Go Green in Disney Style!
posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Dara Trujillo, Manager, Merchandise Synergy, Events, and Communication
A few days ago I told you a little about how Disney Theme Parks Merchandise is helping to celebrate Earth Day. But our support for the planet doesn’t end when Earth Day ends -– we support and care about the environment all year round with an assortment of “green” products that can be found at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. We offer an array of merchandise from organic t-shirts for the entire family, post-consumer recycled stationary, accessories, plush and much more!
A few of our most popular items not only benefit Guests, but they also benefit Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund! With every purchase of our Every Tree Has Character Reusable Bag or Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Plush Toys, 10% of the sale goes directly to Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund. Rather wear your support? You can also purchase Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund T-Shirts made from organic cotton and printed with eco-friendly inks that support the fund as well.
Regardless of your purchase of the Every Tree Has Character Reusable Bag, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Plush Toys, or Conservation Fund T-Shirts, Disney has already made a contribution to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund helping wildlife and wild places around the globe. Here’s a little bit more information on the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and how together we can make a difference. The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund* (DWCF) helps to protect and study some of the world’s most endangered plants, animals and habitats. To date the DWCF has contributed more than $12 million to non-profit conservation and animal welfare organizations supporting projects in 110 countries. To learn more about this effort for wildlife, wild places and the people link to their survival, please visit www.disneyconservation.com. *The DWCF is a Disney initiative to support conservation and animal welfare and is not a US 501(C)(3) public charity.
Disney Parks also has the “write” stuff to help you be green! We offer an array of eco-friendly stationary – from notebooks and journals made form post-consumer recycled paper and environmentally friendly soy based inks, to the classic Mickey Mouse shaped pens and pencils that are made out of recycled materials such as plastics, automotive tires and even recycled money! Each of our eco-friendly stationary items features a special logo that was created specifically for Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resorts. If you’re shopping for environmentally friendly stationary at Disneyland, your stationary will boast the special logo, “Love the Land,” and if you’re shopping at Walt Disney World, you stationary will show off the “Love the World” logo.
Can’t make it to Disney Parks to go green in Disney Style? Select items from our eco-friendly assortment are available online at DisneyParks.com/Store. Whether you’re looking to wear your support or write your support for the environment, we have plenty of ways to help you go green with Disney!
Happy Earth Day!
posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Betsy Sanchez, Manager of Media Relations, Disneyland Resort
Today the Disneyland Resort celebrates the 40th Anniversary of this very special day.
This morning, we were joined by local school children who helped us release thousands of ladybugs into our landscape in a bug’s land at Disney’s California Adventure park. The experience taught students about the advantages of beneficial bugs and how they seek out pests in the landscape, reducing the need for pesticides. Over the course of the day, we will have released more than 140,000 beneficial insects. While we release beneficial insects throughout the year, on Earth Day we also wanted to share the experience with these students to help them understand how they can also help the environment. Check back on the Disney Parks Blog to see photos from the event.
Like many companies, the Disneyland Resort is focused on efforts to protect our planet. Have you ever wondered what steps the Disneyland Resort takes to be “green?” Check out the video below to find out.
‘Eat to the Beat’ Concert Series Lineup at Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
Music lovers take note…we’ve just set the schedule for the “Eat to the Beat” Concert Series at the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. It’s an impressive lineup that includes several Grammy-winning artists and seven new acts, including Sugar Ray, Rick Springfield, Air Supply and Howard Jones.
The concerts, which are included with Epcot admission, will be at the America Gardens Theatre stage beginning October 1. Performances will be nightly at 5:15 p.m. 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. This year’s schedule (subject to change) includes:
10/1-10/3 — Taylor Dayne, “Tell It to My Heart”
10/4-10/5 — Kool & The Gang, “Celebration”
10/6-10/8 — Sugar Ray, “Fly”
10/9-10/10 — Taylor Hicks, “Do I Make You Proud ”
10/11-10/12 — Air Supply, “Lost in Love”
10/13-10/15 — Sister Hazel, “All For You”
10/16-10/17 — Howard Jones, “No One Is To Blame”
10/18-10/19 — Exposé, “Seasons Change”
10/20-10/21 — 38 Special, “Hold on Loosely ”
10/22-10/24 — Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
10/25-10/27 — Billy Ocean, “Caribbean Queen”
10/28-10/31 — Starship starring Mickey Thomas, “We Built This City”
11/1 – 11/3 — Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”
11/4-11/5 — Roger Hodgson formerly of Supertramp, “Give A Little Bit”
11/6-11/7 — Jon Secada, “Just Another Day”
11/8-11/9 — Hanson, “MMMBop”
11/10-11/11 — Rick Springfield, “Jessie’s Girl”
11/12-11/14 — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, “Go Daddy-O”
Any favorite acts you’re looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comments.
Conserving for the Future on Earth Day — and Every Day
posted on April 22nd, 2010 by Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks
There’s something really special about Earth Day — a time when millions of people around the world come together to celebrate the wonders of our planet. That’s why we’re proud to publish the Disney Conservation Report.
Disney Guests play an important role in supporting our conservation and environmental efforts. In the report, you’ll discover how, together, we’re saving animals on the brink of extinction, protecting forests and other precious ecosystems, and helping people around the world help wildlife and wild places. You’ll learn how the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund supports conservation every day and helps in times of crisis. I hope that when you read the report, you will take pride in all that you, our Guests, are helping our company and Cast Members accomplish for future generations.
Here at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, we’ve also made significant progress over the past year in conserving water and energy, and reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions:
- More than 43,000 tons of waste was diverted from landfills through recycling and donations at the Disneyland Resort — enough to nearly fill Space Mountain.
- Water conservation efforts at the Walt Disney World Resort have enabled aquifer withdrawals to remain at levels from 23 years ago, even though the resort has grown by two parks, two water parks and 20 resort hotels since that time.
- 15% of electricity at Disneyland Paris comes from renewable sources, enough to power the Eiffel Tower for about four years.
- More than 80% of Hong Kong Disneyland employees travel to work by public transportation.
- In a first for the cruise line industry, both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder have been treated with a unique hull coating that both increases fuel efficiency and is completely non-toxic.
Whatever you’re doing this Earth Day, I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate and make a commitment to environmentalism, so that every day is Earth Day.
P.S. If you see the new Disneynature film, “Oceans,” between April 22 and April 28 (the first week) a donation will be made in your honor to protect coral reefs!
New Retro Inspired Tees Featuring the Matterhorn and the Flying Saucers, Have Landed!
posted on April 21st, 2010 by Michelle Harker, Merchandise Marketing & Communications Project Manager, Disneyland Resort
If you’ve been to the park lately then you’ve probably seen some of the attraction t-shirts currently available in our stores, including the Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. As we gear up for our 55th anniversary, our Product Development team headed to the vault to pay tribute to some of the attractions seen throughout the years. Just this week we added the Matterhorn Bobsleds and Flying Saucers to the list of available attraction tees.
Associate Product Developer Summer Bloomfield is the driving force behind these retro-inspired attraction tees. She let me know that Disney enthusiasts can plan on seeing many more in the future, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. When asked about her inspiration to create the tees, Summer said: “Everyone has their favorite attraction, that one thing they have to do when they’re here. For years, a lot of this artwork has been seen in a 2D or flat art format, and now we can bring it to you on a whole different level. It’s a great opportunity to pay tribute to some of our most popular attractions and fan favorites.” Summer assures us that we’ll most likely see new retro-inspired attraction shirts next year, representing Disneyland and Magic Kingdom park, respectively, which means you may find a t-shirt on one coast that you may not find on the other.
Wondering where you can snag a tee for yourself? These attraction tees can be found at D Street at the Downtown Disney District as well as inside Disneyland park.
I tried to get a little sneak peek at the Fall line, but, of course, it’s all top secret right now. What she could tell us is that “I’ve got a lot of great plans for both men’s and ladies’ tees. You’ll find tees that will make you whistle a happy tune, and others that will dazzle you.”
Then she whispers: “Our Disney fans will really love the ones we have coming up featuring some of our ever-popular, rockets, trains and automobiles…”
So, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…
Do you like the new retro inspired tees?
‘World’s Fastest Painter’ Creates Mickey Mouse Art at Downtown Disney
posted on April 21st, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
The recent grand opening of D-Street at Downtown Disney in Florida included some surprises…like a speed painter creating his interpretation of Mickey Mouse. It took artist Rock Demarco only minutes to paint Mickey but here it is in 60 seconds.
Demarco, who is known as the world’s fastest painter, was also commissioned to design some Vinylmation figures at the D-Street event.
The Monkey God
posted on April 21st, 2010 by Paul Hiffmeyer, Chief Photographer for Public Relations, Disneyland Resort
While peeking through the thick Jungle Cruise foliage along the riverbank, I discovered the Monkey God, who is sometimes affectionately called “Bob” by the Jungle Cruise skippers. I’d never seen him before and shooting this photo made me feel like I had discovered a long-lost civilization all by myself.
Tween Crazes Hit Walt Disney World
posted on April 21st, 2010 by Dara Trujillo, Manager, Merchandise Synergy, Events, and Communication
Some crazes fade just as quickly as they arrive –- but sometimes they are just too fun ignore! Two new crazes have found their way into Disney Parks and judging by how unique and cute they are, I’m sure we’ll be seeing them around for quite some time.
Pook-A-Looz, the new line for plush, apparel, and accessories from Disney Consumer Products are truly too cute for their own good! Pook-A-Looz were created to capture the personalities of iconic Disney characters in an offbeat and unique way. The new line features more than 30 different characters ranging from classic characters such as Alice In Wonderland, Muppets, to favorites from Pixar films.
Pook-A-Looz were first debuted at D-23 last September, since their launch, Pook-A-Looz have exploded, not only retailers across the country but at Disney Parks as well. Be on the lookout, later this fall, Disney Theme Parks will be releasing Pook-A-Looz that can only be found in the Disney Parks!
Disney Parks Pook-A-Looz designs range from Sorcerer Mickey to Yeti & Figment! Here’s a sneak peek at an upcoming Pook-A-Looz that will be found in Disney Parks!
Another hot new fad that’s popped up both inside and outside Disney Parks is Rubber Band Animals. It seems everywhere you look, you can find a wrist heavily adorned with colorful creations. So what exactly are Rubber Band Animals? They are colorful rubber-band style bracelets that morph into animals when you take them off. You can stretch them, twist them, and bend them into any shape, but they always return to their original form.
Coming later this year, Disney Parks is releasing our own version of Rubber Band Animals based off your favorite Disney characters and icons. What Disney character Rubber Band Bracelets do you want to wear?
Keep an eye out for future blog posts where we’ll give you a sneak peek at the new Pook-A-Looz and Disney Character Rubber Band Bracelets that are on their way to Disney Parks!
Looking for the Ultimate Dining Experience?
posted on April 21st, 2010 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer
We found it.
We were indulged with an evening of divine tastes and plenty of pampering when we booked a table at the new Queen Victoria’s Room at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
We started our dinner with a flute of Champagne paired with four little bites: a soft poached quail egg with Galilee Caviar, popcorn-crusted Gulf shrimp, smoked salmon panna cotta with salmon caviar and crispy buffalo mozzarella.
That was just the “amuse-bouche,” or pre-dinner taste of Chef Scott Hunnel’s delicious creations. We relaxed and savored nine more courses, from cold-smoked Niman Ranch lamb with Fuji apple and curry dressing to a single stalk of beautiful white Holland asparagus, buttery Japanese Wagyu beef and a slice of Minnesaota elk tenderloin.
But the Queen Victoria’s Room is about so much more than the feast. Behind closed doors, it different from V&A’s elegant main dining room; the staff under the direction of maitre d’ Israel Perez expertly revives the European art of tableside finishes for each dish. King salmon was cooked tableside on heated pink Himalayan salt rock. Our server toasted miniature croutons for salads in each diner’s choice of imported olive oils and fine salts. Every single dish got some sort of delicious last-minute finish before our eyes.
With just four tables, you’re encouraged to savor each bite – and even to take a walk around the Grand Floridian between dinner and dessert if you choose. (This is not an evening for the impatient.) And, oh, that grand finale. Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek creates art with sugar, like our light-as-air macaroons with green apple mousse.
The restaurant has a new website, www.victoria-alberts.com. Cost for dining in the Queen Victoria’s Room is $200; add brilliant wine pairings for $95. For reservations, call 407-939-3862. A jacket is required for men. Valet parking is complimentary — and you car will be waiting at evening’s end.
UPDATED: Disney Vacation Connection Desktop Widget
posted on April 20th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks
UPDATE – June 2: The Disney Vacation Connection desktop widget is now available. You can try it by visiting DisneyVacationConnection.com and clicking the “Download Now” button. Check it out and let us know what you think.
UPDATE – 9:09 p.m. May 7: We’re aware of some downloading issues with the desktop widget. Our vendor is working on the issue right now and we hope to have this resolved as soon as we can.
UPDATE – May 7: It’s here. We’ve launched the new Disney Vacation Connection desktop widget and it’s ready for you to explore. Just visit DisneyVacationConnection.com and click the “Download Now” button. Also, if you’d like a quick tour to see what it’s all about, check out the video from our earlier “sneak peek” post below.
Today, we’re sharing a sneak peek at the new Disney Vacation Connection desktop widget –- that’s it…right there with Pluto. When you open the red suitcase on your computer screen you’ll find valuable news, calendars and information about Disney theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club. It’ll be easy to try. Just download the widget to your desktop (free of charge) and you can customize planning for your next vacation, find special events and ticket prices and create a personalized Disney vacation countdown. Here’s a quick walk through showing how it’ll work.
Disney Vacation Connection is not quite ready yet but you can sign up to receive notice when it officially launches. Also, please let us know what you think in comments.
