Millennium Village Adds New Countries
To Epcot World Showcase at Walt Disney World Resort

In the spirit of "a world without borders," Epcot World Showcase is celebrating the cultural achievements of more than 50 nations never before seen at Epcot in Millennium Village, a new pavilion between the United Kingdom and Canada.

Millennium Village is the cultural centerpiece of Walt Disney World Resort's 15-month Millennium Celebration. Cultural representatives, artisans and entertainers fill the 65,000-square-foot pavilion with the sights and sounds of global destinations.

"Millennium Village is designed as a way to experience an amazing array of world cultures and entertainment without being hindered by borders or limits," says George Kalogridis, vice president of Epcot. "Each exhibit tells a story, maybe even unlocks a mystery or two."

As guests enter Millennium Village, there are eight exhibits developed with Expo 2000 Hannover, the international exposition to take place in Hannover, Germany, from June 1-Oct. 31, 2000. The Millennium Village ambassadors from these eight countries -- Ethiopia, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, India and South Africa -- tell stories of special projects in their nations. In Ethiopia, for instance, it is the story of how a German agency fought hunger by helping local residents produce healthy crops. Kenya tells of a cooperative that raises money by selling weavings to support a health clinic. South Africa showcases a wind-up radio that brings weather and health information into rural South Africa and saves lives.

Immersive exhibits represent nations across the globe:

Here's What Else You'll See

Culinary creations from all the continents of the earth are found in the Millennium Village cafe, called The Gift of Cuisine, with eight regional kitchens featuring special recipes and dishes typical of many countries of the world, from the subtle tastes of the Orient to spicy Africa, from favorites of Latin America to Europe's continental cuisine.

Close by is The Village Green, where guests can take part in a game -- with the help of a conveyor belt, a basketball hoop and a bicycle -- to follow a product from seed to growth, harvest, use, mulching and fertilization to understand the cycle of "renewability," or making the products we use every day out of things we can grow, like crayons from soy and fabrics from corn. The exhibit is sponsored by the Alternative Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corp. (AARC).

For live entertainment, World ShowPlace offers fascinating performers from around the globe, including the famous puppets from Denmark's Tivoli Gardens. There will be eight to nine performances a day throughout the 15-month-long Millennium Celebration, with artists staying for one to two weeks. Sponsored by government ministries and private corporations, more than 50 nations will be represented. Already scheduled to appear are such diverse groups as the Tivoli Boys Guard marching/concert band, the Heshoo Beshoo dance/musicians from South Africa and folk groups from Bulgaria, Argentina, Korea and many more countries.

Artisans from seven countries -- Lebanon, Peru, Thailand, Egypt, Greece, Korea and Venezuela -- create their masterpieces while guests watch, share stories about their homelands and offer their work for sale.

The final stop in Millennium Village is the Gifts to the World Game that lets guests test their knowledge of the experiences in Millennium Village. As the game concludes, guests are left with the thought-provoking question: "What is your gift to the world?"


Millennium Village Fast Facts