t know, the parks did close shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Guests were calmly escorted out and not really told what was going on at all.

The thought was there that the parks in the United States – Disneyland and Walt Disney World – could possibly be targeted. With that, the parks were closed and guests had to head home, but what were their thoughts?

The following stories are courtesy of Jim Hill Media , and big props to the great work he does. He asked his readers for their experiences if they happened to be in the Disney Parks on the actual day of 9/11, and here were the incredible stories they shared.

WDWCASTMEMBER remembers the day starting out something like this:

I (was) getting trained on 2 major attractions (at the Magic Kingdom) when my manager told both me and my trainer what had just happened in NY. We quickly went to the nearest Cast Member Break Room and I managed to see the second plane hitting the tower “live.” The room was packed with all sorts of managers and I remember very vividly the (very surprised) reaction on their faces when the ABC reporter said: “This just in: (The Walt Disney Company) has just announced that (it) will be closing (its) theme parks worldwide.” And literally less than a minute after the reporter said that, their beepers started going off like crazy and they walked out of the break room. About 5 – 10 minutes after that incident, they notified cast members of what we were going to do. First we shut down all the attractions and restaurants and merchandise shops to get the guests out in the street. We were strictly forbidden from telling them what was the real reason why we decided to close the park. Which caused some confusion; and maybe even some irate guests at times. But it avoided (quite effectively) the cause for panic from our guests. They even gave us a simple spiel to tell them in case they had questions.

Michael, a Frontierland cast member who was in the park that morning, confirms this part of WDWCASTMEMBER’S story:

We were told not to tell the guests what had happened unless they asked us. I remember one guest asking me and — after I told them — they just stood there blank faced and didn’t move for a bit. (By the way), the announcement that was made (in the theme parks that morning) … did NOT mention anything about what had happened or why the parks were closing. It simply stated that ” … Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Magic Kingdom is now closed. Please follow the direction of the nearest Cast Member.”

Continuing with WDWCASTMEMBER’s account of that morning:

Once the guests were forced to the streets of the park because all the rides were closed, all the cast members were instructed to hold hands and basically form a human wall and gently (without touching any one) walk towards the hub of the park and eventually towards Main Street. That way we could basically force the guests out of the park. Disney Security obviously followed each human wall and made sure no one got past it. That “human wall procedure” was done at all 4 parks, by the way. And guests were given complimentary tickets at the turnstiles as they left the park.

Mind you, Kelly had a somewhat different take on what happened at the Magic Kingdom that morning. But — then again — she wasn’t a cast member. But just a typical tourist trying to enjoy a day at that theme park with her family.

On 9/11, I was eating breakfast at Tony’s with my family (and 6 months pregnant to boot). We were sitting in the front where all of the windows were, and I noticed many CMs in business attire with headsets walking throughout the park. It was the last full day of our (WDW) vacation. We had originally planned to fly (out) that day, but I (had) talked my husband into (staying) another day. Our waiter was a young man from the midwest, and his accent was thick (At least to this New Yawker). All of the staff were talking and he came over to us and said what I thought was “The trade centers IN Washington were hit with planes.” We were confused, finished our meal and went to take our daughter on Dumbo and the Carousel. I tried to call my Dad back home, since he always has FOX news on. And when (my cell) kept saying “All circuits were busy,” I knew something was up. My Aunt works at MGM as Security. So I knew that WDW was considered a prime terrorist target. So I said to my husband, Matt: “We need to get out of the Magic Kingdom. This could be hit next.” We tried to get over to MGM to my aunt (I figured she would know the whole story). But on the bus ride over, just as we got to MGM, the bus driver told us about the Towers, Washington and the possiblity of PA. She explained (that we) were going back to the TTC and (that we should all) take the appropriate route to our hotels/cars and evacuate. I have never heard a WDW bus so quiet. I was close to tears.

Neal G. — who was over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that morning — now shares his experience:

My wife and I were at WDW on September 11, 2001. We were actually having breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom when the planes crashed, but had no idea anything happened. After breakfast we went into the park and after about 2 1/2 hours decided to leave (it’s about 11:30 a.m. now). Until I read your article today I never knew that an announcement had been made. We never heard it. It didn’t seem like an unusual amount of people were leaving (Animal Kingdom). But at the next stop, Blizzard Beach we noticed hundreds of people leaving. I asked someone that got on the bus what was going on, and he informed us about what had happened in New York. We were in absolute shock. We went back to the Yacht Club where we were staying and just watched TV in disbelief. At one point a gunship flew overhead so closely that my wife could clearly see someone manning one of the machine guns (It looked like the plane flew in from MGM Studios and then went right out over EPCOT). The resorts tried to do everything they could that night. They kept the pools open until midnight and they had characters roaming all around the Boardwalk area. The cast members were doing the best they could to help and try to keep (a) calm atmosphere. People were walking around not really knowing what to do. I commented to my wife that [here] we were at one [of] the happiest places on earth, yet it was a strange, sad and terrible feeling. The next day (Wednesday) we went to National Car Rental desk at the WDW Dolphin to try and rent a car since we had flown out of Logan (Yes, we are from the Boston area. And boy did we get looks from people when we told them, and comments like “Oh, you are from Boston”) and knew the likelihood of our Saturday flight getting out was remote. National was a mob scene, and they could not get us a car until Friday. We then went to the Magic Kingdom, where security tables had been set up overnight. It was at these tables that they had set up to check bags before you entered any of the Parks where it finally really hit you. Especially since they were not there the day before. The next 2 days were tough to get through, even being at the parks. It was such a subdued, almost surreal atmosphere.

Mind you, Ian G. (Who was over visiting Epcot with his brother that morning) had a somewhat different take on what happened on 9/11:

I was actually in EPCOT on 9/11. To be more specific, I was on Spaceship Earth – the ride devoted to the rapid change in communication and how we can instantly connect with each other. Well, it’s true, I guess! As we exited the ride (It must have been around 11, but I forget) a mass of people were calmly all going in the direction of the exit. We didn’t think anything of it until we saw the tip board in Future World and saw that all the rides were closed. I figured for that to happen there either needed to be a power outage, a hurricane or a bomb. A cast member casually walked up to us and honestly told us that “2 planes had crashed into a building in New York and the Pentagon.” And that was it. We just left the park. It was such a strange thing to think about. Surely (that cast member who talked with us) was exaggerating! Exiting the park was calm and orderly. People still seemed to be in a good mood. No one was crying or panicking or anything like that. If anything, I think everyone was anxious to go back to their rooms and turn on the news. On the monorail back to the Poly, people (including me) were talking, nearly joking actually, about (how) the president (must have been) killed. We figured (that was what it) must have been. Otherwise why the fuss? There was no way anyone could have imagined what was really occuring. At one point on the ride back to our hotel, I actually blurted out that “I bet there’s like a huge hole in the building with smoke coming out…whoa!” And people literally chuckled because it was just so unfathomable that it could really be that way. I gotta say that WDW handled it really well. It was so calm there that it was hard to assume the worst had happened. It wasn’t until we were back at the Poly & turned on the news that the sense of panic and fear really hit. WDW was by far the best place to be that day, the cast members were great. That’s a WDW vacation I’ll never forget.

Mind you, in spite of the three hour time difference, things were just as surreal out at the Disneyland Resort. Whether you experienced that day from outside of the theme parks …

(On the morning of 9/11, both Disneyland & Disney’s California Adventure were) already closed when I drove out to the Anaheim Convention Center for a computer conference ([Which was] also postponed). There were a couple of cast members at the gates to answer questions. But most people responded to being told that (the theme parks were closed for the day) with “Oh, sure.”

Or on the inside of a Disney hotel …

I was staying at the Grand Californian the night of Sept. 10, 2001, and I can tell you the message the hotel sent to our voicemail the next morning *did* say the parks would be closed “due to the events that occurred in New York and Washington, DC this morning.” I’d overslept (probably because Downtown Disney, which was just outside my window, was unusually quiet), and the voicemail had me frantic, wondering what had happened. I called the front desk and was told “They’re bombing New York and Washington DC!” The hotel offered discounted rates to departing guests stranded in Southern California, but those of us who could pack up headed for home. At the time it seemed that the Disney theme parks might be the next target, since they have such a high profile. As I was checking out, I had the daylights scared out of me by a costumed Rafiki character who came up behind me and patted my shoulder — probably not the cuddliest character to have roaming the halls during a tense morning!

Or backstage at the park …

(Back in the Fall of 2001), I … (had) … a Backstage role (at Disneyland). I was fortunate enough to live close enough to the Resort to ride my bicycle to work each day (there are showers and locker rooms in the building I worked in). Believe it or not, I rode my bicycle through the gate right before the first plane hit (I had no idea what was happening at the time). I showered and dressed for what I thought would be a normal day. When I got to my office, I went through the break room and found EVERYONE in the building watching the TV. Again, not knowing what was going on, I asked why people were not working. Someone in the room told me what had happened. I too, sat and watched the TV. Soon after that, we received word that the Parks would not be opened at all that day and that we all would need to start calling Cast Members who were not already at work to stay home. Several members of my staff were taken to the scheduling area to begin calling several hundred Cast Members. In the middle of that, the decision was made that we needed to do something for the Guests who were staying in on-site hotels (preferably Characters). Some folks were called back (I.E. Performers, technicians, drivers, etc.) to come in after all. All was going OK (People were getting their jobs done; no one was freaking out), until about 8:50 a.m. At that point, an emergency call went out over the Park radios to evacuate every building in both Parks. You see, there was a report that came in that airplanes were headed for the Resort at 9:00 a.m. too. I vividly remember RUNNING through the building with my boss searching every room, opening every door, and yelling to get OUT of the building NOW (Park Security was tied up in other locations and many officers were not yet at work). At 8:59, my boss and I ran out of the building, satisfied that we were the last to leave. We joined the others in the pre-designated evacuation area to wait. And wait. And wait … I thought the clock was standing still … 9:05 … 9:10 … 9:15 … Someone thought they heard a jet, but no one could see one … 9:30 … Still waiting for the all-clear … At about 9:45 we were finally let back into the building to keep making calls. Shortly after that, all of the management folks were called into a meeting at Lincoln Theatre to be briefed on what was going on. My boss and I along with another manager went to the meeting. At that meeting, we were giving information verifying that the Parks would remain closed for the day. Everyone was briefed about Characters and Guests at the hotels. We were given additional security information that I should really not go into. The meeting was very emotional. It may have been the first time for many of those people to realize that this was serious. This was not a drill or a test. After the meeting, we joined other Cast Members at the Inn Between (I.E. he Cast Cafeteria behind Main Street U.S.A.) for lunch. Other managers were actually doing the cooking and serving. Mickey paid for lunch. I remember walking back to my office down Main Street U.S.A. It was the middle of the day. Main Street was completely empty. The BGM (I.E. Background music) had been turned off. It was by far the strangest sight I remember seeing. One more thing I remember: When I got back to my office, I had no sooner sat down than we got another emergency call to come to the warehouse immediately. At the same time, the fire alarm started to go off. It seems that a forklift driver — trying to get a pallet of something that was needed — hit and sheared off a fire sprinkler. The warehouse was flooded. The fire department was able to get the water off, and we spent the next couple of hours cleaning up. At the end of that, my boss sent us home to be with our families. I climbed on my bike and rode out the gate for the last time (Personal vehicles were no longer allowed Backstage after that).

As to what it was like to work at the Disney theme parks immediately after 9/11, I’ll let an old Jungle Cruise captain have the final word:

I was there at the MK on Sept 11, 2001. I was a CP working as a Jungle Cruise Skipper, and had gone into the park early with friends to “play” before our afternoon shifts. Imagine our disbelief and horror as we watched this all unfold with a handful of other CMs on the small TV in the Main Street breakroom. The rest of the day was a bit of a blur. A very painful day, but the folks in costume were able to pull it together and go assist the evac with those trademark Disney smiles. The next morning I returned to work, we discovered a major problem. Our fun-loving, wise-cracking spiel usually included the downed airplane just before the hippos. The usual line goes: “It’s plane to see how I landed this job. I took a crash course!” Obviously, any airplane crash jokes were now completely inappropriate. Some skippers tried to distract their crews (in this area of the attraction) with other jokes. Others — such as myself — had a brief moment of silence. Suffice to say, none of us will ever view that show scene the same way again. In the days that followed, during and after all commercial airline had been grounded, an occassional jet would streak across the sky over the Magic Kingdom. Everything, everyone would stop and watch that airplane silhouette (as they held their) breath. The hardest part of it all was staying so darn happy. Everyone – CMs and Guests- felt dead inside. Yet it was the CMs who had to work 8+ hour shifts “making the magic” to distract everyone from the heavy shadow of the 9/11 attacks. And then the cut-hours and layoffs that followed… You could not imagine a quieter, more depressed breakroom. It’s not a happy memory, but you were looking for a first hand account. I honestly can’t recall a PA announcement (in the theme park on 9/11). I was not in costume yet. So I was probably gone by that point to be home with my fellow CPs who were all from NY and NJ.

I was a Cast Member for Walt Disney World on 9/11/2001. Today being 9/12, I’d like to share with you what it was like the day after 9/11 at the American Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. The parks reopened to Guests the day following the 9/11 attacks. At that time, I worked as an Advanced Sales Associate for The Disney Vacation Club. That day my work location was based in the American Pavilion. I had worked this location many times before, but this day was different. The park was empty. There was a quietness that I’d never experienced in a Disney park before. There were very little people in the park and those walking about were extremely quiet. Then the Spirit of America Fife and Drums Corps walked out. On this day, their performance jolted through the quiet like a knife. People didn’t continue to walk about. Guests stopped. They gathered around them. Although guests were emotional, they were extremely proud. I can’t tell you how many tears were shed at The Happiest Place on Earth that day, but I’m most certain on that day love and pride for our dear United States of America, could never be felt more united.

It’s rare to say that I wouldn’t have wanted to be in WDW, but I’m glad I wasn’t on that day. It’s not a memory that I would want to have tied to my Disney experience, no matter how well they handled it.

Search Doctor Disney

Subscribe for email updates.

Enter your email address:

Return to top of page

A Walt Disney World Retrospective: Ten Magical Milestones of the 2000s

As the ball dropped in Times Square, everyone in America, perhaps even the world, held their breath. At Epcot, the final firework shot off into the sky, the smoke from the explosion gently blowing across World Showcase Lagoon. Over the next several minutes, millions waited to see if the words spoken by technological prophets would come to pass. As the clock reached 12:10 am on January 1, 2000, it became obvious: the Y2K disaster had been averted. The world, for all appearances, hadn’t changed when the clock struck midnight.

But one thing that the potential for a Y2K Bug did do was bring the world even more into the digital age, leading to the virtual world of the Internet, digital and technological achievements, advanced robotics and ride systems, and a more global awareness to become a part of humanity’s (and Disney park guests’) daily lives. Learn all about ten magical milestones in the 2000s below.

10 – Expedition Everest

The crowds milling throughout Times Square on February 15, 2006, stared upward in wonder. Huge billboards covered the sides of buildings depicting the snowy Himalayan Mountains. An out-of-control train was rushing down a shattered track into the claws of the monstrous yeti, who was emerging from behind a neighboring peak. Acrobats posing as mountain climbers hung suspended from guide ropes as they “climbed” the mountain peaks plastered to the side of the skyscrapers. However, the most fascinating part of the display was its interactivity: guests could use their cell phones to text “DISNEY” to the number “4YETI;” when the message was received, the eyes of the yeti glowed red. This opportunity to create an effect through the simple action of texting was something new that many had never experienced before. The first trainload of passengers to climb the side of Animal Kingdom’s Forbidden Mountain was dispatched on April 7. The ride itself was a feat of engineering. The attraction featured three separate and independent structures: the mountain itself, the ride track, and the animatronic yeti. This attraction was also architecturally designed digitally, using a four-dimensional “scheduling software” to draw the structure which would later inform machines how to bend the rebar for the mountain and engineers about how to construct it. The yeti, the guardian of Mount Everest, was one of the most advanced animatronics of its time: it stands twenty-five feet tall with 5’ by 18” movement that is controlled by nineteen actuators. The high thrills the roller coaster produced earned it a number of accolades: in 2011, The Guinness Book of World Records named it the most expensive roller coaster ever built, while it has also found itself on a number of lists as ranked among the world’s most popular roller coasters. Unfortunately, it seems that Imagineering’s plans for the attraction were too advanced for their time: after only a few months in operation, part of the yeti’s system failed, forcing it to be put into “B” Mode. This essentially means that the movement of the figure was stopped with strobe lights used to create the illusion of movement instead. Today, the yeti is affectionately known among Disney fans as, “Disco Yeti.”

9 – 100 Years of Magic

Coming off the popular success of the Millennium Celebration, Disney decided to host another year-long celebration: the 100 Years of Magic, which celebrated the 100th birthday of Walt Disney. Because it celebrated Hollywood, Disney-MGM Studios served as the headquarters of the celebration, with a 122-foot-tall Sorcerer Mickey hat in front of the Great Movie Ride as the centerpoint of the celebration. A number of new shows and parades were added to park offerings, including Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Stars and Motor Cars Parade at Disney-MGM Studios, and the Share a Dream Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom. Because of the immense popularity of the Tapestry of Nations Parade at Epcot during the Millennium Celebration, the show was slightly modified to fit the 100 Years of Magic and became known as the Tapestry of Dreams Parade. While this celebration tied the four distinct parks together into a cohesive whole, they also allowed for the company to recognize the legacy of its founder, Walt Disney. A new exhibit opened at Disney-MGM Studios, called Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, which combined museum exhibits and a multimedia presentation to tell his story. Unfortunately, disaster struck on September 11, 2001 when terrorists attacked the United States. Domestic and international travel ground to a halt and the flow of guests to Walt Disney world all but dried up. The fear of travel, compounded by the extensive global media coverage, led many Americans to be wary of going on vacation. In an attempt to draw guests to the Disney parks, the 100 Years of Magic celebration would be extended until February 2003.

8 – Wishes

One of the Magic Kingdom’s most popular fireworks shows, Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, debuted on October 9, 2003. This show featured a number of pyrotechnics that were synchronised with music and told a collective story about wishes and dreams. However, this show was special as it was modified into seven different shows across its fourteen-year-run. Special versions of the show were featured for the Halloween and Christmas seasons, while unique 4th of July and New Years Eve shows were featured as well. This performance was one of the first attractions that had been modified to fit the seasons, joining the Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland and the Country Bear Jamboree in both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. However, the ease with which Imagineers and pyrotechnic programmers were able to modify the show to fit a particular theme or season was attributed to the ease that computer systems offered in creating a synchronised performance.

7 – Disney’s Pop Century Resort

With the passing of the new millennium, many Americans found themselves feeling nostalgia for their childhoods. A number of television programs were broadcast across the airwaves, discussing the fads, events, and pop culture of some of history’s most beloved decades, including I Love the ‘70s and I Love the ‘80s on VH1. With the introduction of Wikipedia, the internet encyclopedia site that launched in 2001, it became even easier for Americans to rediscover the past in easy, bite-sized reads complete with color pictures. As a result of the post-9/11 recession, additional resort offerings at Walt Disney World were necessary for families that had found themselves financially struggling. Playing off this interest in cultural memory, Disney opened their fourth “value resort” in 2003, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which highlighted many of the fads of the last half of the twentieth century. The second half of the resort, which had been built at the same time, wouldn’t open for several years, however, as a result in the lag of guests in the wake of 9/11. What had initially been planned as Disney’s Pop Century Resort: The Legendary Years, which would have focused on the decades from 1900-1950, would end up being cancelled, ultimately turned into Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which would open in 2012.

6 – Disney’s PhotoPass

As the digital age continued to move forward, cameras with film began to be phased out of the consumer market. Disney parks saw this as an opportunity to capitalize on the digital photography trend, encouraging guests to leave their new and valuable digital cameras at home. Disney had been taking pictures of guests on some of their most popular attractions for years, including Splash Mountain and the newer Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Disney PhotoPass began in 2004 to create a photography package for guests, chronicling their experiences throughout the Walt Disney World property. As part of this new offering, not only would on-ride photos be included in this service, but cast members would also be stationed at popular photo opportunities throughout the park to take pictures of guests using a Disney-owned camera. These images could then be purchased from a printing location around property or uploaded to a CD which could be purchased by guests.

5 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort

With the success of Disney’s Animal Kingdom came an opportunity for a new species of resort. Walt Disney World’s newest deluxe resort began welcoming guests on April 16, 2001, whisking them away on safari to a lodge in the midst of an African wildlife preserve, surrounded by the grasses of the savanna teeming with ostrich, water buffalo, zebras and giraffes. This resort is not only special and unique because it transports guests to another place due to its elaborate theming, but it also has the opportunity to educate guests through the use of authentic African artwork, ceremonial displays, animal guides, and griot storytellers that relate the myths and legends of West Africa.

4 – The Year of a Million Dreams

The 2000s quickly became the decade of promotional celebrations at Walt Disney World. On the heels of the 100 Years of Magic celebration came a new promotion: The Year of a Million Dreams, which began on October 1, 2006. This celebration, which coincided with Walt Disney World’s 35th anniversary, made magic real for guests through the tireless efforts of the Dream Squad. These cast members had the unique opportunity to wander the Disney parks and surprise guests with all numbers of special prizes, including Mickey ears, Dream FastPass lanyards (which gave immediate access to each attraction in the park that utilized FastPass), a Disney Cruise Line vacation, and the much-coveted overnight stay in the new Cinderella Castle Suite. Through the use of an algorithm that told members of the Dream Squad where and when to choose guests, this celebration made true a million dreams (well, actually two million: the celebration would continue a second year, lasting through 2008).

3 – Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary

Even though Disneyland was celebrating its 50th Anniversary on July 17, 2005, Walt Disney World was able to benefit from some gifts as well, through what became known as the Happiest Homecoming/Celebration on Earth. The spires of Cinderella Castle was bedecked in gold, with statues of characters in flight either flew or perched along the roofline. A large sign, which depicted each of the castles from the Disneyland-style parks from around the world hung above the castle’s drawbridge entrance, changing every few minutes. New attractions from around the world were brought to Walt Disney World, quickly becoming some of the resort’s most popular. The Magic Kingdom conducted major refurbishments of both It’s a Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean while adding a new castle stage show imported from Tokyo, Cinderellabration. Disney-MGM Studios, which had recently razed Residential Street that had been part of the Backlot Studio Tour, added Lights, Motors, Action!: Extreme Stunt Show which had found popularity at Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios park. However, it was Soarin’, which originated at California Adventure, which quickly became the most popular attraction at Epcot, resulting in hours-long lines. So while the celebration was meant to recognize Disneyland, it became a global opportunity to recognize the significance of the Disney parks.

2 – Pal Mickey

As the Internet and GPS- and infrared-enabled technology improved throughout the early 2000s, new experiences were added to the Walt Disney World theme parks. One of these was a merchandise opportunity known as Pal Mickey, which debuted in 2003. This plush character served as guests’ personal tour guide and provided up-to-the-minute information as they made their way through the parks. Embedded inside the toy was a microprocessor which, after receiving a signal from an infrared-receptor in the figure’s nose, would quote interesting facts, the locations of nearby character meet-and-greets, and current wait times. While sales of the Pal Mickey figure ended in 2008, it paved the way for location-based and RFID-enabled technology such as My Disney Experience and MagicBands which would emerge a decade later.

1 – The Living Character Initiative

One of the greatest and most magical things about a Walt Disney World vacation is not only seeing our favorite stories come to life but having the opportunity to become a part of those stories. Guests were able to see some of their favorite characters interact with them in real-time at Epcot’s Turtle Talk with Crush and Magic Kingdom’s Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor in 2004 and 2007, respectively. While remote-controlled electronic “puppets” had been used occasionally in the parks since Epcot’s early days, as well as Tomorrowland’s Push the Trash Can, Walt Disney Imagineering wanted to up the ante. In an effort to improve the guest experience, WDI developed what was known as the Living Character Initiative, which allowed for the use of full-size animatronic figures that were able to wander through the parks and interact with guests. This began in 2005, when Lucky the Dinosaur, an eight-foot-tall Segnosaurus, began to wander through Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland, USA, performing basic tricks for guests after prompting by his dinosaur handler. The next iteration of the project began in 2007 when Dr. Bunson Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, began making their rounds in their Muppet Mobile Labs in Epcot’s Future World. Mounted atop a segway, this rocket-shaped vehicle held the two animatronic muppets as they conducted “experiments” (which often went awry) and interacted with guests. The delight these figures gave guests led to a number of additional experiments by Imagineering which would be developed into possible experiences in the 2010s, including a meet-and-greet with Baby Groot at Hollywood Studios and the Mater and Lightning McQueen characters that roll through Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure.

More on our Walt Disney World Retrospective:

Click here for A Walt Disney World Retrospective: Ten Magical Milestones of the 1970s.

Click here for A Walt Disney World Retrospective: Ten Magical Milestones of the 1980s.

Click here for A Walt Disney World Retrospective: Ten Magical Milestones of the 1990s.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.

Andrew Kiste

Accommodations

Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, all reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, june 2001 wdw bits and bites, feature article, this article appeared in the june 5, 2001, issue #89 of all ears® (issn: 1533-0753).

Three New Areas Open in Innoventions at Epcot!

Networked Living Experience (IBM), Mission: Space Launch Center (Compaq), and Tom Morrow 2.0's Playground have opened in Epcot's Innoventions area. You may have seen Tom Morrow, the diminutive robot host, previously as you entered Innoventions East. Now he has his own interactive play area.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The Power of BLAST!

America Gardens Theatre in Epcot will host selections from the hit Broadway show BLAST! This show definitely marches to its own drums, with an inventive blend of energetic movement, brass and pounding rhythms. The Power of Blast! will perform at America Gardens Theatre from June 16 through August 23, 2001. Show times are 3:00, 4:30, 5:45, and 7:10 p.m. daily. Epcot admission is required.

Dining Packages are also available as described below:

Blast! Dinner Package: Preferred Seating at the show and dinner at Epcot. Dining includes choice of soup, salad or appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage at select Epcot restaurants. Call 1-407-WDW-DINE.

Tier 1: The Garden Grill Restaurant, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room, Restaurant Akershus, or Biergarten Restaurant for $32.50 plus tax for adults and $10.95 plus tax for children ages 3-9.

Tier 2: Le Cellier Steakhouse, Les Chefs de France Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, or San Angel Inn Restaurante for $42.50 plus tax for adults and $10.95 plus tax for children ages 3-9.

Prices include gratuity!

MetLife No Longer an Epcot Partner!

"MetLife has ended its involvement with the Wonders of Life Pavilion at Walt Disney World's Epcot. As a result, the sale of Walt Disney World and Disneyland discounted tickets through MetLife will be discontinued." (Thank you Perry !)

As a result of the Coral Cafe in the Dolphin closing, Gullivers, effective June 11th, will have character dining 7 days a week.

And speaking of Character Dining, I sadly report that as of June 10, 2001, the Villains Character dinner at the Grand Floridian is being replaced by Pooh and Friends.

Minnie-Mizing the Mouse

Mike Corbo of the Mouse For Less list ( http://www.themouseforless.com ) submits the following:

DisneyDollarless members recently had some discussion on two "clubs" that seem worthy of the investment involved based on the benefits received.

The first is the Rainforest Cafe Safari Club. Since there are two locations of this themed restaurant on WDW property, it may be worthwhile to join. The cost is only $10. You must apply while at the Rainforest Cafe to become a member. Benefits will not be available to you on the application visit, so stop by and apply the day before you plan to eat there.

Some of the benefits are: an instant $10 certificate good toward your next meal at the Rainforest (which could be the next day), another $10 certificate in the mail with your membership card, 10% off merchandise in the gift shop and guaranteed priority seating. I have been using this card for a while now and even when waits exceeded an hour, I have never had to wait more than five minutes for a table.

The application also asks for your birthday and anniversary, and they mail you coupons for free appetizers and buy one/get one free entrees on these occasions.

DisneyDollarless members have been volunteering to pick up applications and submit the applications for other members, so they can use the benefits on their next trip to Walt Disney World.

Our next pick of the week is the Hard Rock All Access Club. Previously Hard Rock offered a free 30th anniversary version of this program. The current program costs $29.95 to join. You receive an instant $20 credit for food and merchandise. Other benefits include a $20 credit on your card for every $200 spent on merchandise, food and beverages, a limited edition pin and preferred seating with access to their online preferred seating website to make arrangements up to 30 days in advance. (If only Disney would come up with that one!) The club also includes discounts on rooms at the Orlando Hard Rock Hotel (currently offered to members at $125 per night).

It appears that Hard Rock will occasionally add dollars to your card in order to entice you to use it, for example, an extra $10 for your birthday. They just added $10 to my card for no apparent reason, and my wife's card is now eligible for $1.50 for every $1 purchased to reach that $200 goal!

WDW Pin News (courtesy of Dizpins.com)

Another month has come and gone with more Disney pin excitement!!!

May was a fun month for pin collectors. The Countdown Event at the Disney-MGM Studios was great, with Lights…Cameras and "PIN" Action of course!!! Many pins were released, including a Limited Edition (LE) 1000 Dinosaur Gertie pin along with the third Countdown Dangle and the first in a nine-pin series celebrating the 100 Years of Magic of Walt Disney and these pins are individually numbered. The first in this series was called Walt Disney's Letterhead 1922.

Guests also enjoyed an interactive "Pin Production" that took them through the park as they gathered the last-minute elements as a Production Assistant. Once the guest received all of the backstage pass stamps, by either trading a pin with a CM or answering a question about that specific prop shop, they received their "Production Credentials" added to their day's "script". The Production Credential included a free Backstage Pass Pin!!

June will be just as exciting. The Magic Kingdom will host the next Pin Celebration Countdown on June 14, 2001, and will feature an event exclusive LE 1000 pin of Swan Boat, the fourth of the Countdown Dangle, a beautiful LE 3500 Cinderella Boxed Coach Pin and the second in the series of nine pins celebrating Walt Disney's 100 Years of Magic.

Guests will also be given the opportunity to set out on Pixie's Pin Path, which will lead guests on a magical adventure throughout the Magic Kingdom as they pursue the ever-elusive fairy. In seven different locations, guests will trade pins or answer trivia questions while on her path. If they succeed in their quest, they will be rewarded with a collectible pin featuring our favorite pixie.

Also, it was recently announced that in honor of Walt Disney's 100th birthday, and to share in the joy and magic he has brought to so many, the Disney Store will release the "Walt Disney 100 Years of Dreams" pin collection. This collection, a total of 100 new pins, will be exclusive to Disney Stores in North America. Pins will be released every Saturday from September 22 to December 15, 2001.

And, if this is not enough, the Contemporary Resort will host the Pin Celebration Countdown on July 1, 2001!!!

If all of this is just to much to remember, click your Mickey "Mouse" on www.dizpins.com for all the new pin-related information.

Construction continues at the Pop Century Resort, scheduled to open mid-December 2001. The large bowling pin icons for the 1950s buildings are now installed, along with catch-phrases and dance silhouettes. Concrete pouring is now finished for more than 2,000 of the 5,760 rooms at the value resort.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.

Follow us on Social!

Trending now.

Don't miss your chance to save big on these Disney essentials on Amazon!

Finding just the right Loungefly backpack to accompany you for a day at Magic Kingdom...

These snacks are typical for first-timers in Disney World!

These ARE the Star Wars water bottles you're looking for...

Imagine — you’ve made it to Disney World and are walking up to the gates...

There's a BIG sale on Loungefly bags on Amazon right now!

Don't go to Disney World without these items from Amazon!

The building is just THERE, doing nothing.

There's a new party coming to Disney World soon, but it will cost you!

Brightline added routes between Orlando and South Florida in the fall of 2023, and it...

Disney just added Extended Evening Hours for more dates in 2023.

You've probably been on a lot of Disney World rides, so find out how many...

Sage and Emma are going to show you how to get on a bunch of...

Costco just changed the game for our Disney World hotel stays!

Dooney & Bourke's latest Disney collection is PERFECT for fans of Alice in Wonderland!

Don't get caught in these tourist traps when planning your Disney World trip!

We asked our readers on Facebook for their top water bottle recommendations -- here's what...

How will Universal adapt the How to Train Your Dragon franchise for Epic Universe?

These McDonald's Happy Meal Loungefly bags are going to be SUPER popular online -- calling...

If you're heading to SeaWorld with the kiddos, check out this height to ride height...

Shop the Disney Store | AllEars® Merchandise | Shop Amazon | Press Room | Contact Us

Read more About us or Advertise with us . We respect your right to privacy. Please take a moment to review our privacy policy and terms of use .

Copyright ©1996-2024 AllEarsNet, LLC, All Rights Reserved. AllEars.Net, AllEars® Newsletter and any other properties owned by AllEarsNet, LLC are not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. All Disney artwork, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Disney Enterprises, Inc. or, its subsidiary, affiliated and related companies. For official Disney information, visit http://www.disneyworld.com

Special Events & Tours

All Walt Disney World Locations
Magic Kingdom Park
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
Disney Springs
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Disney's BoardWalk
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's Beach Club Villas
Disney's BoardWalk Inn
Disney's BoardWalk Villas
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Disney's Riviera Resort
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

All Filters

Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour

Game description.

Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour is a 2000 go-kart racing video game based on attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort. Players compete in races on tracks inspired by attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to acquire missing parts for the park’s fireworks machine, which was accidentally destroyed by Chip ‘n’ Dale while they were gathering acorns. The game was developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive. The Game Boy Color version was developed by Prolific Publishing.

Download Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour

We might have the game available for more than one platform. Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour is currently available on these platforms:

Dreamcast (2000)

Walt_Disney_World_Quest_Magical_Racing_Tour_Dreamcast_ROM_EN.zip (104.9MB)

PlayStation (2000)

Walt_Disney_World_Quest_Magical_Racing_Tour_PS_ROM_EN.zip (189.6MB)

Windows (2001)

Walt_Disney_World_Quest_Magical_Racing_Tour_Win_ISO_EN.zip (531.1MB)

Additional files, patches and fixes

Walt disney world quest: magical racing tour screenshots.

Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour Gameplay (Dreamcast)

Similar games

New Disney Legends lineup includes Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, James Cameron, Miley Cyrus

This year's extraordinary lineup of 14 new Disney Legends has been announced. The award honors artists and visionaries throughout the company's history.

This year's honorees include Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha Blanding, James L. Brooks, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Steve Ditko, Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John Williams.

"To be named a Disney Legend is the highest honor our company can bestow on anyone, reserved for those whose talent and achievement have earned them an enduring place in our history," said Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "The fourteen individuals to be honored as Disney Legends this year have each made extraordinary creative contributions across the worlds of Disney and we look forward to celebrating them at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event."

MORE: Everything we know about D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event

Ryan Seacrest, host of "American Idol" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC, will host the 2024 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The ceremony will cap off a weekend of programming for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event .

The Disney Legends Awards program is a 37-year tradition of The Walt Disney Company, which began when Fred MacMurray ("The Shaggy Dog," "The Absent-Minded Professor," "The Happiest Millionaire") was honored in 1987.

The honorees (listed alphabetically) are:

COLLEEN ATWOOD

For Colleen Atwood, designing costumes for movies both fantastical and fabulous is like creating her own Wonderland. This prolific costume designer has been nominated for an Academy Award a dozen times and has won four Oscars, including for her visually evocative work in "Alice in Wonderland" (2010). Born in Ellensburgh Washington, Colleen briefly studied painting at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Working in high fashion retail at designer boutiques, her strong sense of visual style enabled her a start as a fashion advisor. Through that world, Colleen was offered an unexpected opportunity to be a production assistant in the art department on "Ragtime" (1981). In New York, Colleen was fortunate enough to align with many New York filmmakers such as Jonathan Demme, Michael Apted, and Michael Mann. Colleen was introduced to filmmaker Tim Burton-and soon would be Burton's go-to costume designer. Their first film together, Edward Scissorhands, was the first of 12 Burton movies she designed costumes for, including Disney's live-action reimagining of "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) and "Dumbo" (2019). The upcoming "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" (2024) will mark the creative duo's 13th collaboration. For the over 50 films and TV series, she has costumed, many of them center on visually stunning imaginary environments that call for a lot of world-building. It's Colleen's ability to cross and blend genres in her approach to character costuming that has enabled her work in such fantastic films as "Planet of the Apes" (2001), "Into the Woods" (2014), "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016), "Lady and the Tramp" (2019), and "The Little Mermaid" (2023).

ANGELA BASSETT

It takes a strong woman to portray a strong female character, and Angela Bassett fits the bill. From her breakout role as single mother Reva Devereaux in John Singleton's "Boyz n the Hood" (1991), to her portrayal of fierce Queen Ramonda of Wakanda in Marvel's "Black Panther" films, Angela's unmistakable voice, signature delivery, and grand presence command immediate attention. Born in New York City, Angela lived in North Carolina until the age of 4, when her family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. The first Black student attending Boca Ciega High School to be admitted to the National Honors Society, Angela went on to Yale, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in African American Studies in 1980 and a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1983. In 1988, she moved to Los Angeles. Angela has portrayed many real-life characters, including Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, but it was her powerful portrayal of Tina Turner in Touchstone Pictures' "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993) that earned her numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actress, making her the first Black performer to win in this category. She received two Emmy nominations for outstanding narrator for National Geographic's "The Flood" (2018) and the Disney+ docuseries "The Imagineering Story" (2019), and was nominated for her second Academy Award, this time in the Best Supporting Actress category, for the role of Queen Ramonda in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022). She is also the star and executive producer of the hit drama "9-1-1," voiced Dorothea Williams in Disney and Pixar's Academy Award-winning animated feature "Soul" (2020), and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2024.

MARTHA BLANDING

Martha Blanding helped put the "happy" in The Happiest Place on Earth. As the first permanent full-time Black Tour Guide, Martha personified the philosophy of creating happiness for others while embodying the principles of hospitality and courtesy Walt Disney sought to establish for Disneyland Cast Members. Once hired as a Tour Guide, she quickly climbed the ladder to become a VIP Hostess. Martha later became the first-ever Black woman in management at Disneyland as an expert merchandise, candy, and film buyer for 16 years, and later became the senior manager of Disneyland Resort Merchandise Special Events. In this role, she worked with world-renowned artisans, celebrities, and Disney Legends. She was considered one of the few pioneering producers of the Official Disneyana Convention, a forerunner of today's D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. A co-founder of PULSE, a business employee resource group for Black Disneyland Cast Members, Martha served as a trusted mentor to fellow employees. Adding to the many "firsts" during her career before retiring in 2022, Martha was the first Black Cast Member to commemorate 50 years with the Disneyland Resort, and now becomes the first Black Disney Parks employee designated a Disney Legend.

JAMES L. BROOKS

Acclaimed for character driven, writer centric projects that deftly combine comedy and poignancy-such as 20th Century's Broadcast News (1987)-James L. Brooks is a TV and film icon responsible for some of the most beloved entertainment projects of all time. James made one of the most impressive directorial debuts in film history with "Terms of Endearment" (1983), for which the multi-hyphenate took home three Oscars for writing, producing, and directing. Growing up in New Jersey, James' career trajectory kicked off as a writer for CBS News in New York. When he moved to Los Angeles in 1965, a chance meeting with established writer Allan Burns led to his writing for television comedies, and before long, James created the groundbreaking ABC series "Room 222" in 1969 and "Taxi" in 1978. In 1986, James founded his production company, Gracie Films, where he and his team are trailblazers in the world of television. At James' invitation, Matt Groening created animated interstitials for the company's "The Tracey Ullman Show" featuring a dysfunctional family, which led to a full-fledged animated series-the first since the 1960s-"The Simpsons," in 1989. The longest-running primetime scripted show in television history, "The Simpsons" quickly exploded into a cultural phenomenon. Currently in its 35th season, "The Simpsons" has won 37 Emmy Awards. James also co-produced and co-wrote "The Simpsons Movie" in 2007. James, who continues to serve as executive producer of the misadventures of the animated citizens of Springfield, maintains that the series has not outlived its popularity, especially now with it streaming on Disney+. Brooks is currently working on his next feature film for 20th Century Studios, "Ella McCay."

JAMES CAMERON

James Cameron is an acclaimed filmmaker, ocean explorer, and environmental advocate. As a director, a writer, and a producer, he's responsible for some of the world's most memorable films including "The Terminator" (1984), "Aliens" (1986), "The Abyss" (1989), "Titanic" (1997), "Avatar" (2009), and

Avatar: The Way of Water" (2022), the latter three being three among the four highest grossing films of all time. "Titanic" alone won 11 Oscars, including James' for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing. He is currently in post-production on "Avatar 3," and in pre-production on "Avatar 4" and "Avatar 5." Teaming up with Walt Disney Imagineering in 2011, James helped to steer the creation of an Avatar-inspired area of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The result, Pandora - The World of Avatar, is an area that immerses guests in an interactive environment that brings the world of the film series to life, and features the popular attractions Avatar Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey. Under his Earthship Productions banner, James has produced 12 documentaries, including six about Titanic, as well as three other deep ocean exploration films, most in partnership with National Geographic. He executive produces National Geographic's Secrets series, including the Emmy Award-winning "Secrets of the Whales" and Emmy-nominated "Secrets of the Elephants," with "Octopus" launching on Earth Day 2024. He also executive produced the "OceanXplorers" series, due in Fall 2024 from National Geographic.

JAMIE LEE CURTIS

Born in Santa Monica, California, to Hollywood power couple Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, Jamie Lee Curtis excelled as a performer early on, winning people over with her exuberant personality. Originally planning to major in law enforcement, an acting manager suggested Jamie Lee try auditioning. To her surprise, she was signed to a contract at Universal, one of the last performers to be so engaged. She was later cast as iconic "Scream Queen" Laurie Strode in John Carpenter's thrilling classic "Halloween" (1978), establishing her trajectory as a bona fide movie star. The Oscar winner has demonstrated her versatility with a variety of captivating roles over her career, including suburban housewife-turned-international-spy Helen Tasker in "True Lies" (1994) and no-nonsense mom Tess Coleman in Disney's remake of the classic body-swap comedy "Freaky Friday" (2003). In 2023, Jamie Lee returned to both Disney and the macabre genre to portray the legendary Madame Leota in "Haunted Mansion," inspired by the classic Disneyland theme park attraction. The author of 13 best-selling books, all exploring core childhood issues, she is also the founder and CEO of My Hand in Yours, a charitable organization that offers comfort and celebratory gifts where 100% of every sale is donated directly to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. For her many performances, Jamie Lee has received a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globes, and nominations for a Primetime Emmy and a Grammy. Most recently, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Everything Everywhere All at Once" (2022).

MILEY CYRUS

Miley Cyrus is an award-winning superstar singer, songwriter, and actress who first rose to fame as a Disney Channel sensation. Miley started her acting career at the age of 8, and by the age of 13, she auditioned for the Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana." The series premiered in March 2006 to the largest audience for a Disney Channel Original Series, drawing an average of 4.4 million viewers per episode. A 2007 episode of the series still ranks as the highest-rated basic cable series telecast ever, with 10.7 million total viewers. She embarked on her wildly popular Best of Both Worlds Tour in 2007, and in 2008, she voiced the character of Penny in Walt Disney Animation Studios' feature "Bolt." For the film, Miley earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song ("I Thought I Lost You"). The following year, she took center stage once again for the lead in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," which included the hit song "The Climb." 2023 saw the release of Miley's album "Endless Summer Vacation," which inspired the documentary concert special "Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)," streaming on Disney+. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024, Miley was honored with her first-ever wins for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. At just 31 years old, Miley is now the youngest honoree ever to be named a Disney Legend.

STEVE DITKO

Originally hailing from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Steve Ditko's love for comics began at a young age. After serving in the U.S. Army, where he drew comics for the Army newsletter, one of his idols, Batman artist Jerry Robinson, became his mentor. By the early 1950s, his first work appeared in print, and shortly thereafter made his way to Atlas Comics, the precursor of Marvel Comics. The artist would quickly leave his mark, leading Disney Legend Stan Lee to rechristen "Amazing Adventures" as "Amazing Adult Fantasy" (later "Amazing Fantasy") to showcase Steve's talents. In 1962, that collaboration led to one of the most popular comic book characters of all time. The introduction of Spider-Man in "Amazing Fantasy" #15 stands as one of the landmarks of both Steve's career and Marvel history. Steve went on to co-create most of Spider-Man's now-infamous rogues' gallery and re-envisioned many of Marvel's iconic characters to what we know today. He redesigned Iron Man's armor into the popular red and gold design, and in the Hulk comics, he codified Bruce Banner's transformations to be a function of his anger. It is perhaps with Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts, that Steve truly expressed his visionary impulses-the early stories in "Strange Tales" could only have come from the mind of Steve Ditko. He left Marvel to pursue other work in 1966 but returned in 1979. In the 1990s, Steve helped to co-create all-new characters, including Speedball and Squirrel Girl. One of the greatest artist-writer talents in comic book history, Steve's imagination and creative vision changed the comics industry and super hero storytelling forever.

HARRISON FORD

Harrison Ford has portrayed some of the most iconic action heroes to ever burn up the big screen. After appearing in a small but impressive role in "American Graffiti" (1973), directed by fellow Disney Legend George Lucas, Harrison proved to be perfect for the role of Han Solo, cynical smuggler and captain of the Millennium Falcon in "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977). He would go on to portray Han in all three episodes of the original Star Wars trilogy. Harrison also stars as the titular character in the blockbuster "Indiana Jones" films.

Over his decades-long career, Harrison has been widely honored for his many contributions to the film industry, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Cecil B. DeMille Award, the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2023 was the recipient of an honorary Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival.

Some of his most notable film credits include an Oscar-nominated performance in "Witness" (1985), along with "Blade Runner" (1982); 20th Century's "Working Girl" (1988); "Presumed Innocent" (1990); "Patriot Games" (1992); "The Fugitive" (1993); "Clear and Present Danger" (1994); "Sabrina" (1995); "Air Force One"

(1997); Touchstone Pictures' "Six Days, Seven Nights" (1998); "What Lies Beneath" (2000); "Morning Glory" (2010); 42 (2013); "Blade Runner 2049" (2017); and 20th Century Studios' "The Call of the Wild" (2020). Harrison also stars in the hit television shows "1923" and "Shrinking."

More recently, Harrison returned to a couple of his most celebrated roles. For the fourth time in the film series, he portrayed Han Solo in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015), and once again donned Indy's fedora in the fifth Indiana Jones installment, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (2023). Harrison will also appear as President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in the Marvel Studios live-action adventure "Captain America: Brave New World," to be released in 2025.

Mark Henn joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1980, where he became an assistant animator on "The Fox and the Hound" (1981). His first major assignment was animating Disney's most beloved character, Mickey Mouse, in "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), marking Mickey's first big-screen appearance in 30 years. Mark would go on to serve as the supervising animator for young Simba as well as five female leads, more than any artist in the history of the studio: Ariel (supervised with fellow Disney Legend Glen Keane), Belle (supervised with James Baxter), Jasmine, Mulan, and Tiana. He also animated Simba from "The Lion King" (1994), the title character in "Pocahontas" (1995), and Giselle from "Enchanted" (2007). Most recently, Mark has helped a whole new generation of Disney animators bring "the illusion of life" to character animation in CG features such as "Ralph Breaks the Internet" (2018). He was lead 2D animator on "Big Hero 6" (2014) and "Frozen" (2013), and served as a 2D animator for "Mini Maui" in "Moana" (2016). In 2000, Mark brought his vast animation experience to directing with the acclaimed short "John Henry." In 2013 he received the prestigious Winsor McCay award for lifetime achievement, ASIFA's highest award in animation. And in 2018, befitting his longtime association with Mickey Mouse, Mark was commissioned to paint Mickey's official portrait for the character's 90th anniversary. From Mickey to a little mermaid and Mini Maui, the enchantment of Disney animation is personal for this animator.

Creator. Director. Producer. Performer. Writer. Actor. Icon. Superlatives all that describe the one and only Frank Oz. As a respected director, Frank has helmed more than a dozen films, including co-directing "The Dark Crystal" (1982) with Disney Legend Jim Henson, "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (1984), "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986), "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (1988), Touchstone Pictures' "What About Bob?" (1991), "In & Out" (1997), "Bowfinger" (1999), "The Score" (2001), "Death at a Funeral" (2007), "Muppet Guys Talking" (2017), and others, as well as the 2021 Hulu presentation of the long running Off-Broadway hit he also directed, Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself. A four-time Emmy winner, Frank is the recipient of The Art Director's Guild Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award, The Comedy Awards' Creative Achievement Award, The Saturn Lifetime Achievement Award, two George Foster Peabody Awards, three Gold Records, two Platinum Records, and a host of other accolades and honors. He originated and performed the characters of Grover, Bert, and Cookie Monster for Sesame Street, along with Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Sam Eagle, and Animal for "The Muppet Show," performing in hundreds of television shows and specials with The Muppets-including the memorable Muppet*Vision 3D for Disney Parks. Frank also originated and performed the character of Yoda for George Lucas' Star Wars galaxy, first in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and followed by "Return of the Jedi" (1983), "The Phantom Menace" (1999), "Attack of the Clones" (2002), "Revenge of the Sith" (2005), "The Last Jedi" (2017), and "The Rise of Skywalker" (2019). He has acted in several live-action movies, from "The Blues Brothers" (1980) to "Knives Out" (2019), and has voiced characters in Disney and Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." (2001), "Inside Out" (2015), and "Inside Out 2" (2024).

Kelly Ripa is one of the most powerful voices in media, with a diverse body of work both on and off camera. With a career at ABC spanning over 30 years, Kelly has welcomed viewers with her sharp wit every morning as co-host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated show "Live." Beginning her career in entertainment as an actress, Kelly has starred in numerous celebrated television series, appearing on such shows as the soap opera "All My Children" and the sitcom "Hope & Faith." Kelly and her husband, Mark Consuelos, ventured into the development side of entertainment when they began their production company, Milojo Productions. Milojo produces content across multiple platforms, producing the Emmy-nominated documentary "The Streak" for ESPN and the critically-acclaimed documentary "Off The Rez" for TLC. Kelly has earned numerous accolades over the years, including multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, the prestigious Excellence in Media Award from GLAAD and Glamour's Woman of the Year Award. She was also recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as part of the Women in Entertainment Power 100 list, as well as the publication's 35 Most Powerful People in Media. In September 2022, Kelly added New York Times best-selling author to her resume, when her collection "Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories" was published. She recently launched the second season of her own podcast titled "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa." Kelly lives in New York City with Mark, and together the couple have three children.

Retiring in 2021 as a portfolio creative executive with 40 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Joe Rohde was the overall creative executive and supervising designer for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, including later expansions such as Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain and Pandora - The World of Avatar. Joe's other notable projects include The Adventurers Club (formerly a part of Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World); Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, and Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney's California Adventure Park. Joe grew up in Honolulu and the San Fernando Valley, creating art and theater sets, acting in school productions, and exploring film backlots with his cameraman father. He attended Occidental College, graduated with a major in studio art, and went to work as teacher, where at 25, he was recruited by Walt Disney Imagineering. His first assignment was as a model builder for the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT. Joe's big Imagineering break came with the development of a certain animal-focused theme park for the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park would prove to be a celebration of animals, a passionate argument for the coexistence of conservation and communities, and a recognition of the essential role that ecosystems play in our existence. Joe was instrumental in creating the Disney Conservation Fund, which has disbursed over $120 million in grants to projects worldwide. He is well known for his intensive focus on the philosophy of narrative placemaking and experiential storytelling. Joe now uses his art to raise funds for both international conservation and local community projects. In 2022 he received the Disney Conservation Fund's first Conservation Legacy Award and has appeared on numerous documentaries about Imagineering.

JOHN WILLIAMS

The unforgettable music of John Williams is the soundtrack of our lives. In a career spanning more than six decades, this most prolific of movie composers has created the music for more than 100 films including all nine "Star Wars" saga films and all five "Indiana Jones" films. Born and raised in New York, John moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948. Venturing back to the East Coast to attend The Julliard School, he later returned to Los Angeles to commence his film career. Early in his career, John composed the music for more than 200 television films and numerous television series including "Lost in Space" for 20th Century Fox. John's artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg, now in its 50th year, led to an introduction to fellow Disney Legend George Lucas and what became the biggest film phenomenon of its time, Star Wars (1977). John has received five Academy Awards and 54 Oscar nominations-most recently for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (2023)-making him the Academy's most-nominated living person and the second-most-nominated person in the history of the Oscars, a number second only to Walt Disney. He has also received seven British Academy Awards (BAFTA), 26 Grammys, four Golden Globes, and five Emmys, as well as the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, and an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

Disney Legend honorees receive a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the company. Disney Legends Award recipients will also participate in a handprint ceremony at the end of the event, and their bronzed prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at the company's Burbank headquarters.

Including this year's honorees, a total of 318 Disney Legends have been named. Past Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Dame Julie Andrews, Howard Ashman, Kristen Bell, Robert Downey Jr., Annette Funicello, Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Elton John, Dame Angela Lansbury, George Lucas, Steve Martin, Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Ellen Pompeo, Robin Roberts, Marty Sklar, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Ming-Na Wen, Betty White, and Robin Williams, among many others.

Disney is the parent company of this station.

'Star Wars' launches takeover campaign at Empire State Building

How 'Iwaju' bridges an African narrative with a global audience

Everything to know about D23: Ultimate Disney Fan Event

'The Acolyte': Watch the trailer for new 'Star Wars' series

HCSO looking for 7 and 12-year-old who allegedly stabbed a woman

1 killed after rear-ending Alief ISD bus, no students hurt: HPD

Flaring at Deer Park Shell facility could last for days, company says

How message of UH guard Shead's parents impacted program

No. 1 Cougars take on No. 9 Aggies in 2nd round

No. 7 Texas eliminated by No. 2 Tennessee despite late-game surge

Man found shot to death in SE Houston intersection, HPD says

A fantastic-feeling weekend, but more storms possible Monday

IMAGES

Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Rewind to 2001
Let's Take a Tour of Walt Disney World's Website in 2001
2001 100 Years of Magic Walt Disney World Travel Planning Video
Throwback Thursday: 100 jaar magie (2001)
Unwrapped Walt Disney World (2001)

VIDEO

Disney World 1987
Walt Disney World 2005 Highlights
DisneyLand 1998
Disney World 1999
Disney World 1996
Disneyworld 1995

COMMENTS

WDW Tour
Here's a look at back at the resort TV shown at Walt Disney World during its 100 Years of Magic Celebration. This certain program is called WDW Tour which gi...
Remembering Disney's "100 Years of Magic" from 2001
The 2001 campaign celebrated Walt Disney's 100th birthday with the iconic sorcerer's hat, new parades at all four Walt Disney World theme parks, and other anecdotes since lost to Disney history.
2001 100 Years of Magic Walt Disney World Travel Planning Video
This is the 2001 Walt Disney World Travel Planning VHS ©Disney. I claim no rights to this. This was recorded from my personal collection and is not being use...
Walt Disney World
Make a wish, you are about to enter a world of dreams come true. Where elephants fly, teacups dance, and lifelong friends are made every day. So goes the 2001 Walt Disney World Resort TV introduction to The Magic Kingdom. The WDW Tour continues with Epcot a theme park unlike any other on earth, including
Let's Take a Tour of Walt Disney World's Website in 2001
The price of a 1-park 1-day ticket in early 2001 was $48 for adults. That's $70.26 adjusted for inflation. As of now, tickets range from $116.09 to $169.34, depending on the time of year. They were practically giving away annual passes in 2001. A Premium Annual Pass was $469.
Walt Disney World 2001
Walt Disney World 2001. In 2001, Walt Disney World saw the addition of many new things. It was the debut of One Man's Dream, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge welcomed its first guests and Playhouse Disney Live brought favorite Playhouse Disney characters to life. Though all of these are significant in ...
Reflections of Disney: Looking Back at 2001, Forward to 2002
Disney's newest resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, opened to rave reviews in April 2001. This unique resort features live animal savannas with both public and guestroom balcony animal viewing areas. The lodge also houses a grandiose lobby with a ceiling to floor window that overlooks the Arusha Savanna.
What it was like to be in the Disney Parks on September 11, 2001
September 11, 2013 by Doctor Disney. This day in 2001 was a day that will live in the memories of so many for years to come and beyond. The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, caused chaos around the world, and no matter where you were…you will always remember where you were. But we've got to remember that life was going on in every single inch of ...
A Walt Disney World Retrospective: Ten Magical Milestones of the 2000s
5 - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. With the success of Disney's Animal Kingdom came an opportunity for a new species of resort. Walt Disney World's newest deluxe resort began welcoming guests on April 16, 2001, whisking them away on safari to a lodge in the midst of an African wildlife preserve, surrounded by the grasses of the savanna teeming with ostrich, water buffalo, zebras ...
Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Video 2001
"This year, we're celebrating Walt Disney's 100th birthday and the legacy of magic he left for you. This video will give you a sneak peek of everything happe...
Buckle Up and Rock Out at the Disney-MGM Studios with this Guide from
Unearth Disneyland History With This Indiana Jones Adventure Cast Premiere Packet From 1995. Explore the Patriotic Theme Park That Never Was With This "Disney's America" Brochure From 1993. Matthew Soberman. In 1999, the Disney-MGM Studios was rockin' with the opening of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, as shown in this guide!
Let's Take a Tour of Walt Disney World's Website in 2001
Imagine if you could go back to early 2001, fire up your Gateway computer, and log on to your AOL account. What would the Walt Disney World website have looked like back then? Thanks to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine we can do a little time traveling and find out. What did the home page […]
Disney World shut down on Sept. 11, 2001: Here's what happened
As the news of the 9/11 attacks spread across the U.S. so did concern about additional targets, forcing Walt Disney World to shut down its parks. ... ORLANDO, Fla. — Sept. 11, 2001, is a day ...
Walt Disney World News
Walt Disney World Attraction News Showing all 2001. Filter by Type. All ... New version of Backlot Tour now open. Jun 28, 2001. Latest Mission SPACE construction photos . Jun 28, 2001. Sorcerer Mickey Hat Icon construction progress. Jun 24, 2001. Mission SPACE ride system information.
Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, or simply abbreviated WDW, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, governed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.The resort is located within Orange and Osceola counties, and located closest to the cities of Winter Garden and Kissimmee in Greater Orlando.
Walt Disney World News
Walt Disney World News Showing all 2001. Filter by Type. All ... New version of Backlot Tour now open. Jun 28, 2001. Latest Mission SPACE construction photos . Jun 28, 2001. Sorcerer Mickey Hat Icon construction progress. Jun 24, 2001. Mission SPACE ride system information.
WDW Historical Ticket Descriptions
Available in 1980 and 1981 only. 3 Day World Passport - Disney's first park hopping ticket allowed unlimited use of both the MK and Epcot for three days for one person. Introduced in 1982. Discontinued in 1990. 4 Day World Passport - Allowed unlimited use of both the MK and Epcot for four days for one person.
Unwrapped Walt Disney World (2001)
Produced during the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, Celebrating Walt's 100th birthday in 2001, Unwrapped Walt Disney World is a food lovers tour of Walt Disn...
June 2001 WDW Bits and Bites
Feature Article This article appeared in the June 5, 2001, Issue #89 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753) Three New Areas Open in Innoventions at Epcot! Networked Living Experience (IBM), Mission: Space Launch Center (Compaq), and Tom Morrow 2.0's Playground have opened in Epcot's Innoventions area. You may have seen Tom Morrow, the diminutive robot host, … Continue reading "June 2001 ...
Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour
Mode (s) Single-player, multiplayer. Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour, sometimes mislabeled as Disney MT Racing [1] or Walt Disney World: Magical Racing Quest, [2] is a 2000 go-kart racing video game based on attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort. Players compete in races on tracks inspired by attractions such as the Haunted ...
Special Events and Tours
For assistance with your Walt Disney World vacation, including resort/package bookings and tickets, please call (407) 939-5277. For Walt Disney World dining, please book your reservation online. 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. View all events and tours featured at ...
Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour
Game Description. Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour is a 2000 go-kart racing video game based on attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort. Players compete in races on tracks inspired by attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to acquire missing parts for ...
WALT DISNEY WORLD 4 Park Tour
In this video we'll tour all 4 Walt Disney World parks. We'll start at Magic Kingdom, then head to Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Stu...
New Disney Legends lineup includes Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, James
Teaming up with Walt Disney Imagineering in 2011, James helped to steer the creation of an Avatar-inspired area of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.