Israel’s exhibit not only will be the largest on display, but it also will be the only one featuring a ride.
The exhibit has three parts. Seating 120 people, it will open with an eight-minute film depicting the country’s religious history. After this, guests are led by a King David character into another room to view a screening of Journey to Jerusalem, a simulated theater ride and the exhibit’s main attraction.
Finally, guests will leave the ride and enter “The Israel Experience.” Starting with a walk on a path made from Jerusalem stone, the guests will enter an area depicting a union between ancient and modern Israel. Here they will be greeted by a replica of the Tower of David and an electronic Western Wall, where they will be invited to place a wish.
Keeping with the millennium theme, Israeli companies will be represented in the exhibit’s final arena to showcase Israeli technology, including computer products, satellite dishes, solar energy techniques and advanced agricultural methods.
Disney vice president George Kalogridis estimates that the typical guest’s visiting time to the exhibit will average 10 to 20 minutes. “This is the longest amount of time that any guests will spend in any exhibit in our entire millennium pavilion,” he said.
Millennium Village is designed linearly, with the Israeli section placed as the last exhibition. “Because of our pavilion’s design, all of our guests must pass through the Israeli exhibit before they leave,” Kalogridis said.
The entire project cost approximately $8 million, of which $1.8 million was provided by Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Commercial sponsors paid a part too, but Disney provided the bulk of the investment.
Kalogridis said Disney does not usually reveal the extent of its investment, but noted the company is paying for the entire infrastructure.
More than a million visitors a month are expected to pass through the Millennium Village for its 15-month life span.