I don’t blame you for liking Disneyland, I love it myself. And really, they aren’t so bad compared to other theme parks or carnivals. Also, I think that they’re a company that listens to the wants and needs of the consumer. I can’t eat gluten, but I know I’m safe at just about every retsurant in the park. All because people started to hound them about food choices. And speaking about park resturants, some locations have compostable flatware! It’s not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.

I always struggle with issues of “should I be allowed this even though it’s an environmental disaster?” I know that I don’t live as responsibly as I could or should, although I am practically militant compared to others in my family and circle of friends.

My biggest issue is with travelling. It is my life’s dream to travel. Travelling to other places is what makes life worthwhile. I love it. I want to get a travel trailer and travel all around North America with my husband and kids for like 2 years. It is my dream, and I feel totally conflicted because it would be an extremely wasteful use of resources for my own personal pleasure.

On the other hand, if I can’t pursue my dreams, what exactly is the point of living the next 50+years on this planet? Just putting in my time, trying to erase the evidence of my existence? I would do a more thorough job by just killing myself now.

Since this train of thought always ends up with suicide, I try not to think about it too often. It’s not healthy.

Interesting article. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve been planning a similar sort of post only about fireworks and Christmas lights.

I quite enjoyed this post Beth. I struggle internally a good bit with my enjoyment for things like Disney and my interest in the environment. At times it seems hard to reconcile the two, but I think doing just what people like you are doing is a great first start. We can’t change Disney with a swoop of a little green wand a’la the fairy godmother. Nor can we alter the fact that such places exist by not going or trash talking. But the more people request more sustainable options or bring their own water bottles, etc, the more such places will get the point and begin to make positive changes. Ten years ago, I’ll bet those recycle bins didn’t even exist. Ten years from now, who knows? Maybe that cole slaw won’t just come on a biodegradable, recycled plate, but will even be locally sourced and organic ;)

Keep up the great work. I rarely comment, but I’ve been SO inspired by you and love the blog. Congrats on a job well done.

I’ve been planning a similar sort of post only about fireworks and Christmas lights (especially when they have the lights timed to music – I loooove that!) And I’ve already told my husband that a really awesome 50th anniversary gift would be my own personal fireworks show even though that’s 42 years away. I haven’t researched the environmental impact of fireworks, but I can’t imagine that shooting things that blow up into the sky is very environmentally friendly. But oh man, how I love them. :)

And wooden roller coasters totally rock!

Hi Beth,

Highlighting the positives, like the Mexican food utensils, has value in creating dialogue where both sides can be winners. When people use such facilities, following the blog coverage, Disney may well decide to expand this approach and gain extra kudos in the process. Building good contacts is the best way to resolve difficult issues.

Let me first say that I in no way think I am holier than thou, despite what this email may sound like. What you do in your private life is so much more responsible than what I do, and what you do publicly on this blog really does change the world. So my serious apologies in advance if I sound incredibly snotty in this comment. Disney just brings out the evil in me…

My personal revulsion at Disney has very little to do with the corporation’s environmental impact–but your post makes realize that it is not totally unrelated. I think growing up being taught to see over-the-top profit-designed artificialness as beauty creates a great number of problems for both society and the planet. In other words, it isn’t just the waste that happens at Disney; it is the whole message.

(I promise to be back to “nice and appropriate” by my next comment.)

Recently I was at the beach for a bonfire with friends in Orange County and later in the evening someone suddenly spotted fireworks in the distance. Someone more familiar with the area said it was Disney. And although fireworks aren’t directly what you were referring to with regard to environmental impact (although from what I gather they aren’t that great), there was something somewhat intense about it, this symbolic visualizations of Disney’s effect. I was in a rare place, someplace where I felt somewhat isolated in the Los Angeles area, and Disney was shooting off fireworks that who knows how far people could see, every single night, making our little beach fire seem so insignificant.

Admittingly, I’m not a fan of theme parks. I live near Universal Studios Hollywood and they are constantly coming up with their own crazy, not so environmental, yet “green” plans. How many times can you keep on telling people to use reusable bags and not much else while handing out plastic bags left and right at your theme park, but still call yourself green? I see people constantly flocking to the train station from Universal Studios, carrying all sorts of plastic bags filled with plastic bottles shaped like Spongebob SquarePants wondering how many times they are actually going to use it before it’s tossed.

I love that Disneyland does the backend recycling. I imagine they recycle about 90% or more of everything sold that day because I see very few people make it back to their cars with any plastic trash. The huge problem is using all that plastic in the first place. I cringe at almost every food place I go to there. I think even pickles are served in plastic containers, if I am not mistaken. It makes me crazy. I go to D-land every other month on average. I wish every major company would switch to Greenware. Have you all seen this great line of “plastic” cups made from corn?
http://www.fabri-kal.com/product/greenware-cold-drink-cups/

I enjoy the theme parks, and I will likely visit with my own children at some point. I think that they could go a long way toward reducing waste, absolutely. But in terms of my issues with Disney, the energy they use at Disneyland is pretty low on the list. Of course, I live in Canada so it’s not like I am a regular patron by any stretch of the imagination, the last time I visited was 1993.

My issue with Disney is more all of the cheap plastic crap they make and sell to kids. The Disney Princess dolls and clothes and Happy Meal Toys and plastic cups and toothpaste and even fruit snacks. There is pretty much nothing that Disney won’t license, and that really contributes to the crazy consumerism. What I would really like to see is less of that stuff. Let me tell you, as the mother of a 4-year-old girl, I really just wish the Disney princesses would just go away altogether.

I grew up in Southern California and went to Disneyland 4-6 times a year. Every time we visit relatives in CA, we make a trip to Disneyland. Suffice it to say, I love the place. While I think we should continue to encourage Disney to make improvements and reduce their environmental impact, I am not prepared to avoid the occasional visit. Nor do I think we accomplish much for the environmental movement when we advocate boycotting all fun. I think it’s the things we do on a daily basis, rather than the once in awhile treat, that really count in the long run.

Firstly if you love something you should continue doing it. Beth you make enough sacrifices in your everyday life that the occasional trip to Disneyland is not going to cause the end of the world! Heck one of my hobbies is dirtbiking. Yep I ride bikes using gas, all across the So Cal mountains. Yes it uses fossil fuel and all the bike parts, and travel to get there, but I LOVE it. I love being green but that doesn’t mean I have to give up everything.

Secondly. My husband works for Disney Online. I can tell you that they do indeed do backend recycling. They do this at the parks and at all their offices/HQs. They also provide reusable travel type mugs for all the employees so they ARE looking at more sustainable sources. Like someone mentioned already with a company this big things just don’t happen overnight. They do have carpooling incentive payments for colleagues that carpool, and they also have incentives for employees using mass transport. Recycle bins are everywhere also. They really are making a lot of changes in their global impact. I believe in some places you can buy the organic/ethically made Disney clothing, but until the CONSUMER changes there isn’t much they can do. We have to remember that not everyone is as green conscious as we are. Disneyland has some of the best greenland of all the Amusement parks I’ve been to, they also use mostly native plants or climate appropriate plants to avoid excess watering. The fountains/ride water is recycled where possible so they do consider all issues. Trains now run on 100 percent biodiesel. Heck they recycled old ride parts for the Finding Nemo Attraction using subs from and older attraction. All plastic bags are 100& recycled (imagine just how many bags that is a year!) and they are selling tote bags also (as is everyone nowadays) so platic doesn’t HAVE To be an option for purchases.Remember this park is over 50 years old, and a lot of the original design remains, this was a period of time when we weren’t conscious of our global impact so they are having to work around existing infrastructure for the most part too. Sure I could do without all the plastic toys and crap like that but then nothing is perfect!

Thirdly, let me know when you go next, could be a cool trip! Haven’t been since September :)

Going green isn’t something that any entity can do overnight, no matter how large or small. It’s a big deal just for us housewives. Disney is a multi national corporation. It’s not something they can just snap their fingers and do. It takes time, even for us. They’re clearly working to overcome their shortcomings, and I think it’s a far better idea to work with them and keep sending them requests and so on.

While Jennifer Lance is right, she’s also not thinking rationally. You can’t criticize something that hasn’t realized it’s full green potential. They were awarded that title of California because they were making progress and showing leadership in that area. It was fully deserved, even though they still have a long way to do.

Does what they’ve done make up for what they use? No, but how about any of us? Is what we’re doing on an individual basis enough? I think it’s delusions of grandeur to think that it is. Maybe nothing will ever be enough. But, we can try, and that’s what Disney is clearly doing.

I think, at some point, we have to accept that our world is perfectly imperfect. As are we. Keep writing to Disney, keep pushing them to do better, and keep loving that childlike wonder you get at Disneyland. It’s all good.

Beauty and delight have value! We don’t want to eliminate them because they use resources. We want to quit wasting resources on things that don’t bring us joy, such as junk mail or plastic-wrapped bananas, so that our responsible budget goes 100% into things that bring health and happiness.

You are allowed to enjoy yourself, Beth. If Disney gives you pleasure, then enjoy and when you get home direct your environmental passion in their direction. We green bloggers want people to listen to us, to read our blogs, and to adopt some of our suggestions. If we are always wearing the hair shirt, no one will want to join us. Have some fun!!

Disney completely freaks me out.
I feel that’s it’s monolithically evil underneath the green washing.
I heard that the kids who make Disney’s 101 Dalmations toys in Haiti got 3 cents a day plus a bowl of rice and beans.
It breaks my heart and simultaneously makes me want to vomit.

I get the pretty lights thing though.
Maybe you’d like Burning Man and find some better listeners there when you raise issues of consumption. I’ve not been myself because of the fossil fuel consumption problems, but you are relatively nearby. I go to “Burner” parties here on the Toronto Islands so I get my fill of pretty fire!

Love & RRRevolution, Tracey

I ask myself the same question, especially at Christmas time when the holiday lights go up. I went to Zoo Lights at our zoo last year and I turned into a kid again marveling at all the lights in the trees and light and sound show over their lake but the eco grownup would pop up every once and awhile and ask if I could really enjoy all of this knowing how much electricity they were using? Especially when I make great pains to keep my use at 15 kwh a month? Maybe this is just me giving them a pass because I like holiday lights but when I saw the HUGE crowds there to see the lights and that one of the areas that’s open (and busy) is the recycling/eco house area that maybe people who come for the lights and don’t normally recycle might learn something and give it a try at home. Or maybe they will see how pretty the LED lights are (they converted to 100% LED lights this year) and try some and reduce their electricity use. I have to say, even if I wasn’t convinced that LEDs are the way to go to reduce electricity, I’d use them because they glow more and are much prettier.

I think we should keep working with Disney to try and get them to be more sustainable. We have to remember that the key is moderation. Also we aren’t going to shut down the parks and I don’t think that should be the point.

Someone asked me the other day about my love for football even though the NFL is not so green. I told him that footballs not going anyway so we should work with them, no point in boycotting.

Religious groups have boycotting Disney for years and they aren’t going anywhere. I did get a letter last year from Disney after asking them to use natural biodegradable cleaners in Animal Kingdom (because it’s highly important for the animals health) and I got a letter that was not just a form letter saying they have been working to make the switch. Yes they have a long way to go but they are smart business people so they know green is the in thing so now is the time to get them to listen. :)