Big Plans in Store for Walt Disney World This Month!

It’s officially Springtime and throughout all Disney Parks across the world, the spotlight is being placed upon the natural beauty of the planet we inhabit.

At Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks, Disney’s focus on nature and sustainability is clear, from the wonders of Living with the Land to the International Flower and Garden Festival.

Even Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park itself opened on Earth Day back in 1998! And this year, Disney has some big plans to honor Earth Day, coming up on April 22.

In honor of this beautiful time of year, the Walt Disney Company will be celebrating Earth Month by bringing attention to Disney Planet Possible, which are actions to inspire a brighter and more sustainable future.

One of the most ambitious projects will be taking place at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney has announced it will be constructing two new solar facilities, both are expected to be online by 2023. By adding these two new solar facilities to an already existing system, Walt Disney World will be getting 40% of its electricity needs from the Sun.

These new facilities are to be built in two separate counties so that Disney will not need to rely on the weather in just one area. One will be placed south of Walt Disney World in Polk County and the other will be placed to the north in Gilchrist County.

The Walt Disney World Company has also played a large role in the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.

Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has spent more than $120 million to help protect over 1,000 species. The Disney Conservation Team Wildlife allows Cast Members to protect the biodiversity in the areas around Disney Properties. These include efforts to provide for Monarch Butterflies habitats in California, Purple Martin birds in Florida, to save sea turtles near Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, and to even help restore coral reefs near Castaway Cay.

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom theme park will also be celebrating our beautiful planet in several ways during the month.

On April 2, 2022, Disney Parks debuted a new sand sculpture for the release of the newest DisneyNature film Polar Bear (2022), which will premiere on Disney+ on April 22, 2022.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also be celebrating Earth Day for an entire week from April 18 through April 24, 2022. During this event, Guests can learn to draw at Rafiki’s Planet Watch Conservation Station. Disney also has announced a special edition of the Disney Character Cruise that sails down Discovery River.

Guests will also be able to find some Disney PhotoPass magic as well, which will include a special Magic Shot that is located just outside the Park entrance. There will also be Limited Edition Earth Day Pins to collect, as well as special Earth Day snacks to taste.

Whether you come to learn about all the conservation that Disney has been part of around the globe, or to just simply enjoy the special character cruises down Discovery River, there is no better time to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom!