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.

• Largest expansion in the 41-year history of the Magic Kingdom.

• Team effort. Between Walt Disney Imagineers and Cast Members from Merchandise, Food and Beverage and various lines of business, it took more than 140 disciplines to bring New Fantasyland to life.

• Future additions to New Fantasyland include Princess Fairytale Hall (2013) and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (2014).

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will feature five-car trains that are designed to sway independently as they swing around the track.

• There are over 12,000 “books” in the library at Enchanted Tales with Belle.

• There are 115 windows in the Beast’s Castle.

• The lion-like figures flanking the door at the entrance to Be Our Guest Restaurant were referred to as “golions” by the design team, a combination of goat and lion.

• Figures above the entrance doors, eagles with snake tails, are called “sneagles.”

• The six stone figures on the bridge leading to Be Our Guest Restaurant were all given the name “Frank” during the design phase simply as a way to identify them.

• Centerpiece chandelier at Be Our Guest Restaurant measures more than 12 feet tall and 11 feet wide. It boasts more than 84 candles and more than 100 jewels that hang down to give it added shine.

• At Be Our Guest Restaurant, the delicate Rose Gallery adorned with rose accents, paintings and tapestries, is centered by a music box nearly 7 feet tall with a twirling Belle and the Beast.

• Storybook Circus has set up in Carolwood Park – this name references the steam train that was in Walt Disney’s backyard.

• At the Magic Kingdom Park, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and at the Disneyland Resort, Timothy Mouse carries a magic feather atop the Dumbo attraction. At Tokyo Disneyland, he holds a circus whip.

• A version of the popular attraction “Dumbo” has been included in every Disneyland-style park since the first one in 1955:

1. Magic Kingdom, WDW, October 1, 1971;
2. Tokyo Disneyland, April 15, 1983;
3. Disneyland Paris, April 12, 1992;
4. Hong Kong Disneyland, September 12, 2005.

• The music heard from the old fashioned calliope in the front of Pete’s Silly Sideshowwas recorded from a set of antique circus crank organs owned by a collector in Southern California.
• Pete’s Silly Sideshowresembles a type of sideshow called a Ten-in-One, which traditionally offered a series of acts performing various tricks and daredevil stunts.
• Pete, sometimes known as Peg-Leg Pete, is the longest running continuous Disney character, debuting in 1925 in the Disney short, Alice Solves a Puzzle.

• There are 183 characters in Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. More than 70 percent (128, to be exact) are featured in the “Under the Sea” scene.

• The Audio-Animatronics figure of the sea witch Ursula is 7 1/2-feet tall and 12 feet wide.
• If the grand mural in the load-in area were turned on its side, it would reach a depth of more than 14 fathoms.

• More than 20,000 live and artificial plants decorate the attraction, inside and out.

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LOCATION:  Disney’s Animal Kingdom resort area between Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and Disney’s All-Star Resorts at Buena Vista Drive/Osceola Parkway intersection — Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

ACCESS:  Vehicle parking lot is located off of Buena Vista Drive and is next to park entrance; buses operated from the Transportation and Ticket Center and Walt Disney World resort hotels.

OPENED:  April 1, 1995

ATTRACTIONS:

Mt. Gushmore:  The snow-capped, 90-foot-high peak that is the park’s visual centerpiece, on top of which sits the platform “launch pad” for the park’s most-talked-about attraction, Summit Plummet.

Summit Plummet:  Thirty feet above the peak of Mt. Gushmore is the platform for a thrill ride that sends the daring on a high-speed adventure down a 350-foot slide.  At 120 feet high and up to 55 mph, it is one of the world’s fastest free-fall water slides.

Downhill Double Dipper:  Side-by-side racing water slides that begin 50 feet high on the slopes of Mt. Gushmore and plunge riders along a hilly 200-foot-long course at up to 25 miles per hour.

Slush Gusher:  A double-humped water slide that drops guests through a snow-banked mountain gully from a start 90 feet up Mt. Gushmore (next to Summit Plummet).

Teamboat Springs:  The world’s longest family white-water raft ride takes six-passenger rafts down a twisting, 1,200-foot series of rushing water falls.

Toboggan Racers:  An eight-lane water slide that sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend on a 250-foot course along the “snowy” slope.

Snow Stormers:  Three flumes descending from the top of the mountain and following a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates.

Runoff Rapids:  An inner tube run where guests can careen down three different twisting, turning flumes — one in the dark.

Chair Lift:  Wooden-bench chair lifts sporting colorful overhead umbrellas and snow skis on their underside, converted from ski-resort to beach-resort use, carry guests over the craggy face of Mt. Gushmore, from its base at the beach to its summit.

Tike’s Peak:  A kid-size version of Blizzard Beach for children ages 2 to 5 (under four feet tall), including scaled-down elements of Mt. Gushmore.  In addition, this area features a snow-castle fountain play area.

Melt-Away Bay:  One-acre pool at the base of Mt. Gushmore and fed by “melting snow” waterfalls.

Cross Country Creek:  A lazy creek circling the entire park, carrying floating guests through a bone-chilling ice cave.  Once inside the mysterious cave, guests will be splashed with the “melting” ice from overhead.

Ski Patrol Training Camp:  Designed for pre-teens with a T-bar drop, crinkle slide and a challenging ice-flow walk along slippery, floating icebergs.  Cool Runners is the camp’s twin inner tube slide.

FACILITIES:

• Lottawatta Lodge (counter-service restaurant featuring burgers, sandwiches and salads)
• Polar Pub & Frostbite Freddie’s, Avalunch, Warming Hut, Cooling Hut and I.C. Expeditions (snack stand locations throughout the park offer hot dogs, nachos, chips, pretzels, frosty beverages and other tasty treats)
• Beachcomber Shacks and Polar Patios (premium shaded rental spaces include towels, locker, drink mugs, Adirondack seating, ice chest stocked with bottled water, service attendant)
• Locker rooms (dressing rooms, showers, locker rental, towel rental, life jacket rental)
• Beach Haus shop (bathing suits, towels, T-shirts, sunscreen and other beach essentials)
• Snowless Joe’s (photo pickup, sundries)
• Shade Shack (sunglasses and accessories)
• Picnic areas (picnicking is permitted but no alcohol or glass containers can be brought into the park)

INFORMATION:  Guests may call 407/824-4321 or visit disneyworld.com

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EMPLOYMENT
There are more than 66,000 Cast Members in Central Florida.

MAGIC KINGDOM 
Opened Oct. 1, 1971, the first theme park at Walt Disney World Resort sits on 142 acres with the 189-feet-tall Cinderella Castle at its center.  Similar to Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed lands — Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; New Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland.  Popular attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, The Hall of Presidents, Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Stitch’s Great Escape!

EPCOT
An ever-changing international and discovery showplace covering 305 acres.
Opened Oct. l, 1982.
Future World — Theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements: Innoventions, Spaceship Earth (Siemens), Universe of Energy, Imagination!, The Land, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Test Track (Chevrolet), Mission: SPACE (HP).
World Showcase — Eleven nations surrounding World Showcase Lagoon: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico, Morocco, Norway.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
A working film, TV and radio studio as well as a theme park on 135 acres.Production facilities opened summer 1988.  Entertainment facilities opened May 1989. Attractions include: “The American Idol Experience,” Toy Story Mania!, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” (Brawny), Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, The Great Movie Ride, “Muppet«Vision 3-D”, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!”, The Magic of Disney Animation, Studio Backlot Tour, “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage,” “Voyage of the Little Mermaid,” The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror, “Fantasmic!”, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Hanesbrands Inc.), “Disney Junior – Live on Stage,” Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM               
High adventures with real exotic animals, close encounters with prehistoric giants and warm, fuzzy moments with beloved Disney characters create unsurpassed fun.The Oasis entry garden welcomes guests into Disney’s fourth major theme park, which sprawls across 403 acres.  Jungles, forests and a vast savanna are divided into five themed lands: Africa, Camp Minnie-Mickey, DinoLand U.S.A., Discovery Island and Asia.  Major attractions include: Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Primeval Whirl, “Festival of the Lion King,” “Finding Nemo-The Musical,” “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” and The Tree of Life.  Opened April 22, 1998.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY:        
Pleasure Island–Adjacent to Downtown Disney Marketplace, featuring shopping and dining including Apricot Lane Boutique, Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Bar and Fulton’s Crab House.
Marketplace–Disney’s waterside shopping village with more than two dozen shops including the World of Disney store, the largest Disney character merchandise showplace in the world, plus dining options such as Rainforest Café and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure.
West Side–A lively dining and entertainment district including Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, DisneyQuest, the 24-screen AMC Downtown Disney 24 movie theater, House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe and the 550-seat Planet Hollywood restaurant.

ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS  COMPLEX
A 220-acre complex designed to accommodate professional-caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and vacation-fitness activities in more than 30 individual and team sports.  The complex includes a 7,500-seat baseball stadium and 5,500-seat fieldhouse.  Annual events include Atlanta Braves spring training.  First event: March 28, 1997.

DISNEY CRUISELINE
Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream and Disney Magic sail from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Nassau, the Caribbean and Disney’s private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay, as part of cruise vacations that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort. For Disney Cruise Line reservations or information on these and other itineraries, contact a local travel agent, phone 888/DCL-2500 or visit www.disneycruise.com.

THEMED RESORTS           
35 resorts (including seven Disney Vacation Club properties) in a variety of price points featuring nearly 28,000 hotel rooms; 3,187 DVC units (2-bedroom equivalents); 799 campsites.
Disney’s Wilderness Cabins (from $270/night)
Disney’s Campsites (from $44/night)
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (409 cabins/799 campsites).
Disney’s Value Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (864 rooms (from $94/night) /1,120 family suites (from $248/night), Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (1,704 rooms/215 family suites), Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s Pop Century Resort (2,880 rooms) (from $82/night).
Disney’s Moderate Resorts (from $149/night)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside (2,048 rooms), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter (1,008 rooms), Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (2,112 rooms), Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (1,917 rooms).
Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (from $240/night)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (972 rooms), Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (727 rooms), Disney’s Contemporary Resort (655 rooms), Disney’s Polynesian Resort (847 rooms), Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (621 rooms), Disney’s Beach Club Resort (576 rooms), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (867 rooms) and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (372 rooms).
Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts (from $275/night / NOTE: units are 2-bedroom equivalents)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort (558 units), Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (282 units), The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (114 units), Disney’s Beach Club Villas (177 units), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (924 units), The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (449 units), Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (295 units).
Official Hotels of Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Swan (756 rooms), Walt Disney World Dolphin (1,509 rooms), Buena Vista Palace (1,013 rooms), Regal Sun Resort (626 rooms), Doubletree Guest Suites Resort (229 rooms), The Hilton (814 rooms), Holiday Inn (323 rooms), Hotel Royal Plaza (394 rooms) and Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel (325 rooms).  Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort (586 rooms) is a U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Center for vacationing servicemen and women from all branches of the armed forces.

CONVENTION FACILITIES
More than 600,000 square feet of modern meeting space located throughout the areas.  Major function space is available at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Buena Vista Palace, The Hilton, Hotel Royal Plaza and Regal Sun Resort.

RECREATION
Four 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole family-play course; Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water adventure parks; Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini-golf; tennis courts; pools; lakes for swimming, boating, parasailing, water skiing and fishing; jogging paths; horseback riding; biking.

TRANSPORTATION
Monorail trains, ferryboats, launches and motorcoach shuttle service between all areas.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
For rooms in all hotels and villas within Walt Disney World Resort, call 407/W-DISNEY between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time, or a local travel agent.

GUEST INFORMATION:
Walt Disney World Guest Information, P.O. Box 10,040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040.  Phone:  407/824-4321 or visit our home page at www.disneyworld.com.

• 30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days.
• One dozen brand-new garden marketplaces surround the World Showcase Lagoon offering festival taste treats ranging from shrimp and grits with fresh Florida veggies to barbecue and brew. Each marketplace will feature a produce and  herb garden to represent the more than 50 marketplace beverage choices and more than 30 food items featured at the marketplaces.
• The festival’s front-entrance Party with Mickey & Friends topiary scene comprises
• six topiaries – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy –and more than 15 varieties of flowers, plants, and other garden materials.
• The Land of Oz Garden is the largest festival garden ever created for the festival at nearly one-third acre.  The garden’s own “yellow brick road” is 160 feet long and includes 40 feet of  “yellow brick” decal, 40 feet of ForeverLawn yellow turf and an 80-foot-long floral path planted with 1,200 yellow viola plants, to be replaced by tropical duranta plants when the weather heats up later in April.
• Dozens of additional Disney character topiaries represent the largest collection of Disney character topiary in the world and include Disney and Pixar film and TV stars Mike and Sulley (new!) plus Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Cinderella, Belle and Beast, and Phineas and Ferb. At least 25 different plants, grasses and mosses of various colors, including pink and red begonias, dusty miller, palm fiber, palm seeds, ficus and lichen, are used to create and define features of additional festival topiaries.
• 1,000 native butterflies represent up to 10 species at the expansive Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House. Among the garden’s two dozen nectar plants are Cape Royal plumbago, passion flower, coral honeysuckle, blazing star, butterfly bush, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.
• More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
• Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants.
• 150 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
• 30 “flower towers” of of several varieties of blooms and plants line Innoventions Plaza.
• 225 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, of multi-hued impatiens provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.
• 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
• 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
• It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
• The festival’s weekend Flower Power concert series includes 11 artists and groups known for their Top 40 hits.  This year’s musical hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s include The Monkees Lead Singer Micky Dolenz, The Village People (new!), Tommy Roe (new!), Starship starring Mickey Thomas, The Guess Who, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Nelson, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO, Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone.

Guest information for the 20thannual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available at EpcotInSpring.com or at 407/W-DISNEY.

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Attractions

Similar to Disneyland, the park is divided into six themed lands:

• Main Street, U.S.A. – City Hall, Main Street Vehicles, Main Street Chamber of Commerce (package pickup), Harmony Barber Shop, Town Square Theater, Main Street Bakery, Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Walt Disney World Railroad, shops and emporiums.

• Adventureland -Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The Pirates League.

• Frontierland -Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island, Walt Disney World Railroad.

• Liberty Square -Haunted Mansion, Liberty Square Riverboat, The Hall of Presidents.

• Fantasyland – Cinderella Castle, “it’s a small world,” Peter Pan’s Flight, Mad Tea Party, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Fairytale Garden, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3-D movie experience, Walt Disney World Railroad. Opened early-to-mid 2012: Dumbo, the Flying Elephant with double the flying Dumbos in Storybook Circus, Barnstormer Coaster re-themed to the Great Goofini, the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station water play area, and Fantasyland Train Station. New Fantasyland opening December 2012: Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid, Arial’s Grotto, Enchanted Tales with Belle.

• Tomorrowland – Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Stitch’s Great, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.

Entertainment

• Town Square Theater — Meet Mickey Mouse and the Disney princesses, and look for dozens of other Disney characters at locations throughout the park.

• “Dream Along with Mickey” — Mickey Mouse and friends show Donald Duck that dreams really do come true in this musical stage show.

• “Celebrate a Dream Come True” — Mickey Mouse leads a daily parade celebrating the history of Disney animation.

• “Main Street Electrical Parade” — Presented on select nights, this energetic parade of Disney characters features floats dotted with millions of twinkling lights.

• “Wishes” — Jiminy Cricket narrates the biggest, boldest fireworks show ever presented at Magic Kingdom, a heart-tugging “story in the sky” about making a wish come true, presented most nights.

Food and Beverage

• Open Dec. 2012: Be Our Guest Restaurant (New Fantasyland) – “great food fast” by day; fine dining table service with French flair for dinner

• Tony’s Town Square Restaurant (Main Street, U.S.A.) — salads, pastas, Italian entrees

• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (Frontierland) — burgers, sandwiches, salads

• Columbia Harbour House (Liberty Square) — clam chowder, fish, chicken, sandwiches

• Pinocchio Village Haus (Fantasyland) — pizza, pasta, salads and chicken breast nuggets

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe (Tomorrowland) — burgers, chicken, salads, sandwiches

Guests can dine with Disney characters at Cinderella’s Royal Table (Fantasyland – breakfast, lunch and dinner); The Crystal Palace (Main Street, U.S.A. – buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner). For dining reservations, call 407/WDW-DINE.

Special Events

Night of Joy — Top contemporary Christian music acts present concerts from several stages during this special-ticket evening event in September.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party — Mickey and the gang invite guests to this all-ages celebration of fun frights held on multiple nights each September and October.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — Each holiday season, Mickey and his friends celebrate the season on several special nights with exclusive entertainment and a holiday-themed parade starring Santa Claus.

History

Following the success of Disneyland, which opened in 1955, entertainment pioneer Walt Disney (1901-66) set his sights on what he called his company’s “most exciting and challenging assignment” — the creation of a vast vacation paradise known today as Walt Disney World Resort.  Walt’s dream was realized when Magic Kingdom, the first of four theme parks at the sprawling Florida site, opened Oct. 1, 1971.  Walt’s older brother and lifelong business partner, Roy O. Disney, inaugurated the park.  And the magic began.

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• 1,300 decorated trees throughout property

• A wreath 25 feet in diameter adorning the Cirque du Soleil building at Downtown Disney West Side

• 10 miles of twinkling rope lights in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• 150 semi-trailer truckloads of decorations for 24 resorts, 4 theme parks, Downtown Disney and other locations

• 15 miles of garland strung and 1,314 wreaths hung throughout the Vacation Kingdom

• 300,000 yards of ribbon and bows draping over Christmas trees across property

• 8.5 million lights strung throughout Walt Disney World Resort

• 98 percent of the lighting used for holiday décor is LED, 2 percent is compact florescent

• 11 countries dressed for Holidays Around the World at Epcot World Showcase

• More than 800 performers each night during Candlelight Processional at Epcot

• More than 200 guest choirs during the entire run of Candlelight Processional

• A Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom with a base 26 feet wide

• One 70-foot-tall tree takes center stage in Disney’s Contemporary Resort entrance lobby featuring nearly 35,800 white LED lights

• 6 life-sized creations cooked up by Walt Disney World pastry chefs, including:
  • One 16-foot-tall gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa baked with 1,050 pounds of honey and involving more than 160 hours of decorating
  • One life-size gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort featuring ponies made of chocolate and fondant, giant candy cane poles, handcrafted poinsettias and hand-painted portraits of famous Disney characters
  • 100 percent chance of snow flurries during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, taking place on select holiday evenings in Magic Kingdom
  • 365 days of the year that guests can shop for holiday merchandise at the Disney’s Days of Christmas shop in Downtown Disney Marketplace

• Our newest ship, Disney’s Fantasy has 931′ garland, 66 sprays, 27 wreaths, 38 trees ranging from 2′ to 20′ and more than 17,000 individual LED lights — 11,000 of which adorn the 20′ lobby tree. The tree has a variety of custom ornaments made from existing elements such as Peacocks and ornate crystal shapes.

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13 Not-so-Frightening Fun Facts for All

No need to be frightened out of your wits to enjoy true Halloween fun!  Magic Kingdom celebrates the season with the family-friendly Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights Sept.11-Nov. 2.  With your special admission ticket, you can dress up in your favorite costume and count the ways to enjoy this seasonal favorite funfest.  Visit MickeyHalloween.com for party dates and times.

1. 23 miles of parade route — that’s how far Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade will travel over the course of the season
2. 2012 marks 18 fantastically fun years of Mickey’s Not-so-Scary Halloween Party
3. 586,000 photos of guests – that’s the number of images that the Disney Photo Imaging team took during last year’s Halloween event season
4. 190 individually-themed carved pumpkins adorn the balconies and windowsills of Main Street, U.S.A.
5. More than 23,100 feet or about 4-1/4 miles of cable is installed for special lighting and sound effects that are part of the party’s Halloween entertainment
6. A cast of 175, including performers, float drivers, costumers, cosmetologists, decorators and maintenance cast members, brings Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade to life
7. 11 Disney characters are exclusive to Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade: Big Al, Captain Barbosa, Christopher Robin, Kanga and Roo, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed — the three hyenas from “The Lion King,” — plus three Hitch-Hiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion
8. The Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular is narrated by the Ghost Host from the Haunted Mansion and features many of your favorite Disney Villains who go trick or treating in the night sky
9. 999 Grim Grinning Ghosts enhance a not-too-spooky Halloween experience at the Haunted Mansion
10. More than 215 tons of candy will be handed out to party guests during 23 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties
11. 40 different kinds of brand-name candies, including Skittles, M&Ms and Kit Kats, are included in three trick-or-treat candy mixes offered during the parties
12. Guests can visit 15 tasty treat locations including 2 treat trails with 3 times the candy (one in Frontierland and another that runs from the new Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland all the way to Tomorrowland)
13. 0 Tricks and countless treats make Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party a memorable evening for all!

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