2000 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade: Night Before Christmas: Santa Tracking, Jessica Simpson, 98, ‘nSync & More

A Magical Shift from Christmas Morning to Christmas Eve

After moving the 1999 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade to an evening event, the Christmas Day event took a year off in 2000. There was no Walt Disney World celebration on Christmas Day. Instead, the Wonderful World of Disney presented “Walt Disney World: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which aired on Christmas Eve.

The narrator sets the stage:

“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… Well, maybe one special mouse was stirring, hey Mickey…… All through the kingdom, even though it was night, we were all going ready to watch Santa’s flight. We launched a satellite high in the sky to help us watch as Santa did fly. So, we filled the castle with computers and more, and we planned to do something never done before.”

Santa Tracking Headquarters at Cinderella Castle

The central storyline followed Mickey and friends tracking Santa’s flight using the STS1 Santa Tracking System, which is based inside Cinderella Castle. Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Ryan Stiles from Whose Line Is It Anyway? Assisted in this task. Their comedic commentary and Santa updates were a running narrative throughout the broadcast.

Wayne gives weather updates, Colin shares background on Santa’s travels, and Ryan shops for gifts online—all while ensuring the tracking goes smoothly. Santa is expected to hit Florida just in time to wrap the special.

Musical Performances Across the Parks for

• Billy Gilman performs “Santa.com” and “Warm and Fuzzy” from the Golden Horseshoe, returning later with “O Holy Night.”

• 98 Degrees sings “This Gift” and later “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “You Are My Everything,” all from Disney MGM Studios.

• SHeDAISY performs a Christmas medley and closes the show with “Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag” from the Cinderella Castle stage.

• Jessica Simpson performs “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “The Christmas Song” near the Osborne Lights on New York Street.

• Monica performs “A Grown-Up Christmas List” with Plus One and returns with “This Christmas” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

• ‘NSYNC takes the stage at Epcot with “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.”.

Holiday Greetings and Global Check-ins.

Guests like Snow White arrive via Main Street floats reused from the Very Merry Christmas Parade. Wayne Brady checks in with Disneyland Paris for an update on Père Noël. The Disney Wonder tracking fleet and the Space Shuttle Explorer confirm Santa sightings. Frankie Muniz gives us a preview of Disney California Adventure and gets stuck on the Ferris Wheel.

We check in at Tokyo Disneyland, where it’s already Christmas morning, and Santa has made his delivery.

Grand Finale and Santa’s Arrival

Back at Santa Central, Mickey rallies the crowd. With a flash across the Florida sky, Santa makes his arrival. The cast joins in a joyful rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” bringing the 2000 Disney Christmas Parade to a magical close.

NOTE: Portions of this performance have been removed due to YouTube copyright restrictions. You can watch the full special on Vimeo.

Full Version of the 2000 Disney Christmas Parade Available Below

Looking for more nostalgia? Try the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parades, Happy Easter Parades. 4th of July Spectaculars and the Disney Family Albums.