Capturing the spirit of a very full year, Walt Disney Imagineering printed T-shirts for an employee event that read: "The Busiest Place On Earth." And indeed it was for Imagineering, the division that began in the 1950's with the invention of a theme park called Disneyland.

Among its major achievements in 1998: creating Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, the Disney Magic cruise ship, the Port Canaveral terminal and the first DisneyQuest; developing the new Tomorrowland in Anaheim and the Castaway Cay island in the Caribbean, and rebuilding the 45,000-seat Edison International Field, home of the Anaheim Angels.

In 1999, WDI continues to be a busy place, as Imagineers work on a wide range of Disney attractions and resorts that will open around the world.

In Anaheim, they are building Disney's California Adventure, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and the new Downtown Disney, all scheduled to open in 2001. In conjunction with this massive project, Imagineers and the City of Anaheim are transforming the Anaheim Resort area adjacent to Disneyland into a fully landscaped, tree-lined, guest-friendly "garden district."

In Japan, Imagineers are working on a second park, Tokyo DisneySea. Capturing the wonder, legend, mystery and adventure of the watery world, Tokyo DisneySea is scheduled to open in fall 2001, and will include a Venetian-style hotel along its waterways.

In Florida, Imagineers are involved in the continued development of the city of Celebration, where the Celebration Hotel, featuring the wood frame look of the 1920's, will open this year. At Walt Disney World, WDI is creating Disney's Winter Summerland, a miniature golf course with "polar" putting greens, and is partnering with Walt Disney Attractions to create a series of events, activities and icons related to the Millennium Celebration at Epcot.

Disney Wonder, Disney Cruise Line's second ship, will be christened in 1999, employing art nouveau design to recall the luxury and elegance of the classic transatlantic liners. A bronze sculpture of Ariel the mermaid will greet guests as they board.