The World Report
Page 3 of 4
Best of 2001
10. Something To Celebrate - 100 Years of Magic: With Disney expecting Disney's California Adventure to be a smash hit and the center of Disneyland's 2001 campaign, WDW received the 100th celebration of Walt Disney’s Birthday. The Studios gets an opportunity to be the center of a 18 month celebration and the other three parks get new parades. A nice celebration looking at the man who started it all.
Cinderell'a Surprise Celebration
9. What No Kids Of The Kingdom Show? - Cinderella’s Surprise Celebration: A new Castle Forecourt Show that gives you singing, dancing and Disney Character’s to boot. At the end of the show the characters descend the stairs to meet and greet with the guests. Another great show at WDW.
8. Eat, Drink and Be Fat - EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival: One thing that EPCOT always does well are it’s festivals. The Food and Wine Festival was wonderful with great food and spirits. At a time when attendance was down 25% at EPCOT, the Food and Wine Festival increased attendance with both tourists and locals. We even had a Mondavi Wine Exhibit! Honorable Mention: EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival with its Flower Power Music Festival featuring great rock bands of the 60’s
7. Regis Saves a Network and A Empty Soundstage - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - Play It! I have to admit I became a bigger fan of this show when I got into the hot seat and reached the 1,000,000 point level question ( I got it wrong - stupid Millionaire, stupid Eleanor Roosevelt). Opening at the height of the Millionaire craze, it filled a nice void at the Studios. Guests play for points that translates into prizes with a trip to NYC being the 1,000,000 point prize. The audience gets to play along too. A lot of fun and it makes use of one of Disney’s otherwise empty soundstages.
Hall of Presidents
6. Hail to the Chief -Hall of Presidents welcomes George W. Bush: Every time a new president is elected tongues begin to wag about whether Disney will spring for a new Audio Animatronic figure or close the Hall of Presidents completely. Disney stepped up to the plate and brought Blaine Gibson out of retirement to sculpt the President who taped a speech for the show. Who could have guessed a year ago how poignant this show would be in the wake of September 11? Disney and Americana at its best.
The Power of Blast!
5. At Least There are No Step Dancers - Blast: EPCOT gets another great show from an outside source. But what a show it was! Part marching band, part concert, part Riverdance. This show had it all and was worth multiple visits. Disney was so pleased with the show that it is now at Disney’s California Adventure playing to packed houses. Blast made visiting EPCOT a blast all summer.