Happy Earth Day!

Tree of Life at DuskLike the other Disney Destinations mentioned earlier this week in our Earth Week articles, the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida also upholds a commitment to minimizing the impact their daily operation has on the environment.

  • Since 2006, the Walt Disney World® Resort has reduced their energy consumption by almost eight percent – enough to power 7,600 homes for a year
  • From golf carts to Monorail trains, more than 1,500 alternatively fueled vehicles are used across resort property – reducing fuel consumption by about 33% per vehicle
  • With some help from dedicated Cast Members and guests, more than 105,000 tons of waste was diverted from landfills in 2011 – enough to fill Spaceship Earth at Epcot® more than eight times

When Imagineers were designing the newly opened Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Walt’s legacy of protecting the environment was kept in mind.

  • Use of energy-saving LED lighting has been integrated throughout the resort
  • The resort’s food court, Landscape of Flavors, is the first Value Resort to utilize reusable plates and silverware
  • Recycling bins have been placed conveniently throughout public areas and in each of the resort’s guest rooms

But it doesn’t stop there. The Walt Disney World® Resort works to preserve and protect wildlife locally in Florida and around the world! Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (which is celebrating it’s 15th Anniversary today) works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to breed and manage groups of critical species. The park has successfully bred many endangered animals over the years including black rhinos, African elephants, and rare birds. In the past couple months alone, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park has welcomed the birth of a Saddle-Billed stork and a White-Cheeked Gibbon.

The Walt Disney Company has taken the initiative to encourage environmentally responsible behavior from its Cast Members, business partners, and guests. Helping to protect our Earth is something we must all focus on every day of the year! If everyone would commit to even making one small change, it could make a WORLD of difference! What is your commitment?