Magical Moment: Racing to recycle

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., June 4, 2009 -- Legend has it that 20 years ago Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park came to be when a furious storm roared across the sea, hurling surfboards into trees, blowing small boats through roofs and impaling a shrimp boat on a peak of a great volcanic mountain. Left in the typhoon’s wake were twisting tides, roaring rapids, wonderful waterways and relaxing rivers.

Since that catastrophic storm created this tropical paradise, Guests from all over the world have found relief from Florida afternoon heat under the shade of a swaying palm tree, or immersed in one of its refreshing waterways.

Something else Guests enjoy, without ever having to think about it, is the park’s clean, litter-free environment. Custodial Cast Members diligently pick up trash, and make sure that recyclable items such as bottles, cans, paper and trash are placed into the proper receptacles.

Wanting to share the recycling message with children, Custodial Cast Members created the “recycling races” Magical Moment. Several times each day they dump a trash bag full of recyclable items into the sand, assign a specific item to each child and give them mini trash pickers to put the items into the proper receptacles, while cleaning up the area.

The excitement mounts as children scatter back and forth, competing to see who will finish first. All the participants receive a Magical Moment certificate and a 100% recycled plastic Frisbee with a Mickey Mouse logo printed on it.

Custodial Coordinator Helen Hatch says this Magical Moment is fun as well as educational.

“It’s a fun way to teach kids how to recycle in the proper way.”

Recreation Guest Service Manager Cory Babin says he hopes this interaction gives Guests a better appreciation for our Green Standard here at the Walt Disney World Resort.

“The Cast Members enjoy having the opportunity to step away from their everyday assignments to have a few minutes of fun interacting with our Guests. Hopefully, at the end of the day, when the Guests leave our park they will take with them a happy yet educational memory they can apply back at home.”