Disney recently announced they will be removing plastic straws and plastic stirrers from not only Disneyland and the Disney Cruises, but at all Disney locations worldwide. In addition to reducing one-time use plastics from hotel rooms and no more plastic bags when shopping. This is great that Disney is doing this! However, there are some downsides to it as well. Today I would like to talk about what Disneyland’s conservation efforts are and will be.
Disneyland’s Conservation Efforts
Ever since I can remember everyone has been talking about conservation for the future of our planet. I even did a report on it way back when I was in college. There are lots of ways to conserve nowadays. Recycling, composting, reducing carbon, etc. Years ago it was said that everyone needed to stop cutting down trees for paper products and start using plastic as a result of plastic being more recyclable. Now it seems we are going back to that or to reusable bags.
Downsides and Upsides
First of all, starting with the downsides and then the upsides of Disneyland’s conservation efforts. As with ANY plan ANYWHERE in the world, there are pluses and minuses. It is just a fact of life. However, Disneyland’s conservation efforts are a positive step in helping our planet. With millions of visitors each year, that is a lot of plastic and waste being produced and that is just Disneyland!
First: Straws and Stirrers
The first downside to Disneyland’s conservation efforts is regarding the straws. Right now in Disneyland, there are slushy drink machines popping up all over the Disneyland Resort. It is the new, big thing in the park for drinks. However, trying to drink a slushy without a straw is extremely difficult.
For example, locally where I live is a wildlife park and a zoo. Both of the parks do not have straws or lids due to conservation efforts. I thought great! Until my friend’s daughter got a slushy drink…
That was an interesting and messy time!
However, the good part of Disneyland’s conservation efforts is how much plastic will be reduced just in plastic straws and plastic stirrers. Disney estimates they will reduce more than 175 million plastic straws each year. In addition to reducing more than 13 million plastic stirrers per year. That is a LOT of plastic!
Second: Plastic Bags
The second downside of Disneyland’s conservation efforts is the plastic bags while you are shopping. They will be offering reusable bags for a fee. Something else in Disneyland that you will need to pay for now. But besides that, I am wondering how Disneyland hotel guests will get their purchases sent back to their hotel? At the moment, they staple the entire bag closed then staple your ticket to the bag. Therefore, if Disney does this to the reusable bag I had to purchase, I would not be happy having it stapled all over.
I have asked Disney about this one, but I have not heard back about it yet.
Update: As of our last trip, December 2018, Disneyland was still using plastic bags when you have your items sent to your Disney hotel.
Next, the upside. By reducing the amount of plastic bags each year, the result will be tremendous! When purchasing items and having them sent back to the hotel, there would be multiple bags in each purchase. For example, Cast Members would put smaller items in a small bag and then put it in a bigger bag with bigger purchases. Which was great! However, that was more plastic bags being used.
If you are looking for a great reusable bag, Chico Bag is one I have been using for years! It also has a clip hook attached so you can have it hanging outside of your purse or backpack for easy access. This link is for a 4 pack of the bags and is a great price compared to the store I have purchased them from before.
Third: Refillable In-Room Amenities
Another downside of Disneyland’s conservation efforts is the reduction of one-use plastics in hotel rooms. Soon Disney will be “transitioning to refillable in-room amenities.” This is another question I have asked Disney about. Does this mean the shampoos, conditioners, body wash, etc.? If it does, will they be emptied, sanitized and refilled? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to use the same stuff previous people have used.
Update: I have since been to a hotel with reusable shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Not a Disney hotel, however, I now understand how it will work when Disney gets it switched over. In the shower is a metal holder that holds three bottles with metal pumps. They fit and are locked into the holder that is attached to the shower wall.
However, another positive side is that those one-use containers wouldn’t be thrown out all the time. Although, I reuse mine here at home. It is like a souvenir for me.
I hate to think about how much plastic is tossed from the hotel rooms.
Disneyland’s Conservation Efforts Going On Now
Next, let’s take a look at what Disneyland’s Conservation efforts are right now. As a result of researching about the new changes that will be going into effect, I found out what they are doing already to conserve. Therefore, learning some things that I didn’t know before.
Waste Reduction
Next for Disneyland’s Conservation efforts is the amount of waste that has been diverted from going to the landfill or incineration. Since 2013 until 2017, Disney has reduced the amount by 46%. However, their goal is to reduce it by 50% by 2020. Therefore, at the rate they are going, they may be surpassing their goal.
Disneyland has increased the number of items that can be recycled in order to reduce the waste amount that goes to the landfill. In addition to reducing the amount of food going to the landfill by recycling it.
For example, either by composting it or turning it into biodiesel instead of sending it to the landfill.
Emissions
Disneyland’s conservation efforts for emissions had a goal of 50% reduction by the year 2020. As of 2017, they have reduced emissions by 41%.
The emissions reduction goes with the Disneyland Railroad. For instance, by turning the used cooking oil from the restaurants around the Disneyland Resort into biodiesel, it can then be used to run the Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, as well as other transportation methods.
Another way to save on emissions for Disneyland’s conservation efforts is that Disney has installed solar panels on top of the Radiator Springs Racers show building to run the attraction.
Water
Finally is water conservation. By 2017, Disney Parks and Resorts reduced the amount of potable water used by 129 million gallons. In addition to finding ways to take non-potable water and using it for irrigation and cooling systems.
In fact, in 2017, Disneyland Resort was recognized and given California’s highest environmental honor for their water conservation for World of Color in California Adventure.
One of the ways Disneyland conserves the water is that Disney joined up with Orange County Water Systems in 2008 to recycle water. When Disneyland drains an attraction or waterway, it goes to the water system to be purified and reused later. Therefore, preventing the water from going into the storm drains to the ocean.
For example, when Disneyland was going to drain Paradise Bay to build World of Color, they drained the 16 million gallons of water to be purified. When the time came to refill Paradise Bay, they then drew the water from the water system.
Collecting Water for Conservation
Cars Land and the Toy Story parking lot were designed to collect the water when it rains. The water goes into basins under the rockwork to be filtered and then it stays there until it is needed. This same concept is being installed in the new Star Wars Land, Galaxy’s Edge, that will be opening in June 2019.
In Conclusion
With all the pluses and minuses of Disneyland’s conservation efforts, I think that the benefits outweigh the negative. It is important to do what we can to help the planet for future generations. By Disneyland’s efforts, I think that it will help to educate the younger generation to learn how to do their part.
If you would like to find out more about Disneyland’s conservation efforts, you can check out their website for it here.
Your Thoughts?
How do you feel about Disneyland taking away the plastic straws, stirrers, bags, and the addition of refillable containers in the hotels? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to know what you think!
Thanks for stopping by Life in Mouse Years!
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I went looking for reusable straws to post on here. In the process of that, I came across these straws. If stainless steel straws are a concern for kids, not to worry, these ones have silicone tops! Just make sure you use the straw brush to clean inside of the straws and you should be good to go! I will be getting some of these for my reusable cups! (I knock my front teeth all the time on the stainless steel ones.)
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Reusable straws from Amazon here.
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