At Epcot, the Mickey Mouse arm holding a wand is dedicated with "2000" over Spaceship Earth - signaling the start of the Millennium Celebration. Instead of dismantling the Icon Tower at the end of Millennium Celebration, the decision makers at Disney decided to make it permanent. The number 2000 was replaced with the name Epcot. A Walt Disney World press release in December 2000 proudly announced, “The makeover will turn the 15-month Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration icon created for Spaceship Earth into a new and lasting beacon to a magical Disney world.”
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