Making Dreams Come True

We’ve always thought of Disney of this massive giant commercial machine that is only here to make money for itself, not caring of the environment it resides in, and in a never ending pursuit of profits at the cost of mother nature. The information below changed our perspective.

Ed and I had NEVER been big Disney fans. I don’t have anything against Mickey or Minnie Mouse and I’ve always thought they were nice mice. Both sets of our parents took as part of our childhood experiences when we were younger and we had fond family memories but it never really had any sort of impact on us…until we had children of our own. We took our daughters (then 3 1/2 years and 6 months) for the first time in 2010 and then recently returned again in January 2011…not only are our daughters hooked on all the Disney Magic, we are too! The smiles and laughter that Disney World has brought to my children’s is something unexplainable.

In research for our trip, I wondered exactly how “green”, eco-friendly and environmentally responsible Disney World actually is. I was pleasantly surprised. Check out this article from www.zannaland.com

http://zannaland.com/just-how-green-is-walt-disney-world/

Here are some great green and recycle facts about Disney and it’s magic:

1.) Sustainable and Responsible Development

Of the more than 40 square miles at Walt Disney World Resort, nearly one-third of the property has been set aside as a dedicated wildlife conservation area.
The Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve is a lasting testament to the company’s commitment to develop responsibly. Disney purchased 8,500 acres in Osceola County to allow for build-out of the resort and created a model partnership between government, non-profit and business. Working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida water management districts and groups like Audubon of Florida and the Nature Conservancy, the $45 million investment is a living laboratory for land restoration. The Preserve has now grown to 12,000 acres as other companies have followed the model to expand the original tract. A “green” welcome center is a centerpiece and is open to the public.

2.) Growing Green

At Walt Disney World Resort, conservation and environmental sustainability are not only part of a long-term commitment to responsible stewardship, but also are key business components evident in day-to-day operations.

To become an EPA “Energy Star Partner,” Disney has implemented energy-saving fixtures and other changes throughout the property. The original implementation of the program saved enough energy to power Disney’s Animal Kingdom in its first year of operation.
Beginning in 2005, Walt Disney World Resort implemented a “Strive for Five” program, resulting in nearly five percent in energy savings and conservation across the resort. Through ongoing energy audits and the EPA’s Green Lights program Disney strives to use the most energy-efficient fixtures possible.
In Resort guest rooms, Cast Members are in the process of replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps that use roughly one-quarter of the energy. When complete, 176,325 light bulbs will have been changed out.
Even Cinderella’s Castle glows “green” during the holidays with more than 170,000 LED white lights to glisten the Castle, using the equivalent energy of only 12 microwave ovens.
In 2008, Disney completed the state’s Green Lodging designation for all 23 resort hotels – representing the largest number of Green Lodging -certified hotels in the state. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort was the first resort in Florida to receive the designation when the program launched in 2004. To achieve this special designation, resorts must focus on five categories: water conservation, education and awareness, waste reduction, energy conservation and indoor air quality.

3.) Mindful Waste Management

Recycling is a big part of waste management at Walt Disney World Resort. In 2007, Walt Disney World Resort recycled more than 39,000 tons of materials including:
1,048 tons of scrap metal;
1,255,090 pounds (628 tons)of cooking grease; and
14 million pounds of cardboard
the sanitation cast members still hand-sort ALL the trash and take out recyclables.
Walt Disney World Resort’s approach to water conservation begins with using less water where possible, and maximizing use of reclaimed water. Approximately 30 percent of the resort’s overall needs and 80 percent of its irrigation needs are met with reclaimed water.
Disney Harvest reduced food waste by gathering excess prepared food from Walt Disney World Resort kitchens and distributing it through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. More than 1,000 local children are fed weekly through this program. In 2007, Disney Harvest gave more than 625,000 pounds of food to the hungry in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom provides some unique forms of “waste.” In 2007, over 3,520 tons of manure was sent to the compost facility from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Tri-Circle D Ranch. This produced about 542,000 pounds of compost daily.

Here’s another aricle from Planet Green about adding in some “green” time while vacationing in Disney World:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/squeezing-some-green-disney-vacation-florida.html

You can also follow them on twitter: @DisneyConserve and @DisneyNature

Posted by Marianne of www.iEco Clothes.com | Eco Clothing and Fun in One. We specialize in organic cotton t-shirts for kids that are simple, give back, and show eco friendly ways to have fun.