Post by Dave on Apr 30, 2015 12:21:48 GMT -5
In April 2012, Walt Disney World's Cinderella Castle was named one of the Top 100 Buildings in Florida by The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) as a part of their "Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places." celebration for the organization's 100-year anniversary. The landmark icon was also named Top Building in the Recreational Architecture category.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn was the first hotel in Florida to receive the state’s Green Lodging designation in 2004. Since then, WDW's other 22 hotels have also received the designation, culminating with Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in April 2008. Launched in 2004 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels & motels to conserve natural resources & prevent pollution. To participate in the Florida Green Lodging program, WDW had to install ENERGYSTAR® rated equipment, energy efficient lighting, and timers on outdoor lighting, reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as utility costs. In addition, the resort also implemented a towel and linen reuse program and low-flow faucets and showerheads, and hotels began recycling newspaper, office paper and aluminum cans.
On April 30, 1969, during a press conference at the Ramada Inn on Highway 50 in Ocoee, Florida (a little suburb on the outskirts of Orlando), Donn B. Tatum (president of Walt Disney World Co.) detailed the more than 3 years of planning for a "Destination Vacation". It had been two years since special legislation was passed to allow Disney to build its Florida project, and on this day the Disney Company has rented out the entire Ramada Inn for Walt Disney World's official first press event. A large circus tent outside the hotel was filled with models and artist renderings of Walt Disney World for this three-day gala. Among the Disney officials in attendance was Walt's brother Roy O. Disney and Disney publicist Charlie Ridgway. A 16-mm 17-minute film titled Walt Disney World - Phase 1 was screened at the Parkwood Cinema Theater. It showed the master plan and artists' depictions for Walt Disney World.
Victoria and Albert's (located on the second floor of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) is the most exclusive restaurant at Walt Disney World.
The Partners bronze statue of Walt and Mickey appear in Disney theme parks all over the world. The STR symbol on Walt's tie refers to Smoke Tree Ranch, a place in Palm Springs, California, where he had a vacation home.
In 2002 the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund contributed more than $750,000 to help fund the global work of scientists whose work focuses on protecting wildlife and wild places. The nearly 50 projects funded involve protecting and studying endangered species and their habitats in more than 25 countries. In addition, most programs include educational or community components to ensure long-term conservation success.
In April 2006 Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund gave five $100,000 donations to a variety of conservation causes. The five beneficiaries were Conservation Matters, Save the Elephants, Roots 'N Shoots, Andean Cat Alliance/Wildlife Conservation Network and The Howard Gilman Foundation's Greenbelt Movement.
There are more than 4 million trees, plants, shrubs, ground-covers, vines, epiphytes and grasses from every continent (except Antarctica) at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom.
