Disney Resort Destinations is again at the forefront, this time when it comes to addressing environmental issues that face the meetings industry and offering solutions for meeting planners and groups looking to host more sustainable meetings.

The Walt Disney Company's legacy on "green" issues spans more than 60 years, dating back to Walt Disney's personal commitment to being a good steward of the environment.

Disney's BoardWalk Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - three of Disney's six dedicated convention resorts - have received Green Lodging certification from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Beyond hotel certification, Disney's commitment to the environment includes several other initiatives, such as:
Recycling: In meeting rooms and other locations, in-house recycling is available to groups upon request in the form of marked containers for cans, bottles, and paper. Recycling is also available in all Disney resort guest rooms, and each resort recycles less traditional items like room keys, which total more than five million per year.
Energy Conservation: Disney convention centers feature automatic lights and CO2 sensors, which regulate air conditioning and reduce energy use. Lighting throughout the convention centers and all of the Disney resorts is being converted to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs), which will save about 20 million kilowatt hours annually.
Disney Harvest Program: Banquet food that has been prepared but not served is donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Combined with contributions from its restaurants, Disney contributes nearly 50,000 pounds of edible food to the local community each month. Disney's "Culinary Conservation Committee," (representatives from purchasing, food and beverage, and animal programs), implements green purchasing practices and explores sustainable food purchases.
Floral Elements: Disney horticulturalists and florists partner to use greens from around the resort in floral arrangements, reducing the need to ship items from other locations.
Educational Programs: Select Disney Institute programs take participants "behind the scenes" to see "Disney Environmentality" practices in action or to learn more about the art and science of horticulture and landscaping. Even Disney's championship golf courses are certified by Audubon International as Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuaries. "Environmentality" initiatives are another example of what makes meetings and conventions at the Walt Disney World Resort unique. To learn more, visit www.disneysenvironmentality.com.

Walt Disney World Resort At A Glance Convention Facilities:
Six convention resorts; 600,000-plus square feet of function space. Guest Rooms: 5,072 guest rooms in Disney's six convention resorts. Other Disney properties are available for overflow.
On-Site Meeting Services: Full-service technical, entertainment, and production support.
For More Information: Walt Disney World Resort, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000; Phone: (321) 939-7107; Fax: (321) 939-7173, E-mail: meetings@disneyworld.com;
Web site: www.disneymeetings.com

ENVIRONMENTALITY: Disney's Coronado Springs Resort was one of the first convention resorts in Florida to receive Green Lodging certification.