Walt Disney World’s controversial new Millennium Village is a little like the entertainment giant’s new century celebration: It’s interesting and fun, but it might prove anticlimactic for visitors expecting a provocative surprise.
Sure, the Israel portion of the exhibit, an addition to Epcot on the Orlando campus, has generated worldwide protests. Israel paid for part of the $8-million presentation, which includes a roller-coaster-like ride and a guide to Jerusalem’s holy sites from a mostly Jewish perspective.
But overall, the 65,000-square-foot pavilion is pure Disney: a fun, mall-like, albeit highly simplistic, journey into global culture where regions are summarized by dishes such as tabbouleh and apple crisp, the food court equivalents of the Middle East and the United States.
The village is one part of Disney’s expanded repertoire especially created for its new century observance, which runs to Jan. 1, 2001. Visitors who expect a new Disney World, however, could be disappointed; the celebration is more like added frosting than a whole new cake.
The bulk of the 47-square-mile park hasn’t changed. Decorations, such as year 2000 banners, help make it more festive. Its famous, 25-story silver Epcot globe now has an accompanying 116-foot-tall gloved mouse hand holding a magic wand — as if at any moment, Mickey will light the glittery red “2000” atop the globe. New attractions include a roller coaster at Disney-MGM Studios and an Asia section at Animal Kingdom.
And everywhere, Disney 2000 souvenirs dangle invitingly.
Disney is trying hard to emphasize its millennium additions to attract visitors. Its more than 20,000 on-site hotel rooms have been booked for New Year’s dates. A record number of guests are expected next year.
“There are a lot of things all over the property that will make it a new experience for everyone,” says Diane Ledder, manager of Disney World’s public affairs.
The addition that’s attracted the most attention, though, is Millennium Village, a relatively modest pavilion compared with the worldwide hype that it has generated. Tucked between the United Kingdom gardens and the Canada pavilion at Epcot, with an entrance set back from the main walkway, the Millennium Village can easily be overlooked by passersby.
Inside, smiling young people greet guests in various languages. Eight countries are profiled: Ethiopia, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Several other countries are represented with mini-exhibits that offer souvenirs and cultural facts. The village freshens up Epcot’s World Showcase, which has existed since the early 1980s.
Some of the exhibits are little more than interactive storefronts. Chile offers video synopses of its geography and environmental practices. Others have more expansive shows: Sweden represents its four seasons through egg-like rooms; winter is depicted by a blasting air conditioner and a recording of whipping wind and someone sneezing.
By far the most sophisticated exhibit is Israel’s. Disney invited countries that tourists like, and Israel was asked to profile Jerusalem, a city that is sacred to the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths and whose landmarks attract tens of thousands of pilgrims every year.
Just past the food court, where visitors can sample empanadas from Central America, Israel welcomes visitors with the sound of chanted and spoken Jewish prayers. The exhibit is an imitation of the Tower of David, a revered synagogue mostly torn down when Jews fled Jerusalem in ancient times.
Guests can view an eight-minute movie about the city, which leaves out significant parts of Christian and Palestinian history. Instead, it focuses on the Jews’ faith, their flight from Jerusalem and their official return this century. Modern-day conflicts aren’t mentioned.
Arab-American, Muslim and Christian leaders have protested the exhibit’s content, particularly the movie, because they worry it is propaganda meant to sway visitors to Israel’s side in the Middle East peace negotiations. At least 15 million people are expected to see the movie.
Disney officials, though, say they’re just doing what they do best: edutainment.
“I think Americans like any education that’s fun, and that’s what we try to do,” says Disney spokesman Bill Warren.
And inside the exhibit, the world of politics feels far, far away. Visitors can send a message to Jerusalem’s Western Wall, a Jewish holy place for prayer, via the Internet. A “magical” pen translates English to Hebrew in seconds.
Down the aisleway, Israeli ceramics are sold as souvenirs alongside Scottish kilts. A cheery theme song, “Celebrate the Future,” plays over and over. There’s even a “Jeopardy”-like culture game where contestants stand behind plastic globes and compete to answer questions such as, “Who was the first group to enjoy chocolate?” (Answer: the Aztecs.)
Global fun is easier than global politics.
Other Disney additions include:
For old-fashioned theme park fun that’s new, try the indoor Rock ‘n’ Roll Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney-MGM Studios. The pseudo-stretch limo jumps from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in 2.8 seconds, making your eyelids peel back a bit. The theme is equally entertaining, as riders wind through an imaginary music studio, complete with vintage concert posters and records, into a Los Angeles parking garage where you hop on board, pretending to make it to an Aerosmith concert. The band’s classics blare through three upside-down loops.
Along with Millennium Village, Epcot plays host to a new parade called “Tapestry of Nations” in which 120 puppets, 30 drummers and 15 rolling percussion stages dance around the World Showcase Lagoon twice daily. The colorful puppets tower 18 feet over visitors. An expanded fireworks show with 2,800 shells — twice the number used in previous productions — is also at Epcot. Ask for show times.
Also at Epcot, a program called Leave a Legacy allows visitors’ one-inch photographs to be permanently displayed on large, marble-esque megaliths for $35 per image. There’s room for 750,000 photos. The photos also can be posted on an Internet site, where families can announce their “personal hopes and dreams” and update them over time.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a new Asia section hosts a walking journey past live animals, an exotic bird show and a very wet whitewater raft ride called Kali River Rapids. One Wisconsin family had to wring out their clothes in the bathroom afterward.
Cirque du Soleil, a twistedly cool circus, isn’t new for the millennium celebration, but a permanent addition at Downtown Disney that opened last year. The opera-like show includes acrobatics, trampoline jumping actors and the audience favorite, four Chinese yo-yo artists, ages 11 to 14.
CALL AHEAD FOR RESERVATIONS
Looking to celebrate the dawn of the year 2000 with Mickey Mouse?
You’re not alone. Walt Disney World has been booked for New Year’s Eve for years.
Other days or weeks through 1999 are still open, though. Disney officials recommend guests call six months in advance for reservations during the Orlando park’s millennial celebration, which runs through Jan. 1, 2001. They warn people not to come without a reservation.
Disney World offers one-day to seven-day ticket packages for its theme and water parks. For example, a one-day ticket for one park only is $44 for ages 10 and older, $35 for children 3 to 9 and no charge for younger children.
A four-day park-hopper ticket costs $167 (ages 10 and older) and $134 (ages 3-9). It includes admission to any of four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios or Animal Kingdom.
Cirque du Soleil tickets are $56.50 for ages 10 and older, $45.20 for ages 3 to 9 and free for younger children.
Most millennial celebration events, such as parades, the Millennium Village and fireworks, are included in the regular ticket price. Always double-check, though, if you’re interested in a particular event or program.
Ticket prices do not include parking, taxes, meals and hotel stays.
For reservations for Disney World theme parks, hotels, restaurants or other information, call the reservations center at 407-934-7639, 6 a.m.- 9 p.m. weekdays or 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. weekends.
Or call your travel agent for package ideas.
