Celebrate Earth Day at Walt Disney World

Earth Day (April 22) is always special, but Walt Disney World makes it even more so, because both Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom get in on the celebration.

Starting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the park puts on an exciting party…The Party for the Planet. Here, guests can experience a myriad of activities to help them learn how to connect with nature and be more conscious of conservation efforts. This year’s event revolves around the upcoming Disneynature movie, Bears, which debuts in theaters on April 18. Some of the fun guests can participate in includes:

• Pick up a Party for the Planet postcard, which will found at a display located in the front of the park.
• Learn about the brown bear – a tie-in the movie, Bears.
• Take part in nature activities.
• Talk to Cast Members about worldwide conservation efforts.
• In Rafiki’s Planet Watch, take part in a game where guests learn how your supermarket purchases can make a difference to wildlife.
• Get your face painted or a caricature drawn. The emphasis will be on bear-themed designs. Both will be available for guests to experience from April 13-26.
• Find out how to make your backyard wildlife friendly.
• Vendors will be selling “green” products from April 21-23.
• A special Duffy the Disney Bear will be for sale. He will be dressed in a safari costume and for every one of these bears sold, $1 will be donated to the National Parks Foundation, in celebration of Bears. This special Duffy will be available until April 30.

Speaking of the movie Bears, during the first week (April 18-24), for every ticket purchased, Disneynature will make a donation through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to protect wildlife. If you can’t make it to one of the theme parks, at least find a theater near you showing this film and help give back!

Finally, celebrate at Epcot by visiting The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Here guests will be able to explore the aquariums and learn how sea life, such as coral reefs, sharks, manatees, etc, are being protected. They will also get to learn how to use turtle excluder devices to protect sea turtles. At the VISION House, found in Innoventions, guests can learn about sustainable living in this “green” home. Also, guests will be able to participate in the game where you learn how grocery store purchases can help make a difference in wildlife conservation.

It’s always great when Disney’s theme parks puts an emphasis on the edu-tainment factor, and with events like this, I believe they are extremely successful in creating excitement for all. It sounds like a lot of fun will happen at Walt Disney World during Earth Day!