Editor's Report
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"There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow"

1999
Welcome to the final week of 1999. And what a year it was for Disney. It had its ups - Epcot's Millennium Celebration, Disneyland's resurgence, Tarzan, Toy Story 2. It had its downs - Walt Disney World closed for a day, a strike at Disneyland Paris,  the problems with the Jerusalem exhibit at the Millennium Vilalge. We said hello to some new friends - FastPass, Jessie and Bullseye, Hong Kong Disneyland, AIDA. And we said goodbye to some dear friends - Van France, Rex Allen and even the Skyway and Club Disney.

Later this week we'll publish our 1999 wrap-up feature. We'll take a look at the past 12 months including everything mentioned above and much, much more. We'll also include top 10 lists from members of our staff. And we'd love to include yours, too. Just send us Feedback with your favorite, or least favorite, memories of the year and we'll try to include them.

News of the Week
Because of our special column last week we didn't do the news of the week. So this week we include news from the past two weeks..

• Rex Allen, most known to Disney fans for his numerous voice-over narrations including The Legend of Lobos and The Incredible Journey, died on Friday at the age of 78. Allen is best known to Disneyland and Walt Disney World fans as the father in the Carousel of Progress. The Los Angeles Times had an article.
• Fantasia/2000 had its world premiere in New York and is currently in the midst of a world tour. Coverage of all this and much more is available in our Fantasia/2000 Guide.
• Outtakes for Toy Story 2 were added to the theater screenings starting Christmas Day. Two outtakes exclusive to the web are also available for viewing. Click here for more information from LaughingPlace.com.
• Workers at Disneyland Paris went on strike last week. Negotiations are continuing and more walkouts are possible. Stay up to date with our Disneyland Paris continuing coverage.
• The December 12th Los Angeles Times had an extensive article on Roy Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney and current chief of Walt Disney Feature Animation. The article included lots of childhood memories about Walt and his father, Roy O. Disney and insights on Fantasia/2000.
• The December 13th Los Angeles Times had an article on the aftermath of the December 24, 1999 accident on the Columbia. The article included an update on the two survivors, legislation passed in the wake of the accident and much more.
• Both Reuters and the Orange County Register had articles that give details on the Walt Disney Concert Hall currently being built to house the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Click for the Reuters story or the Los Angeles Times story.
• CBS Sportsline reported January's Disney-produced Superbowl halftime show will be entitled Tapestry of Nations, inspired by the show by the same name currently performing at Epcot. The show will feature 125 drummers, a symphony orchestra, an 80-member choir and the voice talents of Phil Collins, Toni Braxton and Edward James Olmos as narrator.
• The latest in a series of mini bean bags has arrived at Goofy's Kitchen. The Chef Goofy "2000" edition is now on sale. Our article included information and a picture for the next in the series, Chef Pluto. Chef Goofy
• Tokyo Disneyland, the last Disney park to use the A-E ticket books, will discontinue their use on March 31, 2001. Beginning April 1, 2001 they will no longer offer General Admission into the park as Tokyo Disneyland passports become universal. They've also adopted a new policy to help guests get rid of old tickets.
• Amusement Business has released their 1999 theme park attendance figures. A number Disney-related of stories have been written as a result and can be found in our 1999 attendance continuing coverage.

This Week
This week be sure to visit our Disneyland Update. This week's trivia contest is all about 1999 and this week's Online Poll asks the question "Will you be at a Disney theme park or resort on New Year's Eve?"

-- Doobie Moseley (December 27, 1999)