As always, I try to pass on information that I get....enjoy
December 3, 2004
The holiday season is off to a great start at the Walt Disney World® Resort. As AAA noted a few weeks ago, holiday travel was expected to increase over last year, and this proved true over the Thanksgiving weekend. The holidays are filled with great reasons to visit our parks and resorts as they are turned into a winter wonderland for the many special events, but what makes the season even brighter is the opportunity to respond to the needs of our community and guests. In this edition of MouseMail, we showcase some of the recent ways we have made a difference to non-profit organizations in Central Florida. We also share details of a new ticket plan that was developed as the result of guest feedback and research that provides the first of its kind year-round ticket offer for Florida residents. We hope that during this busy season, you take time to celebrate with family and friends.
1,250 Community Leaders Celebrate Holiday Season at Epcot®
This Sunday, more than 1,250 Central Florida community, business and government leaders will celebrate the holiday season during the annual Walt Disney World Community Relations night at Epcot. Each year, our Community Relations department invites guests to enjoy the Candlelight Processional. This year, the event features guest narrator actor Jim Caviezel, known for his roles in the films Frequency, High Crimes and The Passion of the Christ.
"Magic Your Way" Provides Innovative Customized Ticketing
Florida residents will receive their first-ever year-round ticket plan at the Walt Disney World Resort with a new ticket program announced this week. The flexible program allows guests to create their own tickets for a customized vacation. The plan offers savings that grow the more days a guest visits. With Magic Your Way, Florida residents will find three new options including a 10 percent discount on a one-day ticket, free park-hopping on a full-price one-day ticket or three days of admission for the price of a two-day ticket. Consumers today expect the ability to customize the products they buy, and now guests will have the ability to customize their vacation with a ticket that matches their needs and desires.
Ride-A-Thon Breaks Fundraising Record for Children's Hospitals
More than 5,000 Walt Disney World thrill-seekers recently turned out in full force at the Magic Kingdom® for the DisneyHand-Helping Kids Shine Ride-A-Thon to benefit Children's Miracle Network. More than $140,000 raised through participation fees, sponsorships and a silent auction will benefit Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women in Orlando. Disney Cast Members and employees of the two hospitals, and their families, participated in the event. Click the image at right to see a gallery of photos from the event.
$300K Donated for Walt Disney World® Florida Classic
As title sponsor of the Walt Disney World Florida Classic football game, Walt Disney World Co. presented a $300,000 check during a special half time presentation last month for Florida A & M University and Bethune-Cookman College scholarship programs. Over the past eight years, Walt Disney World Co. has contributed more than $1.3 million through its involvement in this annual game. Click the photo at right to see a larger image of Disney's donation during the 2004 Florida Classic.
President Bush Honors 145 Walt Disney World Volunteers
One hundred forty-five of The Walt Disney Company Cast Members were recently honored as recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation presents this prestigious award to volunteers who donate a minimum of 100 hours of community service in a calendar year. The Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Eisner and President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Iger joined Walt Disney World President Al Weiss to personally thank and congratulate these Disney VoluntEARS at a recognition breakfast in November.
80,000 Central Florida Heroes Get Free Disney Tickets
Disney's Salute to Central Florida Hurricane Heroes has been a big hit with relief workers around the state. Since the program was launched in October, Walt Disney World Co. has issued more than 80,000 exchange certificates. Walt Disney World Co. is recognizing the many men and women who helped bring relief and aid to Central Florida following the hurricanes by offering them complimentary, five-day admission to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. More information about Disney's Salute to Central Florida Hurricane Heroes can be found at www.disneyworld.com/thankyou.
Disney Cast Members Clean Seven Miles of Brevard Beaches
In partnership with the Ocean Conservancy and Keep Brevard Beautiful, the Walt Disney World VoluntEARS hosted their first annual Family Fun Day at the Coastal Cleanup event on Saturday, November 6. Approximately 450 Cast Members and their families traveled in nine buses to the Canaveral National Seashore and spent the morning removing trash and storm debris from seven miles of Central Florida's beaches. Click the photo at right for a gallery of images from the event.
Girls and Boys Town Benefits from Disney Support
The Walt Disney World® Ambassador team and Mickey Mouse recently joined stage and screen legend Mickey Rooney to assist in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new adolescent girls center at the Seminole County Girls and Boys Town. Project management for the rehabilitation of this 7,000-square-foot residential facility for teenage girls-as well as a master plan work for the campus-was provided by a team from Walt Disney World Facilities Asset Management and Buena Vista Construction Co. This contribution was valued at more than $400,000.
Disney's Women in Engineering Inspire Teens
For the second year, approximately one dozen female engineers from Walt Disney World participated in the Orlando Science Center's Salute to Women in Science and Engineering. More than 600 middle- and high- school students interested in careers in science and engineering attended the day-long program. This event was sponsored by OSC and the University of Central Florida.
12,000 Cast Members Scheduled to Attend Company Conference
More than 12,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members have been invited to a company-sponsored 3-day training and education conference at the Resort. This is the second year the company has committed to the program, which offers nearly 250 classes to enhance an employee's life and work experiences. Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz and respected journalist Cokie Roberts will be among the dozens of guest speakers at the forum. This program is part of the Disney Difference - one of the many things that set Walt Disney World Co. apart as an employer of choice.
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© Disney
MouseMail is a periodic news brief for Central Florida business, community and government leaders, produced by Walt Disney World Co. For information on the Walt Disney World Resort, please visit www.disneyworld.com.
December 3, 2004
The holiday season is off to a great start at the Walt Disney World® Resort. As AAA noted a few weeks ago, holiday travel was expected to increase over last year, and this proved true over the Thanksgiving weekend. The holidays are filled with great reasons to visit our parks and resorts as they are turned into a winter wonderland for the many special events, but what makes the season even brighter is the opportunity to respond to the needs of our community and guests. In this edition of MouseMail, we showcase some of the recent ways we have made a difference to non-profit organizations in Central Florida. We also share details of a new ticket plan that was developed as the result of guest feedback and research that provides the first of its kind year-round ticket offer for Florida residents. We hope that during this busy season, you take time to celebrate with family and friends.
1,250 Community Leaders Celebrate Holiday Season at Epcot®
This Sunday, more than 1,250 Central Florida community, business and government leaders will celebrate the holiday season during the annual Walt Disney World Community Relations night at Epcot. Each year, our Community Relations department invites guests to enjoy the Candlelight Processional. This year, the event features guest narrator actor Jim Caviezel, known for his roles in the films Frequency, High Crimes and The Passion of the Christ.
"Magic Your Way" Provides Innovative Customized Ticketing
Florida residents will receive their first-ever year-round ticket plan at the Walt Disney World Resort with a new ticket program announced this week. The flexible program allows guests to create their own tickets for a customized vacation. The plan offers savings that grow the more days a guest visits. With Magic Your Way, Florida residents will find three new options including a 10 percent discount on a one-day ticket, free park-hopping on a full-price one-day ticket or three days of admission for the price of a two-day ticket. Consumers today expect the ability to customize the products they buy, and now guests will have the ability to customize their vacation with a ticket that matches their needs and desires.
Ride-A-Thon Breaks Fundraising Record for Children's Hospitals
More than 5,000 Walt Disney World thrill-seekers recently turned out in full force at the Magic Kingdom® for the DisneyHand-Helping Kids Shine Ride-A-Thon to benefit Children's Miracle Network. More than $140,000 raised through participation fees, sponsorships and a silent auction will benefit Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women in Orlando. Disney Cast Members and employees of the two hospitals, and their families, participated in the event. Click the image at right to see a gallery of photos from the event.
$300K Donated for Walt Disney World® Florida Classic
As title sponsor of the Walt Disney World Florida Classic football game, Walt Disney World Co. presented a $300,000 check during a special half time presentation last month for Florida A & M University and Bethune-Cookman College scholarship programs. Over the past eight years, Walt Disney World Co. has contributed more than $1.3 million through its involvement in this annual game. Click the photo at right to see a larger image of Disney's donation during the 2004 Florida Classic.
President Bush Honors 145 Walt Disney World Volunteers
One hundred forty-five of The Walt Disney Company Cast Members were recently honored as recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation presents this prestigious award to volunteers who donate a minimum of 100 hours of community service in a calendar year. The Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Michael D. Eisner and President and Chief Operating Officer Bob Iger joined Walt Disney World President Al Weiss to personally thank and congratulate these Disney VoluntEARS at a recognition breakfast in November.
80,000 Central Florida Heroes Get Free Disney Tickets
Disney's Salute to Central Florida Hurricane Heroes has been a big hit with relief workers around the state. Since the program was launched in October, Walt Disney World Co. has issued more than 80,000 exchange certificates. Walt Disney World Co. is recognizing the many men and women who helped bring relief and aid to Central Florida following the hurricanes by offering them complimentary, five-day admission to Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. More information about Disney's Salute to Central Florida Hurricane Heroes can be found at www.disneyworld.com/thankyou.
Disney Cast Members Clean Seven Miles of Brevard Beaches
In partnership with the Ocean Conservancy and Keep Brevard Beautiful, the Walt Disney World VoluntEARS hosted their first annual Family Fun Day at the Coastal Cleanup event on Saturday, November 6. Approximately 450 Cast Members and their families traveled in nine buses to the Canaveral National Seashore and spent the morning removing trash and storm debris from seven miles of Central Florida's beaches. Click the photo at right for a gallery of images from the event.
Girls and Boys Town Benefits from Disney Support
The Walt Disney World® Ambassador team and Mickey Mouse recently joined stage and screen legend Mickey Rooney to assist in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new adolescent girls center at the Seminole County Girls and Boys Town. Project management for the rehabilitation of this 7,000-square-foot residential facility for teenage girls-as well as a master plan work for the campus-was provided by a team from Walt Disney World Facilities Asset Management and Buena Vista Construction Co. This contribution was valued at more than $400,000.
Disney's Women in Engineering Inspire Teens
For the second year, approximately one dozen female engineers from Walt Disney World participated in the Orlando Science Center's Salute to Women in Science and Engineering. More than 600 middle- and high- school students interested in careers in science and engineering attended the day-long program. This event was sponsored by OSC and the University of Central Florida.
12,000 Cast Members Scheduled to Attend Company Conference
More than 12,000 Walt Disney World Cast Members have been invited to a company-sponsored 3-day training and education conference at the Resort. This is the second year the company has committed to the program, which offers nearly 250 classes to enhance an employee's life and work experiences. Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz and respected journalist Cokie Roberts will be among the dozens of guest speakers at the forum. This program is part of the Disney Difference - one of the many things that set Walt Disney World Co. apart as an employer of choice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Disney
MouseMail is a periodic news brief for Central Florida business, community and government leaders, produced by Walt Disney World Co. For information on the Walt Disney World Resort, please visit www.disneyworld.com.