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Mickey Mouse Solar Panels
Credit: Disney

Disney’s Campaign for Planet Earth

April is Earth Month! Since 1970, this month was intended to raise environmental awareness around the issues facing our planet today, the beautiful nature we strive to protect, and how humans can better interact with the world around us. As an influential global figure, the Walt Disney Company took some time today to spotlight some facts about Animal Kingdom at The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The first of four images shared on Disney’s Twitter page shows safari Mickey and Minnie under a box that reads “More than 8,000 acres of Walt Disney Resort are set aside for Wildlife conservation.” In 2009 The Walt Disney Company partnered with The Conservation Fund to help protect Northern Californian forests. Some goals include safeguarding habitats and preventing deforestation.

Animal Kingdom Facts

Disney Twitter

A field of solar panels arranged in the shape of Mickey Mouse says, “Solar facilities are helping to power the magic at Walt Disney World and can generate enough renewable energy to power two of its four theme parks annually.” These 500,000 solar panels take up 270 acres. That’s half the area of Disney’s Animal Kingdom itself, which is 580 acres. By the way, Magic Kingdom is only 107 acres!

Animal Kingdom Facts

Disney Twitter

Next to flamingos bathing under the Tree of Life, a box reads “400 Million+ plants, trees, and grasses were planted during construction of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.” Because of Disney Parks’ dedication to improving its habitat for one struggling species of flamingos, innovators discovered the prosperous use for baseball clay in their habitat. Now more chicks are being born to the species of flamingo whose numbers were threatened because of destroyed habitats in the wild!

Animal Kingdom Facts

Disney Twitter

Lastly, they claim “Kilimanjaro Safaris’ vehicles operate on alternative fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” and that “compost made from Walt Disney World Food Waste fertilizes plants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.”

Animal Kingdom Facts

Disney Twitter

Earth Day (and Animal Kingdom’s 25th anniversary) are just around the corner on April 22. Walt Disney World Resort will have special offerings all month to celebrate.

READ MORE: Celebrate 25 Years of Disney’s Animal Kingdom With Delicious Treats

Disney has taken other steps to be more environmentally clean, but critics are skeptical of the company’s dedication to green initiatives. So far, Disney has installed light bulbs that consume less energy in their parks, strived to offer sustainable seafood, promoted recycling on their properties, and avoided unnecessary plastic. Solar panels in the parking lots are also an avenue to more reusable energy.

A Disney page dedicated to environmental sustainability states, “The Walt Disney Company is committed to taking meaningful and measurable action to support a healthier planet for future generations as we operate and grow our business.”

Check out the full Twitter post here:

About Lana Porter

Lana has never lost a Disney Trivia night. Maybe it’s the hundreds of times she’s been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, her love for Disney’s ’90’s era hand-animated musicals, or the fact that she’s often likened to cartoon characters, but Disney and its magic have a special place in her heart. Her favorite Disney experiences include the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, eating Mickey Bars on the PeopleMover, and crying during the Magic Kingdom fireworks show. One day she hopes to be chosen as the rebel spy on Star Tours. When Lana isn’t Park Hopping, she’s at home reading books of all topics, watching her favs on Disney+, or snuggling her two cats, which she swears are not named after Disney characters. She loves surprising people with her knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but admits she is still catching up with Star Wars. She is happy to combine her excitement for writing with her love for Disney-style storytelling and share what she can with the world!