FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) designs programs that motivate K-12 students to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The organization’s mentor-based programs include the FIRST Lego League, which uses team robotics activities and competitions to inspire students.

“Over the years I’ve seen what a difference FIRST participation makes for students and I continue to be inspired by their teamwork and problem solving,” Hale said. “Through FIRST we are engaging students in science and technology in a way that will stay with them forever and have a direct impact on their education and careers.”

Greg Hale has volunteered with FIRST for 19 years, serving on the FIRST advisory board and helping to run and judge events in Orlando and other locations and serving as master of ceremony for the annual regional competition every year since it began at Kennedy Space Center. The competition now is held at the University of Central Florida.

Greg leads a global team that keeps Disney on the leading edge of theme park safety, accessibility for guests with disabilities, and technology advancements.

Entering its 30^th year, the Disney Dreamers & Doers program recognizes students who have a caring spirit, consistently demonstrate outstanding character and lead by example. The group of students receiving the Shining Star distinction includes a third grader who organized several food collection drives; a sixth grader who used social media to find homes for rescued animals and a high school senior who volunteered 1,350 hours helping people in need.

“We all know dreamers and we all know doers,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of community relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “What makes these students so outstanding – true Shining Stars – is that they are dreamers who take positive steps to make their dreams a reality. They are changing our communities and our world, providing inspiration to their peers and giving us hope for a brighter future.”

Approximately 400 students were chosen by their schools as 2013 Disney Dreamer & Doer. From that group, a panel of judges selected the Shining Stars from elementary, middle and high schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties as well as the Florida Virtual School.

“Having a Disney Dreamer & Doer as well as a Shining Star is a proud moment for Timber Creek High School,” said Gabriel Berrio, principal of the school. “It adds to our excitement and to the pride we already have for our students and our community.”

Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars receive a Mickey Mouse statue known as a “Mousecar,” a gold medallion and annual theme park passes for themselves and their immediate family.

The 2013 Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars are:

 Orange County

• West Creek Elementary School – Robert Sena
• Orangewood Christian Middle School – Nicholas Christian Reed
• Timber Creek High School -Jessica Velázquez

Osceola County

• St. Cloud Elementary School – Angelika Pabón
• Trinity Lutheran – Rebecca Dupuis
• Celebration High School – Jaime Kaplan-Perico

Seminole County

• Lake Mary Elementary School – Mary Tracy
• Annunciation Catholic Academy – Hannah Veigle
• The Master’s Academy – Kasen Raines

Lake County

• Umatilla Elementary School – Annagrace Hall
• Eustis Middle School – Camryn Rivers
• South Lake High School – Heather LeBlanc

Polk County

• Auburndale Central Elementary School – Jennifer Morales
• Lawton Chiles Middle Academy – Holt Russell
• All Saints Academy – Maxwell Hewett

 Florida Virtual School

• Bailey Ansbaugh

To date, more than 12,400 students have been recognized as Disney Dreamers & Doers. The program is just one of the ways that Walt Disney World Resort actively supports education in Central Florida. In the past year, Disney’s involvement has included Disney Helping Kids Shine grants for local school districts and early learning coalitions, more than 18,000 hours donated by Disney VoluntEARS at local schools and more than 3 million school supplies donated to students at the start of the school year.

2013 SHINING STARS – LAKE COUNTY

Elementary School

Umatilla Elementary – 3^rd grade

Annagrace Hall began a food drive at her school after realizing that one of her friends was among the many recipients of a backpack program that provides meals to those in need. She wondered what would happen if the school’s pantry ran out of food, and felt she needed to take action. The drive was a huge success, allowing her to provide families with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners, holiday gifts and gift cards for families to use in the summer months.  Her “small” idea blossomed into more than she expected, and she is now planning for her second annual holiday drive. One of Annagrace’s teachers admires her for wanting to help so many people at such a young age.  She describes her as an exceptional child with a sense of caring and commitment.

Middle School

Eustis Middle School – 8^th  grade

Camryn Rivers has been involved in various charities such as Kids Against Hunger, March of Dimes, and raising dollars for Haiti.  When a teacher was diagnosed with cancer and was in danger of losing her life without proper medication, Camryn took action to help. Camryn organized a 5K race, including the sale of t-shirts and team bracelets.  To her surprise, over 700 participants attended to show their support, and her profit was $15,000. These dollars were donated to her teacher to assist in her recovery. One of Camryn‘s teachers said that she is dedicated to her studies and helping people in need.  She describes what an honor it is to know her, and that in her case, the student has inspired the teacher.

High School

South Lake High – 11^th grade

Heather LeBlanc discovered that a local animal services facility was euthanizing animals. She decided to become involved so that innocent animals could go to deserving, loving homes.  She and her cousin opened Misfit Animal Rescue. Heather takes the animals from the facility for vaccinations and finds loving, fur-ever homes for them.  She has also attended city council meetings, and the county is now working on a resolution to save these animals as well.  Since her involvement, over 150 impounded dogs and cats have been saved. One of Heather‘s teachers said that she has made significant impact in her county.  While many students are spending weekends on the beach, she is focused on humanitarian efforts.

 2013 SHINING STARS – ORANGE COUNTY

Elementary School

West Creek Elementary – 5^th grade

Robert Sena has overcome challenges with a positive attitude and optimism.  After a job loss forced his family to move into a motel, Robert felt compelled to help others.  He volunteers at Coalition for the Homeless, and also speaks to both students and adults about healthy life habits. Robert recently applied for and received two grants to support his passion for encouraging a healthier generation.  One grant will fund a new vegetable garden at his school, and the other will be used for a garden at the Community Food & Outreach Center. One of Robert‘s teachers said that he shows true dedication to his community and his academics.  He is involved in many activities and sets a wonderful example for his peers.

Middle School

Orangewood Christian Middle – 8^th  grade

Nicholas Christian Reed has a best friend.  His brother is a musician, equestrian, swimmer, and has a love for traveling. Nicholas said his brother is severely autistic, and his family’s biggest blessing.  He teaches his brother as much as his brother teaches him, and it is his job to protect and love him. Nicholas believes he is lucky one to have the best brother anyone could want. Although his brother is the true Dreamer & Doer, he can’t tell his story, so Nicholas will just tell others about his many gifts.   The relationship they have inspires Nicholas to make his home, school and community a better place. One of Nicholas‘s teachers said that he commits his time and service to others with specific needs.  He leads and practices a lifestyle to emulate, and excels in all areas of service.

High School

Timber Creek High – 12^th grade

Jessica Velazquez leads service-learning projects at her school and the community.  Her 1,350 hours of volunteering include a variety of activities from preserving the environment to clothing and food drives to helping migrant farm workers and those who are homeless. Although Jessica has faced emotional and financial hardship like others, she feels that helping has infused her life with hope and joy.  She encourages others to take action and participate now in order to make a difference in the lives of others. One of Jessica‘s teachers describes her as role model and leader.  As a foster child, she has faced difficulties, yet she focuses her energy on the well-being of others.

2013 SHINING STARS – OSCEOLA COUNTY

Elementary School

St. Cloud Elementary – 5^th grade

Angelika Pabon’s visit to a homeless shelter made her realize how blessed she is to have a safe place to live.  It inspired her to start a donation drive to give pajamas to those in need.  To date, she and her Girl Scout troop have donated 625 pajamas to shelters, foster homes, and children in hotels. Angelika has begun reaching out to farmers’ markets and rotary clubs to collect socks and underwear for foster children.  She understands that collecting these items is not the same as providing a safe home, but she feels her efforts create awareness in the community to help more children in need. One of her teachers describes Angelika‘s desire to give to others as very mature for someone her age.  She strives to ensure that all students feel valued and included in activities.

Middle School

Trinity Lutheran – 8^th grade

Rebecca Dupuis is drawn to help others.  She has volunteered at various places such as the Orlando Science Center and Teen Court, and sponsors a child at the Village of Hope in Haiti.  She enjoys sending letters to soldiers in Afghanistan, and appreciates what soldiers do to help all children. Volunteering helps Rebecca feel she can make a difference, and has taught her how lucky she is to have the life she has.  Her view is that a community works when its members practice basic human decency and are considerate and helpful to one another. One of Rebecca‘s teachers said that her positive spirit and academic drive make a difference in her community.  She helps classmates and promotes school pride through her volunteer projects.

High School

Celebration High – 12^th grade

Jaime Kaplan-Perico builds relationships with students in her intern role with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida.  At first she did not understand their choices or their hardships, until she took the time to listen to their tales of homelessness, illness, and isolation. Jaime said the children have taught her how to be more patient and to better appreciate the simple things in life.  When a student thanked her for listening to her and allowing her to express her feelings, it melted her heart.  This confirmed her important role with the “club kids.” One of Jaime‘s teachers said she demonstrates kindness to those who face difficulties.  She is involved with other organizations and has become an advocate for those in need. 

2013 SHINING STARS - POLK COUNTY

Elementary School

Auburndale Central Elementary – 4^th grade

Jennifer Morales helps her 4 year old brother to read, write, and learn his letters.  Because he has a hard time sitting still, she makes learning fun, such as creating an alphabetical train to teach him letters, or going on an alphabetical treasure hunt. She wants him to get a step closer to his future. Jennifer‘s brother speaks in Spanish during the day, but switches to English when she gets home.  She teaches him big words, like hypothesis and onomatopoeia. Jennifer said that teaching him helps her too, and because learning is fun, he is always eager to learn. One of Jennifer‘s teachers describes her as a leader, both in school and at home.  She is not afraid to try new things and does her best all the time.  She can do whatever she puts her mind to.

Middle School

Lawton Chiles Middle Academy – 8^th  grade

Holt Russell is a kite surfer and owner of Rejoyce Cotton Candy.  After meeting a 2-year old in Guatemala who had been left in a garbage can by a mother who could not care for him, he decided to focus his efforts on building an orphanage for children in Africa. Holt‘s company is named after his grandmother Joyce, who had an enormous heart for orphans.  His cotton candy machine appears at many community events and he even went kite surfing from Miami to the Florida Keys to raise money for his cause. One of Holt‘s teachers said that he gives 100% to anything he does.  He is respectful, kind, and makes the extra effort to help other students and teachers.

High School

All Saints Academy – 12^th grade

For the past 5 years, Maxwell Hewett has accompanied his father, who is a dentist, to Guatemala to provide dental services in impoverished communities.  Parents in these communities must pay $8 per month to send their children to school, yet families cannot afford to pay this amount. Maxwell created a nonprofit with his sister called the Guatemala Awareness Project.  On one of their trips, they purchased 500 handmade bracelets that are sold here, and all profits are sent to Guatemala so that more students are able to enroll in school. One of Maxwell‘s teachers said that while most students spend their summers improving themselves, he spends his free time improving the lives of others.  He is more than a dreamer – he is a doer.

2013 SHINING STARS – SEMINOLE COUNTY

Elementary School

Lake Mary Elementary – 5^th grade

Mary Tracy has 4 siblings.  Her brother and sister have extra needs, and she helps her family by doing a variety of chores.  When her brother is afraid during thunderstorms, she sits with him.  When her sister needs help in her wheelchair, she makes her comfortable so she can breathe better. Mary‘s involvement in Girl Scouts allows her to also help others in need through volunteer projects.  She knows she is not doing things that matter to the world, but she is doing things that matter to those she loves.  She doesn’t believe she has changed the world, but she knows she has changed herself. One of Mary‘s teachers describes her as kind, caring, and responsible.  Both Mary and her family work together to make the world a better place through kindness and good deeds.

Middle School

Annunciation Catholic Academy – 8^th grade

Hannah Veigle was diagnosed with diabetes in fifth grade. Although others felt she would have limits, Hannah wanted to prove them wrong.  She started a walk team called Hannah’s Troops and has raised over $20,000 to fight juvenile diabetes. Hannah is active in other activities as well.  She has a pen pal in Haiti who is an orphan and fighting HIV.  Her pen pal inspires her and she hopes to meet her someday.  She describes diabetes as a gift that pushes her to put her best foot forward, always be optimistic, and actively pursue her dreams. One of Hannah‘s teachers admires her positive outlook and behaviors.  She could have felt sorry for herself after her diagnosis, but instead used it as an opportunity to help others.

High School

The Master’s Academy – 12^th grade

Kasen Raines found her passion while working in India in 2009.  She undertook a project to rescue girls from slavery, and through this experience learned the power of listening, sharing, and hope.  When she returned to the US, she began mentoring girls struggling with self-image and other issues. Kasen‘s efforts have resulted in the collection of over 550 phones for Harbor House to help victims of child slavery.  She also tutors students and serves as a mentor for several girls.  She does not want to ignore the pain of those around her, and continues in her campaign to help girls around the world. One of Kasen‘s teachers describes how her global perspective and outreach has touched the lives of students and teachers.  Her cell phone drive was creative and inspirational. 

2013 SHINING STAR – FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL

Florida Virtual School – 6^th grade

Bailey Ansbaugh went on a trip to Osceola County Animal Control, and that sparked a passion.  When she found out she was too young to volunteer, she decided to collect loads of newspapers, blankets, and comfort items to make the dogs more comfortable. Her next project was to find homes willing to adopt.  Her first puppy save was a pit bull who was not going to be kept at the center very long, so she knew she had to do something fast.  She began a Facebook campaign and was able to find a home for Cookie. One of Bailey‘s teachers said that because of her involvement, animals have many of the supplies needed for their care.  She continues her work on finding homes for all the animals.

From the instant a Guest starts planning their Walt Disney World Resort vacation to the moment they begin their return home, the focus is on delivering legendary Guest service and one-of-a-kind experiences. Since Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971, the company has relied on Cast Members to exceed the expectations of the millions of diverse Guests who visit the resort each year.

By the Numbers
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, approximately 5,500 Cast Members worked at Walt Disney World Resort. Today, the resort is the largest single-site employer in the United States, employing more than 66,000 Cast Membersin more than 3,000 different job classifications. The average tenure of a Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member is eight years.

Cast Member Offerings
In recognition of the magic Cast Members create for Guests each and every day, Walt Disney World Resort offers a wide variety of programs, services and benefits that are designed to make a difference in Cast Members’ lives.

• Walt Disney WorldResort offers competitive pay and benefits, including several options for medical, dental and vision coverage, to eligible Cast Members and their dependents. Members of all health plans also receive free preventive care.

• The Center for Living Well Family Healthcare offers integrated medical care and convenience for Disney CIGNA-enrolled Cast and their families. Access to doctors, lab and X-ray services and a pharmacy is all provided in one on-site location. Confidentiality is held in the highest regard and busy schedules are easily accommodated.

• Disney offers an innovative collection of programs, tools and resources that Cast Members and their families can use to improve their health. The wide range of wellness offerings include personal health assessments, free, on-site screenings, flu vaccinations, physical activity programs, discounted weight loss programs, an on-site gym, healthy food options in cafeterias and vending machines, a customized wellness website and specialized programs and support groups for Cast Members with chronic conditions.  Eligible Cast Members, spouses and partners can even earn extra cash in their paychecks by participating in the Wellness Rewards program.

• Disney supports Cast Members with their everyday life needs. Personal Life Resources offered by LifeCare®provide Cast Members on-site seminars and access to information and resources to assist with parenting, childcare, aging, eldercare, financial and legal needs and more. From plumbers to pet sitters, homework help to home remodeling, specialists are ready to do the legwork and tell Cast Members and their families who is reliable, available and in their budget – all for free.

• Walt Disney Parks & Resorts leaders are committed to cultivating our organizational vibrancy by embedding diversity, inclusion and multicultural thinking into our business. This helps to foster collaboration, innovation and continuous learning to deliver the best possible experience for our Guests and our community. Diversity Resource Groups and a Diversity Council represent two forums where Cast actively engage in fostering a community where everyone feels welcomed, appreciated and valued.

• Equipping Cast Members with the skills they need to move forward in their careers is a commitment Disney takes seriously. Thousands of Cast Members enroll each year at Disney University, which offers more than 225 classes on topics ranging from hospitality management to basic computer skills. Other popular offerings include Disney Learning Centers, which are located throughout property and provide library and computer resources and The Walt Disney Company’s tuition reimbursement program.

• The Central Florida YMCA at Walt Disney World Resort offers two on-site childcare facilities for Cast Members. The centers offer extended days and hours of operation, opportunities for discounted tuition rates based on need, back-up care for when a primary provider is not available and affordable summer camp at Mickey’s Retreat at Little Lake Bryan.

• Grocery items are offered to Cast Members at near-wholesale prices at a convenient on-site store reflecting Disney’s commitment to providing affordable, healthier options for its employees. From fresh fruits and vegetables to bread, rice and pasta, items represent every category of the food pyramid and are the same high-quality ingredients served daily at Walt Disney World Resort restaurants.

• Cast Members may use pre-tax dollars, which are automatically deducted from their paychecks, to pay formonthly bus passes on Lynx. Using pre-tax dollars results in a potential savings of 15 to 35 percent each month, depending on individual tax status.

• Walt Disney WorldResort and Disney’s Personal Life Resources, sponsored by LifeCare®, partner with businesses locally and throughout the country to offer Cast Members special discounts on products and services such as food, merchandise, travel and more. Internet access to the hundreds of available discounts ensures Cast Members have convenient access day or night.

Eligible Cast Members receive free theme park admission at all four Walt Disney World Resorttheme parks, as well as the theme parks at Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Resort Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. While enjoying the parks, Cast Members are eligible for a number of merchandise and food and beverage discounts.

• Whether it’s learning Tai Chi or striking a batter out, Cast Members can pursue a variety of recreational offeringsthat bring the magic of Disney to their leisure activities. Cast-exclusive events are held throughout the year and all Cast Members have access to Mickey’s Retreat at Little Lake Bryan, a 19-acre recreation facility that offers swimming, a children’s play area, picnic pavilions, an all-purpose sports field and volleyball, tennis and basketball courts.

• Walt Disney WorldResort has a long tradition of recognizing Cast Members for their years of service and celebrating its highest performers. Today, the company continues this tradition of showing appreciation for our Cast Member’s service and commitment in a number of ways including service celebrations, annual Cast appreciation events, local recognition programs specific to departments and through the newly created Walt Disney Legacy award program, which honors top-performers around the globe.

Relationship with Unions
Since before Walt Disney World Resort opened, it has worked with union organizations. Throughout the decades as the business has expanded, union labor has continued to play a role. Hundreds of labor agreements have been successfully negotiated with dozens of labor unions, representing more than 38,000 Cast Members.

Additional Magic Makers
In addition to Disney Cast Members, thousands of other workers employed by businesses that operate at Walt Disney World Resort play an important role in delivering the magic. Walt Disney World Resort has worked closely with such businesses since before the resort opened in 1971, enabling it to offer the best possible service and diversity of offerings to Guests, achieve efficiencies that make investment in other areas of the business possible and adapt to market conditions.

All of these types of businesses are required to uphold the strong tradition of Guest service that is the hallmark of the Disney experience. Over the years, Walt Disney World Resort has forged several long-term relationships that have enabled these businesses, including some which are small and/or minority-owned, to thrive and grow.

Today we have over 120 Operating Participants that employ over 15,000 employees in 200 locations, including theme parks, resorts, water parks, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and the Downtown Disney area. Currently, we have six of the pavilions at Epcot World Showcase, which are Operating Participating locations (China, Mexico, France, Italy, Morocco and Japan). There are Operating Participant entertainment facilities at Downtown Disney like Cirque du Soleil, House of Blues and the AMC Theaters.

The YMCA childcare facilities, Hess gas stations, Cast cafeterias, transportation and Disney’s Magical Express services are just a few more examples of Operating Participant businesses which on any given day play a critical role in delivering a magical Guest experience and providing these experiences in a manner that is seamless for our Guests.

• Four theme parks
• Two water parks
• Twenty-five resort hotels, including seven Disney Vacation Club properties
• Five golf courses
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Downtown Disney

New Developments 
Just as Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed,” Walt Disney World Resort “will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” New projects are always in development and on the horizon, including:

• Fantasyland - The largest expansion project in Magic Kingdom history began opening in 2012 at Walt Disney World Resort, featuring attractions and experiences in an area that doubles the size of Fantasyland. New elements include: Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Gaston’s Tavern, Ariel’s Grotto, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Great Goofini and Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station. In 2013, Princess Fairytale Hall is expected to open, where Aurora, Cinderella and other Disney princesses, such as Tiana and Rapunzel, will greet Guests in an elegant royal court.And a 2014 opening is now scheduled for The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, taking Guests on a musical ride into the mine “where a million diamonds shine.”

• Splitsville - Located in Downtown Disney, Splitsville offers an upscale bowling and dining experience that’s perfect for families and Guests of all ages. Spanning 50,000 square feet and two floors, Splitsville has 30 lanes and an impressive menu featuring fresh sushi rolls, gourmet burgers, hand-tossed pizzas and salads.

• Test Track Presented by Chevrolet - Puts Guests in the driver’s seat for a thrilling experience and immersion into the world of auto design and performance. As part of an all-new interactive queue, Guests can create their own virtual concept vehicles prior to buckling into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and putting their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.

• The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow - The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow debuted at the end of 2012 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios giving Walt Disney World Resort Guests a chance to become immersed in the world of the four “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. Aspiring pirates experience the story of Jack Sparrow like never before to discover if they have what it takes to join Captain Jack’s crew. The attraction is located in Soundstage 4, former space of Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian. 

• Four Seasons Resort Orlando - The 900-acre luxury resort residential community of Golden Oak, anchored by the prestigious Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, is scheduled to open in 2014. The development, along the northeast border of the property, will include a luxury hotel, 18-hole championship golf course, single- and multi-family vacation homes and fractional ownership vacation homes.

• AVATAR -Walt Disney Imagineers are currently in the design stage for AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life creating themed lands that will give Guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected begin in 2013 and project of this size typically takes approximately five years to design and build. 

New Experiences 
Disney Parks offer new immersive experiences and updates to several Guest favorites. Here’s what’s new:  

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort - A new resort hotel inspired by Disney animation features 1,120 family suites themed after “The Lion King,” “Cars” and “Finding Nemo,” and 864 themed rooms in “The Little Mermaid” wings. Animation themes carry throughout building exteriors and room interiors and feature larger-than-life icons from the animated films in courtyard areas. Crowned by a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

• Disney Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure (Epcot)- Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure is based on the wily secret-agent alter-ego of Perry the Platypus – faithful pet to the title characters from Disney’ Channel’s animated series “Phineas & Ferb.” Transforming into secret agents, Epcot Guests will use a “high-tech secret agent device” to scour World Showcase for clues, evil “Inators” and – with a little bit of luck – help Agent P defeat his nemesis Dr. Doofenshmirtz. 

• Tutto Gusto (Epcot)  - Located adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy pavilion, Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar is a more intimate space complete with stonewalls, vaulted ceilings and a fireplace in the dining room. Inspired by an atmospheric Italian wine bar, Tutto Gusto features a small-plate menu plus more than 200 Italian wines, as well as beers, grappa and other libations.

• New interactive queues (Magic Kingdom) – As part of New Fantasyland, the all-new queue at the reopened “Dumbo” is now open for children and families to enjoy. The innovative queue area completely redefines what it means to prepare for a Disney attraction as a “circus ticket” pager holds a Guest’s place in line and notifies them when it’s their turn to fly with Dumbo. Our youngest Guests can also play in the fully-immersive, transformed queue at the “Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh.” The entry to this classic Fantasyland attraction entertains youngsters with drum playing and gopher surprises in Rabbit’s Garden, tiny playhouses to climb through and amazing special effects at Pooh’s Hunny Hives. Guests who dare to enter “The Haunted Mansion” will find frightful fun in a new courtyard queue that brings them into an expanded, interactive graveyard. The area features a ghoulish organ, a wall of unusual musical instruments Guests can “orchestrate,” a chance to complete a rhyme with the Decomposing Composer and photo opportunities with favorite spirits from the beloved attraction.  

• Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom - Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort features a brand-new interactive experience enabling Guests to defeat the Disney Villains. Armed with magic spells in the form of special cards, players must search for the symbols that lead them to the animated villains’ hiding places. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom will be included as part of park admission.

• The Exotics Course featuring “supercars” (Walt Disney World Speedway) - The Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Resort now features a brand-new adrenaline rush, the “Exotic Driving Experience.” The “Exotics Course” at Walt Disney World Speedway, a new one-mile circuit custom-built for the attraction, is home to a riding experience for Guests in “supercars” by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi and Porsche. Thrill-seekers can get behind the wheel of these epic vehicles and navigate a circuit offering rapid-acceleration straight-away with a skill-testing course of turn-on-a-dime maneuvers. 

New Niche Rooms Add Magic at Disney Resorts
Over the next year, new Walt Disney World Resort hotel rooms will enable Guests to sleep like visiting Disney royalty during their vacation.

• When Walt Disney World Resort Guests stay in the Royal Guest Rooms at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside, they’ll discover special treasures left behind by the stars of favorite animated films such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Princess and the Frog.” In quarters befitting not only the young Princes and Princesses of the family but also their grown-up King and Queen parents, Guests can unwind amid remarkable décor. They’ll be able to watch “fireworks” swirl as they recline in ornate beds, curl up in custom linens and more. It’s majesty and fun, all rolled into one. Each of the 512 Royal Guest Rooms sleeps up to four Guests in two queen beds.

Customization and Personalization
Walt Disney World Resort Guests can personalize and customize their vacations like never before:

• “Magic Your Way” ticketing and packages allow Guests to create their own Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Ticket-holders can customize their Walt Disney World Resort theme park visits by adding components to the base ticket such as park-hopping, water parks or other vacation fun.  The savings grow the longer a Guest stays.

• Specialized vacation planning tools addressing topics such as”Traveling With Little Ones” and “Affordable Vacation Options” can be found on www.disneyworld.com. This resource has special offers and helps Guests customize their vacation itinerary to suit interests as well as considerations such as age, height restrictions and medical needs.

Technology
Technology enables Walt Disney World Resort to continue to take storytelling and Guest service to new heights:

• My Disney Experience is a free mobile application designed to help Guests make the most of their experience while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. The app offers a digital guide to the magic, including detailed maps with GPS and in-park navigation that provide a vivid, accurate representation of the theme parks, resorts and other on-property points of interest. My Disney Experience helps Guests find Character locations and times, park hours, wait times and nearby attractions and services.  Guests can book dining reservations with the app, share plans with family and friends and get detailed attraction information.  Some features will require Guests to create an account and sign in to activate functionality. The app is available free in the App Store and via Google Play.

• Disney’s Handheld Assistive Technology Device - this first-of-a-kind Disney-designed device for Guests who have hearing and visual disabilities uses wireless technology to combine handheld captioning, video-captioning activation, amplified audio and detailed audio description into one small, easy-to-use resource that seamlessly works with show elements in select attractions. Newly enhanced with an interactive audio menu, the device fits in the palm of a Guest’s hand.

• Ears to the World, Disney’s Show Translator - International visitorsto Walt Disney World Resort are able to take advantage of a personal translation device called Ears to the World, Disney’s Show Translator. These units are lightweight headsets that utilize cutting-edge wireless technology to provide synchronized narration at several popular theme park attractions in five languages. Wireless signals throughout key attractions trigger digital audio recordings in each unit – providing real-time translation in French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish.

• Disney’s PhotoPass - using the latest digital equipment and Disney-engineered technology, photographers take photos of Guests throughout the theme parks. Instead of receiving a paper claim ticket, Guests receive a Disney’s PhotoPass card that links all of their vacation photos taken by Disney photographers together into one online account. Guests can go online to www.disneyphotopass.com to easily view, share and order their photos, order a CD of all their Disney’s PhotoPass images, and more.

• Disney’s FASTPASS - Disney’s antidote to line-standing is offered at a selection of popular attractions in all four theme parks. Guests who choose to get a FASTPASS receive a ticket with a designated one-hour-long window of time when they can return and skip the regular line. Guests don’t have to choose FASTPASS: there’s a standby line at all attractions. Disney’s FASTPASS costs theme park Guests nothing extra. Since its debut, more than 350 million FASTPASS tickets have been issued.

Resort Hotel Benefits
In all, there are 25 themed, Disney-owned-and-operated resorts, ranging from value to deluxe villas. While Walt Disney World Resort provides magical moments for everyone, Guests staying at these Walt Disney World Resort hotels are able to take advantage of special perks:

• An Online Check-In Service, designed to simplify and streamline Guest arrivals, is complimentary and available to Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts. Within 10 days of their arrival, Guests are able to provide check-in information, advise the resort of their arrival times and request room preferences. Guests can also register the names of all the people in their party and provide a credit card to cover charges. Upon arrival at their resorts, Guests visit a special welcome location where their room keys and other registration materials are waiting for them.

• The Walt Disney World Transportation System of buses, monorails and boat launches combines to connect virtually all areas of the Vacation Kingdom. With the convenience of “door-to-door” service throughout the resort, many Guests enjoy their Walt Disney World Resort vacation without a car.

• Guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can add fun to their day with the Extra Magic Hoursbenefit. Each day, one of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks opens one hour early or stays open up to three hours later for Walt Disney World Resort Guests, providing extra time in the parks to experience select attractions.

• Guests who prefer to include dining in their vacation packages can choose from several Walt Disney World Resort Magic Your Way vacation packages that include a Disney Dining Plan,Disney resort hotel accommodations and Magic Your Way tickets. The Disney Dining Plans feature a variety of meal and snack entitlements – both in terms of the type of restaurants Guests can visit and the number of meals and snacks included with the plans.

Dining
From fast casual to five-diamond, there are more than 300 places to dine across Walt Disney World Resort and more than 6,000 food items available for Guests. The resort also is the largest single-site purveyor of wine in the world and has more sommeliers than any other company in the world. 

Merchandise
Whether it’s an unforgettable souvenir or an extravagant gift for someone special, Walt Disney World Resort is a shopper’s paradise of more than 300 unique stores. Package pick-up located near the front entrance of each theme park and hotel delivery is available at no charge.

Services for Guests with Disabilities 
Guests with disabilities are able to utilize many special services and facilities available to them throughout Walt Disney World Resort. From handheld captioning for the hearing impaired to unique ride vehicles at Toy Story Mania that provide access for Guests using wheelchairs, Walt Disney World Resort is focused on meeting the needs of all Guests.

Disney contributes to the local community in many ways – through the millions of dollars in taxes it generates for local governments, the leadership it provides on important community issues, the cash and in-kind support it provides local non-profit organizations and the thousands of volunteer hours given by Cast Members.

Economic Impact
A study by Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics released in April 2011 shows the magic Disney makes for Guests at its parks and resorts and on its cruise ships translates into a strong economic impact not only in Central Florida but across the state.

• The $18.2 billion in annual economic activity generated locally by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts accounts for 2.5 percent of Florida’s gross domestic product.

• Of the 7.2 million Floridians in the workforce in 2009, more than one out of every 50 had a job that can be directly or indirectly tied to the operations of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Locally, 6 percent of all jobs in Central Florida can be attributed to Disney’s operations.

• In Central Florida, Cast Members at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts earned a total of nearly $1.8 billion during FY2009. Across Florida, when direct and indirect jobs are taken into account, more than $6 billion in paychecks can be attributed directly or indirectly to Disney’s operations.

• Each year Walt Disney Parks and Resorts purchases more than $2 billion worth of goods and services. Nearly $1 billion is paid to vendors with a presence in the state and approximately $500 million goes to vendors in Central Florida.

• Spending by Disney Guests at businesses outside the resort area totaled nearly $1.7 billion in FY2009. This includes hotel and lodging expenditures, meals at local restaurants, retail purchases’ and transportation expenditures.

• When taking the amount Disney pays in taxes and subtracting the money for the various government services used by Guests and Cast Members, the net benefit to Florida and all localities is more than $400 million. In Central Florida, Orange County sees a net benefit of more than $100 million and Osceola County sees a net benefit of almost $10 million.

Revenue for Central Florida Governments
Disney is the largest taxpayer in Central Florida, paying approximately $566 million in state and local taxes each year.

• Walt Disney World Resort pays approximately $95 million annually in ad valorem taxes; an estimated $82.5 million is paid to Orange County and more than $12.5 million to Osceola County. 

• In Orange County, Disney pays more in taxes than thenext 10 highest county taxpayers combined. Approximately $44 million of those funds go directly to education.

• Disney generated approximately 34 percent of the Tourist Development Taxes collected in Orange Countyand approximately 25 percent of these taxes in Osceola County in 2010.

• Disney paid or collected more than $406 million in state sales, use and communications taxes and local resort taxes for the surrounding communities in 2010.

• In addition to the county taxes, Walt Disney World Resort paid more than $69 million in taxes to the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 2011. These tax dollars go toward building hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers.

Community Leadership
Walt Disney World Resort is committed to providing leadership that will continue to help Central Florida thrive and grow. Approximately 120 Disney Cast Members serve on the boards of local nonprofit organizations.
Recent initiatives in which Walt Disney World Resort has played an active role include:

• Contributing to the well being of children in Central Florida - The new Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children was made possible in part by a $10 million commitment by Disney. Disney Imagineers designed the hospital’s lobby, which features supporting characters from classic Disney films in a welcoming, healing environment that places young patients in the starring role. Walt Disney World Resort also contributed $1 million to build the Walt Disney World Clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and $750,000 for a teen center in the Tupperware Brands Boys & Girls Club in Osceola County.

• Building the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Disney pledged a $12.5 million contribution to sponsor the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, the largest of the halls at the center. With a grand opening scheduled in 2014, the performing arts center will be significant to the cultural growth of Central Florida and a premiere destination for the arts in Orlando.

• Support of Commuter Rail -Recognizing the region’s need for more mass transit options, Disney supports SunRail, which will create new ways for commuters to reach their jobs, new access to existing businesses and new chances to further diversify Central Florida’s economy and create jobs.

• Further diversifying Florida’s economy - Walt Disney World Resort leaders were actively engaged in the development of a medical city at Lake Nona, working closely with Central Florida leaders to bring the Burnham Institute to Central Florida and help to make the dream of a University of Central Florida Medical School a reality. Both projects are expected to help diversify and drive the region’s economy for years to come.

• Walt Disney World Resort donated $500,000 toward construction of Second Harvest Food Bank’s new facility opening in March 2013. 

Investing in Central Florida’s Children and Families
Walt Disney World Resort’s community programs and partnerships are focused on building better futures for local children, and ultimately, creating a stronger community for everyone. These efforts are geared toward helping families meet basic needs, youth development and education.

In 2012, the company donated more than $30 million in cash and in-kind support to local nonprofit organizations. Examples include:

• Walt Disney World Resort gave a total of $1.5 million in Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants to 59 local nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to build better futures for more than 70,000 children in Central Florida. Among the top recipients were Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, A Gift For Music, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.

• Walt Disney World Resort is a valued partner to Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, which for the past few years has been recognized as one of the top Disney’s Helping Kids Shine grant recipients. As part of this recognition, the Coalition continues to receive ongoing comprehensive support from Disney, which includes board service, assistance in the maintenance and improvement of Coalition facilities, approximately 750 monthly meal donations prepared by Disney chefs and donations of warm clothing in the winter.

• 2011 marked the 20^th anniversary of the Disney Harvest program.  More than 340,000 pounds of prepared and un-served food were donated to the local community through Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

• Walt Disney World Resort’s excess inventory continued to meet the needs of many non-profit organizations in Central Florida. Merchandise and in-kind product donations in 2012 were valued at nearly $4 million.

• Disney continued to be the primary sponsor of the A Gift For Music program which is part of A Gift for Teaching, with a $100,000 donation. A Gift For Music provides, at no cost, instruction on stringed instruments to students who normally could not afford such an opportunity.

In addition, Walt Disney World Resort is the largest corporate contributor to the Heart of Florida United Way. In 2012 Disney Cast Membersdonated more than $3.4 million to the United Way to help non-profit agencies meet social services needs in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

VoluntEARS Show Character 
In 2012, Disney VoluntEARS gave 216,000 hours toward improving the lives of Central Floridians, ranging from donating more than 3.1 million school supplies to local students, to serving more than 9,000 meals to the homeless. Nearly 700 Walt Disney World VoluntEARS received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the White House for contributing more than 100 hours of service. VoluntEAR efforts include:

• In 2010, all Walt Disney World Resort hotels began supporting Clean the World by collecting discarded bath soaps, shampoos and lotions. Recently, efforts were expanded to include Disney resort hotels in California and Hawaii. To date, Disney hotels have donated 86 tons of soap and bottled amenities to Clean the World, not only diverting that waste from landfills, but providing useful products for those in need.

• In August 2012, Disney VoluntEARS donated a total of $837,750 to 455 local non-profit agencies and community service groups through Disney’s EARS To You program.  The grants from The Walt Disney Company annually recognize individual Cast Members and Imagineers for their VoluntEAR service (based on prior calendar year) through a contribution of up to $1,000 to the eligible charity of their choice. Top recipients included schools, animal rescue organizations and groups that support children and families.

• Disney annually recognizes a VoluntEAR of the Year and VoluntEAR Team of the Year with $2,500 cash donations to the charity of their choice.

• For more than 17 years, Walt Disney World Resort has supported Junior Achievement of Central Florida by raising more than $3.7 millionthrough events such as the JA Bowl-A-Thon. VoluntEARS also teach Junior Achievement financial literacy classes for grades K-12 in Orange and Osceola Counties.

• In Dec. 2012, Disney VoluntEARS helped make the holidays brighter for thousands of local children by collecting more than 35,000 toys for Central Florida Toys for Tots. Cast Members also gave more than 7,000 hours toward helping the U.S. Marines register families in need, sort and stock toys and assist with toy distribution.

• As part of the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup, one ton of debris was collected from Brevard County beaches, by more than 300 Disney VoluntEARS, of whom more than 50% were first-time VoluntEARS. 

Supporting Education
As part of Disney’s commitment to building a better future for Central Florida’s children, Walt Disney World Resort is actively involved in supporting education. The benefits for the region are far-reaching; money and time invested in educational programs show a return in higher graduation and employment rates, reduced crime and less reliance on public assistance.

• Walt Disney World Resort has given more than $5.7 million to the University of Central Florida in the past 13 years, including contributions of $2 million to the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management and $1 million to the UCF College of Medicine.

• Disney has donated more than $2.7 million to the scholarship funds of Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University. In addition, Disney contributed $250,000 to the Florida A&M University College of Law to sponsor the Children and Family Law Clinic.

• Walt Disney World Resort contributed $1 million to Valencia Community College to support programs in culinary science and hospitality.

• Walt Disney World Resort contributed $500,000 to Rollins College to benefit The Campaign for Rollins, The Rollins Fund for the Walt Disney World Scholars Program, the Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business Scholarship Fund and the Hamilton Holt School Scholarship Fund.

• In May 2012, public school districts and early learning coalitions in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties received a combined total of $320,000 in Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants to enhance student performance from preschool through 12^th grade. New in 2012 was a focused grant amount for students whose lives are affected by homelessness.

• To date, more than 11,900 students have been named Disney Dreamers and Doers. The program recognizes exceptional students throughout Central Florida for demonstrating outstanding character and volunteer service.

• Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members conduct an annual Back-to-School Supply Drive, last year donating an all-time high of more than 3.1 million school supplies. The items were combined with Walt Disney World Resort’s 13,000 donated backpacks and distributed to underserved youth in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole counties.

• 120 children from community centers in Orange and Osceola counties participated in the 2012 Disney Conservation Camp during their school spring break. Offered for the first time outside of Disney, participants engaged in conservation and environmental activities that inspired them to take care of themselves, our community and our planet.

Granting Wishes
Walt Disney World Resort works with children’s wish-granting organizations around the world to make Disney dreams come true. Whether it’s a desire to dance with Cinderella, or a chance to play football with Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney World Resort helps create special memories for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Disney-themed wishes continue to be the most popular requests from children with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2012, Disney hosted more than 7,000 wish trips for children and donated complimentary tickets valued at more than $10 million to Give Kids the World Village and other wish-granting organizations.

Disney contributes to the local community in many ways – through the millions of dollars in taxes it generates for local governments, the leadership it provides on important community issues, the cash and in-kind support it provides local non-profit organizations and the thousands of volunteer hours given by Cast Members.

Economic Impact
A study by Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics released in April 2011 shows the magic Disney makes for Guests at its parks and resorts and on its cruise ships translates into a strong economic impact not only in Central Florida but across the state.

• The $18.2 billion in annual economic activity generated locally by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts accounts for 2.5 percent of Florida’s gross domestic product.

• Of the 7.2 million Floridians in the workforce in 2009, more than one out of every 50 had a job that can be directly or indirectly tied to the operations of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Locally, 6 percent of all jobs in Central Florida can be attributed to Disney’s operations.

• In Central Florida, Cast Members at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts earned a total of nearly $1.8 billion during FY2009. Across Florida, when direct and indirect jobs are taken into account, more than $6 billion in paychecks can be attributed directly or indirectly to Disney’s operations.

• Each year Walt Disney Parks and Resorts purchases more than $2 billion worth of goods and services. Nearly $1 billion is paid to vendors with a presence in the state and approximately $500 million goes to vendors in Central Florida.

• Spending by Disney Guests at businesses outside the resort area totaled nearly $1.7 billion in FY2009. This includes hotel and lodging expenditures, meals at local restaurants, retail purchases’ and transportation expenditures.

• When taking the amount Disney pays in taxes and subtracting the money for the various government services used by Guests and Cast Members, the net benefit to Florida and all localities is more than $400 million. In Central Florida, Orange County sees a net benefit of more than $100 million and Osceola County sees a net benefit of almost $10 million.

Revenue for Central Florida Governments
Disney is the largest taxpayer in Central Florida, paying approximately $566 million in state and local taxes each year.

• Walt Disney World Resort pays approximately $95 million annually in ad valorem taxes; an estimated $82.5 million is paid to Orange County and more than $12.5 million to Osceola County. 

• In Orange County, Disney pays more in taxes than thenext 10 highest county taxpayers combined. Approximately $44 million of those funds go directly to education.

• Disney generated approximately 34 percent of the Tourist Development Taxes collected in Orange Countyand approximately 25 percent of these taxes in Osceola County in 2010.

• Disney paid or collected more than $406 million in state sales, use and communications taxes and local resort taxes for the surrounding communities in 2010.

• In addition to the county taxes, Walt Disney World Resort paid more than $69 million in taxes to the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 2011. These tax dollars go toward building hundreds of millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure at no cost to taxpayers.

Community Leadership
Walt Disney World Resort is committed to providing leadership that will continue to help Central Florida thrive and grow. Approximately 120 Disney Cast Members serve on the boards of local nonprofit organizations.
Recent initiatives in which Walt Disney World Resort has played an active role include:

• Contributing to the well being of children in Central Florida – The new Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children was made possible in part by a $10 million commitment by Disney. Disney Imagineers designed the hospital’s lobby, which features supporting characters from classic Disney films in a welcoming, healing environment that places young patients in the starring role. Walt Disney World Resort also contributed $1 million to build the Walt Disney World Clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and $750,000 for a teen center in the Tupperware Brands Boys & Girls Club in Osceola County.

• Building the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Disney pledged a $12.5 million contribution to sponsor the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, the largest of the halls at the center. With a grand opening scheduled in 2014, the performing arts center will be significant to the cultural growth of Central Florida and a premiere destination for the arts in Orlando.

• Support of Commuter Rail -Recognizing the region’s need for more mass transit options, Disney supports SunRail, which will create new ways for commuters to reach their jobs, new access to existing businesses and new chances to further diversify Central Florida’s economy and create jobs.

• Further diversifying Florida’s economy – Walt Disney World Resort leaders were actively engaged in the development of a medical city at Lake Nona, working closely with Central Florida leaders to bring the Burnham Institute to Central Florida and help to make the dream of a University of Central Florida Medical School a reality. Both projects are expected to help diversify and drive the region’s economy for years to come.

• Walt Disney World Resort donated $500,000 toward construction of Second Harvest Food Bank’s new facility opening in March 2013. 

Investing in Central Florida’s Children and Families
Walt Disney World Resort’s community programs and partnerships are focused on building better futures for local children, and ultimately, creating a stronger community for everyone. These efforts are geared toward helping families meet basic needs, youth development and education.

In 2012, the company donated more than $30 million in cash and in-kind support to local nonprofit organizations. Examples include:

• Walt Disney World Resort gave a total of $1.5 million in Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants to 59 local nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to build better futures for more than 70,000 children in Central Florida. Among the top recipients were Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, A Gift For Music, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.

• Walt Disney World Resort is a valued partner to Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, which for the past few years has been recognized as one of the top Disney’s Helping Kids Shine grant recipients. As part of this recognition, the Coalition continues to receive ongoing comprehensive support from Disney, which includes board service, assistance in the maintenance and improvement of Coalition facilities, approximately 750 monthly meal donations prepared by Disney chefs and donations of warm clothing in the winter.

• 2011 marked the 20^th anniversary of the Disney Harvest program.  More than 340,000 pounds of prepared and un-served food were donated to the local community through Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

• Walt Disney World Resort’s excess inventory continued to meet the needs of many non-profit organizations in Central Florida. Merchandise and in-kind product donations in 2012 were valued at nearly $4 million.

• Disney continued to be the primary sponsor of the A Gift For Music program which is part of A Gift for Teaching, with a $100,000 donation. A Gift For Music provides, at no cost, instruction on stringed instruments to students who normally could not afford such an opportunity.

In addition, Walt Disney World Resort is the largest corporate contributor to the Heart of Florida United Way. In 2012 Disney Cast Membersdonated more than $3.4 million to the United Way to help non-profit agencies meet social services needs in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

VoluntEARS Show Character
In 2012, Disney VoluntEARS gave 216,000 hours toward improving the lives of Central Floridians, ranging from donating more than 3.1 million school supplies to local students, to serving more than 9,000 meals to the homeless. Nearly 700 Walt Disney World VoluntEARS received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the White House for contributing more than 100 hours of service. VoluntEAR efforts include:

• In 2010, all Walt Disney World Resort hotels began supporting Clean the World by collecting discarded bath soaps, shampoos and lotions. Recently, efforts were expanded to include Disney resort hotels in California and Hawaii. To date, Disney hotels have donated 86 tons of soap and bottled amenities to Clean the World, not only diverting that waste from landfills, but providing useful products for those in need.

• In August 2012, Disney VoluntEARS donated a total of $837,750 to 455 local non-profit agencies and community service groups through Disney’s EARS To You program.  The grants from The Walt Disney Company annually recognize individual Cast Members and Imagineers for their VoluntEAR service (based on prior calendar year) through a contribution of up to $1,000 to the eligible charity of their choice. Top recipients included schools, animal rescue organizations and groups that support children and families.

• Disney annually recognizes a VoluntEAR of the Year and VoluntEAR Team of the Year with $2,500 cash donations to the charity of their choice.

• For more than 17 years, Walt Disney World Resort has supported Junior Achievement of Central Florida by raising more than $3.7 millionthrough events such as the JA Bowl-A-Thon. VoluntEARS also teach Junior Achievement financial literacy classes for grades K-12 in Orange and Osceola Counties.

• In Dec. 2012, Disney VoluntEARS helped make the holidays brighter for thousands of local children by collecting more than 35,000 toys for Central Florida Toys for Tots. Cast Members also gave more than 7,000 hours toward helping the U.S. Marines register families in need, sort and stock toys and assist with toy distribution.

• As part of the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup, one ton of debris was collected from Brevard County beaches, by more than 300 Disney VoluntEARS, of whom more than 50% were first-time VoluntEARS. 

Supporting Education
As part of Disney’s commitment to building a better future for Central Florida’s children, Walt Disney World Resort is actively involved in supporting education. The benefits for the region are far-reaching; money and time invested in educational programs show a return in higher graduation and employment rates, reduced crime and less reliance on public assistance.

• Walt Disney World Resort has given more than $5.7 million to the University of Central Florida in the past 13 years, including contributions of $2 million to the UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Management and $1 million to the UCF College of Medicine.

• Disney has donated more than $2.7 million to the scholarship funds of Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University. In addition, Disney contributed $250,000 to the Florida A&M University College of Law to sponsor the Children and Family Law Clinic.

• Walt Disney World Resort contributed $1 million to Valencia Community College to support programs in culinary science and hospitality.

• Walt Disney World Resort contributed $500,000 to Rollins College to benefit The Campaign for Rollins, The Rollins Fund for the Walt Disney World Scholars Program, the Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business Scholarship Fund and the Hamilton Holt School Scholarship Fund.

• In May 2012, public school districts and early learning coalitions in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties received a combined total of $320,000 in Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants to enhance student performance from preschool through 12^th grade. New in 2012 was a focused grant amount for students whose lives are affected by homelessness.

• To date, more than 11,900 students have been named Disney Dreamers and Doers. The program recognizes exceptional students throughout Central Florida for demonstrating outstanding character and volunteer service.

• Walt Disney World Resort Cast Members conduct an annual Back-to-School Supply Drive, last year donating an all-time high of more than 3.1 million school supplies. The items were combined with Walt Disney World Resort’s 13,000 donated backpacks and distributed to underserved youth in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk and Seminole counties.

• 120 children from community centers in Orange and Osceola counties participated in the 2012 Disney Conservation Camp during their school spring break. Offered for the first time outside of Disney, participants engaged in conservation and environmental activities that inspired them to take care of themselves, our community and our planet.

Granting Wishes
Walt Disney World Resort works with children’s wish-granting organizations around the world to make Disney dreams come true. Whether it’s a desire to dance with Cinderella, or a chance to play football with Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney World Resort helps create special memories for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Disney-themed wishes continue to be the most popular requests from children with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2012, Disney hosted more than 7,000 wish trips for children and donated complimentary tickets valued at more than $10 million to Give Kids the World Village and other wish-granting organizations.

The volunteers endured six hours of hard work and light rain as they installed new swings, a rock-climbing wall and spiral slides along with seesaws and monkey bars.

“This project meant a lot to me,” said Disney VoluntEAR Shelby Curry. “Because I live in Clermont, I feel like I’m not only giving back to the community, but my own children will also be able to play here for many years to come.”

The weekend activity is one of several volunteer efforts Cast Members are participating in as part of the 30th anniversary of the Disney VoluntEARS program.  Disney VoluntEARS is a global, company-wide effort that provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time to make a positive impact on the community.

Planning for the playground and outdoor classroom began in March at a “Design Day” event, where local children met with KaBOOM!, Nature Explore, and Disney to design their desired space.  Their drawings and ideas were used to create their dream playground. Unique to the project is an outdoor classroom that will inspire children to explore their creativity by connecting with nature.

“The playground and outdoor classroom at West Beach are a unique addition to the City of Clermont’s parks system,” said City Manager Darren Gray. “The City is proud to be a partner in this exciting community project that gives our children a new place to play.” 

Since 1996, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together community interests and business toconstruct more than 2,200 new places to play across North America.

“Every child deserves to have a great place to play and we’re thrilled to continue our work with Disney in striving toward that goal,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! founder & CEO. “Thanks to the efforts from Disney, KaBOOM!, the City of Clermont, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties and Nature Explore, we moved one step closer to the KaBOOM!vision of a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.”

The new playground is one of dozens made possible with support from Disney to inspire kids to lead healthier lifestyles.  By the end of 2013, Disney’s support will bring the magic of play to over 50,000 kids and families.

“Only 1-in-5 children live within walking distance of a park or playground,” said Leslie Goodman, senior vice president, Corporate Citizenship at The Walt Disney Company. “Disney is proud to join KaBOOM!, the City of Clermont, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter Counties, and Nature Explore to build a new playground for the community. Together, we hope to make places to play more accessible, and inspire kids and families to stay active.”

To watch the video from the event, click here.