How Disney Cast & VoluntEARS Are Celebrating Earth Month 2024

This Earth Month, Disney cast members worldwide have come together to champion environmental causes and make a magical impact on our planet. From educational initiatives to hands-on restoration projects, our commitment to protecting, restoring and celebrating ourHome is on full display at all our parks and communities globally.  

STEM students from Orange County Public Schools in Florida saw what they’re learning in the classroom come to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with cast members from the Disney Conservation team. They spotted animals roaming the Harambe Wildlife Reserve on Kilimanjaro Safaris and learned all about the critical role pollinators play in gardening which will help them build their very own gardens at school. The best part? Disney took care of all the necessary supplies for teachers with a $100,000 grant. 

Tokyo Disney Resort teamed up with WDCJ – or Walt Disney Company Japan – for a joint VoluntEARS event, cleaning up trash at a local riverside, demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact beyond the theme parks and fostering a culture of service. 

In celebration of Earth Month, at this year’s Children’s Water Education Festival at University of California Irvine, Disney VoluntEARS from Disneyland Resort were out in full force to engage students in hands-on learning experiences about sustainability, science and engineering, with an emphasis on the environment. More than 5,000 students from 3rd, 4th and 5th grades across Orange County school districts had the chance to attend this eco-adventure and discover water-saving techniques, learn about recycling basics and more – thanks to the support of Disney VoluntEARS! 

Two groups of VoluntEARS from the Disney Wish visited the Brevard Zoo in Florida to volunteer with its animal care teams and support wildlife conservation efforts. Some crew members put their creative culinary skills to the test by creating deliciously healthy meals for the zoo’s deer, giraffes and zebras while others learned about the ongoing sea turtle rescue mission and how to care for these animals’ habitats and nesting grounds.

Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa and Mālama Learning Center led a VoluntEARS event that explored the role people can play in healing the ʻāina (land). With support from the Disney Conservation Fund as part of its focus on protecting local natural water systems, VoluntEARS removed invasive species and planted native Hawaiian trees and shrubs, fostering deeper connections to the land and its significance.

Disney VoluntEARS at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort have been repurposing surplus bread with Foodlink, a registered charity. Not only does this innovative initiative address and help combat food waste, but it also assists individuals facing food insecurity in local communities. 

Disney cast members, local students and top external environmental experts gathered for a series of conferences and workshops on environmental topics where innovative solutions were shared, inspiring cast members to act responsibly for future generations. In the spirit of honoring Earth’s wonders, VoluntEARS also led workshops during a hospital visit at Hopital Bullion where they spread awareness about the importance of environmental responsibility and connected patients to the beauty of our natural earth.    

On Earth Day, Shanghai Disney Resort hosted the “ourHome” Nature Conservation Forum, featuring inspirational speeches and panel discussions raising awareness about wildlife and encouraging the attendees – invited guests, nonprofit organizations, volunteers and resort representatives to take action. Renowned conservationists and community leaders such as Xi Zhinong, National Geographic Explorer, and Zhu Jicheng, Shanghai Dance Theatre Deputy Director, Executive Director of Dance Drama Crested Ibises, shared valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our planet and celebrated environmental achievements.  

As we near the end of Earth Month, we hope you are inspired by our cast and community to make a difference. Together, we can protect, restore and celebrate the wonders of our planet for generations to come, a commitment we like to call Disney Planet Possible.