What's New Archive 2000

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For latest updates, go here
For updates from 2001, go here

December 29 2000

December 28 2000

December 18 2000

December 12 2000

December 11 2000

December 8 2000

December 5 2000

December 4 2000

November 14 2000

  • We have been experiencing technical problems over the last 2 weeks, preventing any updates to the site.  Things are almost back to normal, so update swill resume shortly.  The mailing list has also been affected by the outage.

November 3 2000

October 30 2000

October 28 2000

October 24 2000

October 22 2000

October 19 2000

October 17 2000

October 14 2000

October 11 2000

October 8 2000

October 6 2000

October 4 2000

October 3 2000

September 30 2000

September 12 2000

  • Mission Space Update
  • The site will not have any new additions for a couple of weeks.  During this time I will be relocating the audio and video files to a new server.  Once this is complete all media will available again.

September 11 2000

September 10 2000

September 9 2000

September 4 2000

  • All videos (and most sounds) are unavailable due to my current ISP terminating my account. Large volumes of traffic generated on their servers by wdwmagic.com is apparently too much for them to handle.
    I am currently looking for some alternatives - I will update here again when the video are available again.  If anyone out there has a server which can handle around 500Mb of files, with daily traffic of around 2GB - and feels like helping - I would love to hear from you :-)

September 2 2000

August 31 2000

  • New Drop profile for Tower of Terror??
  • Studios update from DisMGMBoy
    - The FASTPASS machines are now open at Muppets. 
    - The Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground will be going down for rehab starting in October to December.  
    - Star Tours simulators are now going down one by one for extensive rehabs.  Simulator 1 began a few weeks ago and should take about 6 weeks to complete.  No new ride film unfortunately though. 

August 30 2000

August 27 2000

August 26 2000

August 21 2000

August 20 2000

August 19 2000

August 16 2000

August 13 2000

August 9 2000

August 4 2000

July 30 2000

July 25 2000

July 23 2000

July 22 2000

July 20 2000

July 19 2000

July 11 2000

July 8 2000

July 4 2000

July 3 2000

June 30 2000

June 29 2000

June 27 2000

June 25 2000

June 22 2000

June 20 2000

June 19 2000

June 18 2000

June 17 2000

June 13 2000

June 11 2000

June 10 2000

  • NEW Splash Mountain insider technical info
  • Indy reopening today
  • New Vacation Club Resort
  • The Best of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance is back by popular request at Epcot this summer. The show premiered at Epcot in summer 1999 and was a "stomping success." The exclusive engagement at the America Gardens Theatre June 18-Aug. 26 features the "best of" the electrifying footwork, spirited Celtic rhythms and high-energy excitement that have made Lord of the Dance an international phenomenon. Half-hour performances are at 3, 4:30, 5:45 and 7:10 p.m.

June 9 2000

  • The fix to the problems we have been experiencing is now in place - so expect to return to normal updates.  Over the next 2 days expect some problems - such as missing images and dead links - whilst the repaired site is uploaded.

May 30 2000

  • Horizons ride vehicles have been spotted on a flatbed truck leaving WDW - possibly to an offsite storage area.  Photos coming soon.
  • More demolition news from ScottR407wdw@aol.com
    The whole front of the building is ripped off, and you can see the
    fire proof coated steel frame work, A/C ducts, and broken wires. Behind the black wall is a HUGE pile of rummage (torn metal, concrete etc). The sides are ripped out too. It looks like some knocking has taken place on the near top of the roof. You can see almost all of the way to the back of it...all torn and ripped. You can see the loading area w/ everything distructed. It looks as though inside there has been a fire...a lot of ashy material laying around and on the wall.
  • News from WDWGUY at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thedisneyworldfuture
    Tapestry of Nations is extended though to Summer 2001
    Reflections of Earth is set to run for another 5-10 years
    Millennium Village to close January 2001
    2000 sign at Epcot to be replaced with the word Epcot
    Indy Stunt show to reopen first week of June with FASTPASS
  • We are still having technical problems here with the site. So apologies for the brief text only updates.  We have new photos ready to go up over the next week.

May 27 2000

  • I have been experiencing technical problems with the site, making it impossible to update.  Fix is expected in a few days, and we can then return to normal updates.

May 15 2000

May 14 2000

May 12 2000

May 10 2000

May 5 2000

May 2 2000

May 1 2000

April 30 2000

April 28 2000

April 26 2000

April 23 2000

April 21 2000

April 20 2000

April 17 2000

April 16 2000

April 15 2000

April 13 2000

April 11 2000

April 9 2000

  • News in from Mike
    1. Pirates of Caribbean reopened at noon today. There are some minor changes - such as a good dose of political correctness, changes and different placements of audio-animatronics. Overall, it seemed a little fresher but not as risky (with the language).
    2. Coaster track has been seen by some of my CM friends at AK behind Chester and Hester's.
    3. The construction between Grand Floridian and MK appears to be a walkway extension between the resort and the park.
  • Links updated

April 8 2000

April 7 2000

  • NEW Disney MGM Studios Map scans from 1990
  • Horizons update
  • Steve D answers the question about the construction wall between France and Morocco.
    "There is a small poster on it saying that it is going to be a Kids Flower Garden.  It is in preparation for EPCOT's annual Flower and Garden festival."

April 6 2000

  • Horizons update
  • News in from Robert:
    I was just at Animal Kingdom.  There were a lot of people working on the building (the rumored light-rail stop) next to the bus stop.  There is still no word on what it is.
    At Epcot, the entire area between Morocco and France is walled off.  Anyone know what is happening there?

April 1 2000

March 31 2000

March 30 2000

March 29 2000

March 26 2000

March 25 2000

March 21 2000

March 18 2000

March 15 2000

March 12 2000

March 9 2000

March 6 2000

March 5 2000

  • IGN has the preview from "Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour" for Playstation. It even has the real music from the rides. Includes Big Thunder Mountain, Typhoon Lagoon, Pirates of the Caribbean, Rock 'n Rollercoaster, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain
    Check out the videos!!!
    http://psx.ign.com/previews/14216.htm
    Thanks to Kurt for the news!

March 4 2000

March 2 2000

  • New Space Pavilion news
  • Fire Mountain update
  • ToT rehab clarification
  • As we reported yesterday Buzz is set to get FASTPASS this summer.  WDW have more plans for the Toy Story license. 
    The Galaxy Palace Theater is planned to become home to a brand new Toy Story 2 stage show. A new permanent gift shop will also appear at the exit to the Buzz ride.

March 1 2000

  • We have word that Buzz at the Magic Kingdom will be the next ride to be fitted with FASTPASS.  Look for it to happen by summer 2000.
  • Fire Mountain passed final approval??
  • CTX name change
  • Several reports from recent WDW guests tell of a crane installed behind ToT.  We have no details as to what is happening, but it is most likely a part of the intensive maintenance program that ToT demands.  Anyone know different?

February 28 2000

February 27 2000

February 24 2000

February 21 2000

February 20 2000

February 19 2000

February 16 2000

February 13 2000

  • Fixed video links below

February 12 2000

February 11 2000

February 8 2000

February 6 2000

February 5 2000

February 4 2000

  • 2 new rides at AK?
  • A recent article in the Orlando Business Journal confirms the Indy Stunt show rehab to be costing just under $10 million - that is one heck of a rehab!  On the same note the sets from the show are currently living in Soundstage 2, and are visible from the Backstage Pass tour.

February 3 2000

February 1 2000

  • IllumiNations 2000 Credits
  • PLAYING VIDEOS:
    Most videos on the site require the latest version of Microsoft Windows Media Player, which is available for both the PC and Macintosh.  Download your copy from the link below.
    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/en/download/default.asp

    We do not recommend left clicking the video links and letting them play.  Most of the files are too large to stream, and will perform much better if you download the entire video file before attempting to play it.  So we recommend right clicking the link, and select SAVE AS...   Or, use a download manager such as www.getright.com
    Once downloaded you may then play the video from your hard disk as many times as you like.

January 31 2000

January 30 2000

January 29 2000

  • NEW Photo of Tapestry of Nations in Atlanta ready for the Super Bowl.
  • Info from www.dlp-guidebook.de following the concept art posting.
    Yesterday we posted a rumour concerning a Tower of Terror style attraction planned for Disneyland Paris. We have since realised that this rumour was false, and will therefore remove this posting from the site.

    As one of the most extensive Disneyland Paris web sites on the Internet we take our commitment to our guests very seriously and constantly endeavour to ensure all information contained within our pages is as up to date and correct as possible.

    We therefore offer our apologies to anyone who felt misled by this posting and assure them this was a genuine mistake.

    Sorry again

    The team at www.dlp-guidebook.de, www.mousekingdom.de

January 28 2000

  • Well the concept art below has *nothing* to do with Disney.  To quote Screamscape.com "This "Disney" artwork however is fake... and is in fact a piece of promotional material that Giovanola was giving out to people at the 1998 IAAPA show. "
    Giovanola is a Swiss structural/mechanical company.

January 27 2000

  • Check out this link for some very interesting concept art of a new E-Ride, marked for Disneyland Paris - and maybe other MKs?
    http://www.mousekingdom.de/NewsAndRumours/Rumours.htm
    At first glance it looks like a ToT clone - but on closer examination (particularly the bottom left inset photo) the ride appears to be using the a coaster track of some-kind - maybe Vekoma Laydown coaster technology (PGA Stealth)??, combined with a vertical drop!  Looks very interesting.  Anyone know more on the ride system and story?

January 25 2000

January 24 2000

January 23 2000

January 21 2000

  • New Navigation aid added to the top of each page.  The "You are here" system shows you where you are relative to the parent pages - so this should help you around the site!  Give it a try!
  • NEW admission ticket scans from 1989

January 18 2000

  • www.LaughingPlace.com has an extensive article on the career of Marc Davis, and a place for Disney fans to put their thoughts which will be presented to Marc's widow, Alice Davis at the Memorial Service.

January 16 2000

January 14 2000

  • Disney Legend Marc Davis dies
    As reported by: Reuters on 01/13/00

    Marc Davis, the Disney animator who created such memorable screen characters as Cinderella, Bambi, Tinker Bell, Sleeping Beauty and the delightfully demonic Cruella De Vil, has died at the age of 86, Disney announced on Thursday.

    Davis, who was called ``Disney's Ladies Man'' because of his complex drawings of heroines and villainesses, died at Glendale Memorial Hospital on Wednesday after suffering a stroke, said Disney spokesman Howard Green. He had been hospitalized for a series of illnesses.

    Davis had been a member of Walt Disney's trusted inner circle known as the ``nine old men'' and was considered one of Disney's greatest animators. He created both Briar Rose -- the heroine Sleeping Beauty -- and Maleficent -- the wicked fairy -- in Disney's classic 1959 animated movie, ``Sleeping Beauty.''

    ``We have lost one of the great giants of our industry. Marc was a true Renaissance man and an amazing talent who helped define the art of animation and raise it to incredible new heights,'' Roy Disney, vice-chairman of the Walt Disney Company, said in a statement.

    Davis joined the fledgling Disney company in 1935 as an apprentice animator and was promoted to assistant animator for the 1937 production of ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,'' although he did not create any characters for that movie.

    His first animations depicted lovable animals. He created the fawn ``Bambi,'' for the 1942 animated feature of the same name and created both Bre'r Fox and Bre'r Bear for the 1946 feature, ``Song of the South.'' He then moved to people and was responsible for ``Cinderella'' in the 1950 film of the same name.

    ``Alice in Wonderland,'' for which Davis drew the main character, followed in 1951, and his pen and imagination put Tinker Bell on the silver screen two years later in ``Peter Pan.''

    In 1961, Davis created the deliciously wicked Cruella De Vil, who kidnapped the Dalmatians in ``101 Dalmatians.''

    He went on to play a key role in the creative planning for the original Disneyland, located in Anaheim, 40 miles (60 kms) south of Los Angeles, developing story and character concepts for such attractions as ``It's a Small World,'' ``The Enchanted Tiki Room,'' ``Pirates of the Caribbean'' and ``Jungle Cruise.''

    Davis was born in Bakersfield, Calif., and after high school he attended the Kansas City Art Institute. He went on to the California Institute for Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles before joining Walt Disney.

    Davis retired in 1978 but returned to Disney as a consultant on numerous projects including ``World of Motion'' for the EPCOT Center in Florida and and attractions in Japan for Tokyo Disneyland.

    Davis was also an artist in his own right. His paintings are currently on display at the Larry Smith Fine Arts Gallery in Los Angeles. In addition, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has conducted an annual ``Marc Davis Lecture on Animation'' since 1994.

    Davis is survived by his wife Alice, to whom he was married for 44 years.

January 11 2000

January 10 2000

January 9 2000

  • NEW "IllumiNations 2000 Reflections of Earth" Video
  • Be sure to visit The Horizons Tribute over at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thehorizonstribute
  • Legendary pop superstar Phil Collins, musical chart-toppers Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias, and award-winning songstress and Broadway star Toni Braxton will join more than 125 drummers and percussionists, a full symphony orchestra, larger-than-life puppets, aerial dancers, a multi-generational choir and last but not least: one stadium-full of Disney magic for the "E*TRADE Super Bowl XXXIV Halftime Show."

    An estimated 130 million viewers in the United States and millions more worldwide will be a part of an unprecedented millennium celebration on Jan. 30, 2000, at the Georgia Dome as Walt Disney Attractions produces the Super Bowl spectacle celebrating the dawn of the new millennium. Director, producer and Academy Award nominee Edward James Olmos will be the featured narrator for the halftime performance that will be televised by ABC-TV.

    This will be the sixth time Disney has created the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

    "Marking the milestone of the year 2000 in a special way is the mission for this Super Bowl halftime show," says NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "We're pleased to have Disney with us again to continue the tradition of magical halftime entertainment for our fans."

    The show, entitled "Tapestry of Nations," is inspired by the year-long Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration. Elements of the festivities are intertwined throughout the 10-minute spectacle, including larger-than-life puppets, an original, orchestral score and advanced pyrotechnics. Created by award-winning designer Michael Curry, the puppets are modeled after those that are featured as part of the year-long Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration in Florida.

    "At the Walt Disney World Resort we are marking the milestone of the millennium in a big way with a year-long celebration," says Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Co. "With this special performance during Super Bowl XXXIV, we hope to give people around the world a taste of our celebration and welcome the year 2000 in grand fashion."

    The show, sponsored by E*TRADE, will feature a full symphony orchestra led by accomplished Atlanta-area conductor Steven Byess. The 80-member orchestra on the field will be a Super Bowl Halftime Show first. Reflecting the multi-generational celebration, members of the orchestra and accompanying choir range in age from 10 to 60.

    Theatrical lighting -- the most expansive in Super Bowl history -- illuminates the darkened Georgia Dome as fully synchronized pyrotechnics provide an eye-and-ear-filling backdrop to the superstar musical performances. The lighting will create a magical atmosphere for the spiritual celebration.

    Super Bowl XXXIV, the NFL championship game, will be held Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000, and will air live on ABC beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

January 8 2000

  • NEW SITE ADDRESS
    http://www.wdwmagic.com
  • We finally have our own domain name!  The old address will remain active for both this site, the discussion areas and email.

January 7 2000

January 6 2000

  • New Years Eve was a huge success at WDW, and set a record for the earliest ever closing of Epcot!
    Epcot closed at 7:45am to the general public.  Annual Pass holders and Resort guests were still allowed admission after this time.
    Magic Kingdom  closed  at  11:45am
    MGM closed at 12:20 pm
  • More New Years Eve info
  • IllumiNations 2000 New Years Eve
  • No Horizons on New Years Eve
  • No Y2K issues as Walt Disney World.  The whole resort was heavily prepared for problems.  Every resort room was equipped with a nice new Energiser Flash light, every intersection at the resorts and roadway was equipped with emergency generator driven lighting.  These were in place about a week before, and extended up into position a few days before.  The resort must have had 1000s of these, I counted over 50 at Coronado Springs alone!
  • Kilimanjaro Night Safaris

For updates from 1999, go here

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