10 Ways That Walt Disney World Strives to Be Eco-Friendly

From the time it first opened, Walt Disney World has put forth efforts to make conscious, eco-friendly, and sustainable decisions. Year after year, innovative ideas have helped the company continue with these plans, continue their efforts, and improve their practices.

The Walt Disney World that we know today, has made many leaps and bounds over the years in regard to sustainability. However, the efforts to improve will never cease. Currently, there are many sustainability goals in place within the company that are set to be accomplished by the year 2030. Walt Disney World will continue its economical practices in order to improve and conserve the environment that we, the animals, and plants all share.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at ten things that Walt Disney World is currently doing in order to be more eco-friendly. Follow along to get an inside look at the efforts that Walt Disney World is taking and to learn how we, the Guests, can also help.

1. Solar Energy

Disney World currently has multiple solar arrays that help create renewable energy. The most well-known of these is the Mickey Mouse-shaped array that’s located near the roadway to EPCOT. This solar array was built in 2016 and consists of 48,000 panels that produce 5 megawatts.

While this array is located on 20 acres of land, another solar facility was built in 2019 that covers 270 acres. Here, there are half a million solar panels that produce 57-megawatts. This solar park is one of the largest in Florida and produces enough energy to power two of the four Walt Disney World theme parks.

Disney’s goal is to continue partnering with solar development companies and double the amount of solar energy that is currently being produced on property.

2. Water Conservation

To help conserve water, Disney strives to lower the amount of use whenever and wherever possible. When that is not an option, the next step is to reclaim and reuse water. At the moment, about 80% of the irrigation needs and 30% of overall water needs at Walt Disney World are met with reclaimed water.

Besides recirculating and reclaiming water, Disney is also focused on the health of local watersheds. As Disney’s environmental efforts continue, it is a goal to take part in watershed stewardship strategies that will help increase the health and growth of local and regional watersheds.

3. Food Waste Reduction

Walt Disney World takes multiple steps to reduce food waste. These efforts begin even before the food is prepared. By predicting how many meals will be served in the parks each day, Disney is able to avoid food waste right from the start.

When an excess amount of food has been prepared, rather than throwing it out, it is donated to those in need. Since 1991, Disney Harvest has been taking this excess food and donating it to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Over 220,000 pounds of food was donated from the Walt Disney World Kitchens in 2022 alone.

Walt Disney World also strives to make responsible decisions in regard to food waste. Disney’s goal is to avoid filling up landfills with their waste. Instead, food waste is sent to an off-site composting facility. Efforts are also being made on property to sustainably dispose of food waste. At Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, a biodigester was installed to manage a portion of the food waste right on property.

READ MORE – 10 Secret Things to Do at Disney World Only the Theme Park Pros Know Exist 

4. Single-Use Plastic Reduction

Since 2018, Walt Disney World has been eliminating  the use of single-use plastic items. This includes items such as single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and polystyrene cups. Instead, you’ll find more environmentally friendly utensils. Drinks at quick-services restaurants are given to Guests in paper cups that have no plastic lids. The straws that accompany these drinks are also paper. Other locations on property, such as Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co., have also joined in with these efforts. At Joffrey’s, cold drinks are served with agave straws, which are both eco-friendly and biodegradable.

If you don’t enjoy the feeling of paper straws, reusable utensils can be found in the stores on property. You can help with sustainability efforts by purchasing a pack of reusable straws. Reusable utensils, such as forks, spoons, and knives, are also available to help reduce single-use plastic waste.

5. Impactful Materials

Many of the costumes worn by Walt Disney World Cast Members are made from recycled materials. Costumes made from recycled materials can currently be found at TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, PhotoPass locations, and select dining locations.

At TRON Lightcycle / Run, the Cast Member’s costumes are made from recycled polyester. The costumes worn by Cast Members at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind are made with fabric that is made up of 70% recycled materials. Even the buttons on these costumes are made with 75% recycled materials. More impressively, the aprons worn by food and beverage Cast Members are made up entirely of recycled materials.

The newest costumes to join this movement are the ones worn by Disney PhotoPass Photographers. Featuring new, bright green shirts and blue pants, these costumes are also made with recycled materials.

6. Florida Green Lodging Leader

The Florida Green Lodging Program recognizes lodging facilities that commit to protecting natural resources. Walt Disney World is a leader of this program with 30 hotels that are Green Lodging-certified. Disney has been able to achieve this accomplishment by focusing on five key areas: water conservation, environmental education and awareness, waste reduction, energy conservation, and indoor air quality.

Walt Disney World is able to maintain this sustainable title not only thanks to the Cast Members, but through the efforts of the Guests as well. When staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, Disney requests that Guests:

• Keep the lights and TV turned off in the room when they’re not in use
• Hang up towels for reuse
• Turn off water faucets when not in use
• Utilize reusable bags, beverage containers, and dishware when available
• Recycle empty cans and and bottles in the recycling bin
• Place flattened boxes next to the recycling bin for Housekeeping to collect
• Call Housekeeping to empty the trash when the bin is full
• Avoid putting trash in the recycling bin

7. Glass Recycling

Currently, Walt Disney World has a pilot program in place for recycling glass. With the use of a glass-pulverizing machine, Disney is taking the glass that is collected from the recycling bins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and repurposing it.

The pulverizing machine crushes the glass into fine, gravel and sand-like pieces. At the moment, Disney has been taking this ground up glass and using it to fill holes on gravel roads and horseback riding trails. Disney has visions of someday using this recycled material in other areas around Walt Disney World property. Roadbeds, golf course bunkers, filtration systems, sandbags, and drainage systems are just a few places that this recycled material may be used in the future.

8. Sustainable Building Design

Walt Disney World is striving to make current and future buildings as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. At all new construction sites, 90% of construction waste will be diverted from landfills. This means that rather than sending all of the waste from construction sites to a landfill, waste will be exceptionally reduced or completely eliminated by reusing materials.

For current and existing buildings on property, Disney has and will continue to make eco-friendly advancements whenever possible. Some of the changes and improvements that have been made include chiller replacements, lighting upgrades, and the installation of energy management devices.

9. Conservation Area

Walt Disney World property covers more than 40 square miles. A portion of this land, approximately ⅓, has been set aside as a conservation area for wildlife. This area, known as the Disney Wilderness Preserve, is made up of 8,300 acres of uplands and 3,200 acres of wetlands. The preserve has had numerous conservation successes including the reintroduction of endangered species, the protection of land that was threatened by development, the protection and relocation of threatened species, and landscape-scale restoration.

10. Pollinators

Walt Disney World Resort scientists and researchers have conservation programs in place for plants and the creatures that pollinate them, such as bees, birds, and butterflies. Through their efforts, they have created pollinator habitats that these pollinators have access to year round.

These habitats, which take up 160+ acres in and around the solar arrays, are filled with a lush supply of blooms and flowers for the pollinators. Over 100 different species of pollinators and insects have come to the pollinator habitats that Disney has put together for them.

READ MORE – 20 Secret Disneyland Quiet Spots Many Regulars Don’t Even Know

Disneyland is filled with so many magical experiences, but all of the action can easily become overstimulating, and sometimes you just want a quiet spot to relax. We've compiled 20 of our favorite secret spots around the Disneyland Resort that you should check out, including quiet places to rest, underrated attractions, hidden gem spots, and more.