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Walt Disney World 2010: "Give a Day,
Get a Disney Day"
Anchors a Year of New Beginnings and Many Happy Returns
UPDATE!!! A March 9, 2010 press release
(directly below) calls an end to this celebration!
“Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” – a first-of-its-kind program of Disney Parks – reached its goal of inspiring 1 million people in 2010 to give back to their communities through volunteer service in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Since the program started just 10 weeks ago, on Jan. 1, a million people already have volunteered or have committed to volunteer in their communities, according to Disney Parks and HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network and a facilitator of “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”
To celebrate the good deeds of these individuals, Disney Parks offered each volunteer who completed an eligible project a free one-day admission to one theme park in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland Resort in California. Although registration is now closed and the program has ended, those who volunteered have until Dec. 15, 2010, to redeem their free park ticket (certain block-out dates apply).
“By any measure, the ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program exceeded our expectations,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “These one million volunteers touched their communities with their hearts and hands. Their commitment to service is truly worth celebrating, and there’s no better place to celebrate than at Disney Parks.”
Volunteerism has been a part of the Disney culture since the beginning. Through Disney VoluntEARS, cast members have been giving back to communities for more than a quarter century. More than 5.5 million hours of volunteer service worldwide have been donated, and Disney’s commitment to volunteerism will continue even as “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” draws to a close.
Officials at HandsOn Network credited the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program for increasing volunteer activities this year.
“The innovative nature of this program has exponentially increased our capacity to both invite and excite people about volunteerism,” said Michelle Nunn, co-founder of HandsOn Network and CEO of Points of Lights Institute. “The overwhelming participation of families – and youth especially – is a testament to a growing trend. Many of these volunteers are serving for the first time, and some will develop into service leaders who help change the face of our nation.”
Encouraging that kind of commitment was one aim of the Disney program, Staggs said.
“The goal of the ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ program was to lay the groundwork for a new spirit of volunteerism,” he said. “The need for volunteers across the country is ongoing. We look forward to more people, especially families, carrying on the momentum and giving back to their communities through volunteerism.”
Neighborhoods in need were the big beneficiaries of “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” – from San Juan to San Diego, Vero Beach to Vancouver.
In Puerto Rico, 500 volunteers cleaned the beaches of Vaciatalega and La Perla located in the vicinity of Old San Juan. In Oakville, Ontario, a neighborhood center got new shelving and a spruced-up mural.
In Boston, volunteers served meals to people in need, knitted and crocheted scarves and mittens for children afflicted with life-threatening illnesses and helped as caregivers at an animal adoption center. In California, San Francisco Bay-area volunteers helped with basic English lessons, painted park benches and planted flowers.
In Jacksonville, Fla., volunteers painted murals and spruced up rooms at a home for women and children, while in Pittsburgh they took on construction tasks – tiling, sanding, staining and painting – to help create affordable housing.
Although the program has ended and a free Disney theme park ticket will no longer be provided, those still interested in volunteering may search for opportunities through HandsOn Network at HandsOnNetwork.org (or in Canada, at govolunteer.ca).
Year to Volunteer:
Donald and Daisy Duck help Miami residents paint a mural Sept.
29, 2009 during a "HandsOn Miami" volunteer
effort at the Miami River in Miami's Little Havana area. More
than 200 community residents volunteered to clean up
the river's shoreline and revitalize the area. It was all part
of the announcement to launch Disney Parks’ new
program
for 2010 called “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” To
celebrate volunteerism, Disney Parks will give a free one-day
admission
to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park
to 1 million people in the U.S. and Canada who perform
volunteer service
with a participating organization starting Jan. 1, 2010.
With a turn of the calendar comes a twist to
the celebrating: In 2010, Disney Parks will join in the
celebration, saluting those guests who devote their hearts and
hands to make their communities better places.
One million people who perform volunteer
service for a participating organization in 2010 will receive
a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort
or Disneyland Resort theme park. The program,
called “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day,” anchors a year when
ground will be broken on the largest expansion in Magic
Kingdom history, Disney sports becomes more invigorating than
ever, Disney Cruise Line introduces new entertainment and
activities, and Walt Disney World theme parks and Downtown
Disney present 2010 editions of popular festivals and events. Here's
a brief look: "Give a Day, Get a Disney
Day" (beginning January 1, 2010)--Disney hopes
to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during
2010 through this first-of-its-kind program that “rewards”
volunteer service with admission for a day to a Disney theme
park. To enable people to sign up for an eligible
volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the
nation’s largest volunteer network. Starting Jan. 1,
2010, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com
for the United States and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca
for Canada to search for volunteer opportunities available in
those areas through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of
volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for
projects that entire families with children age 6 or older can
participate in together. 
Helping Hands: Kids
recently gathered together for a beautification project at an
Atlanta neighborhood school
as part of the "Give a Day, Get A Disney Day"
announcement. Families are invited to catch the volunteer
spirit
in 2010. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010 anyone who volunteers for an
eligible project through HandsOn Network will receive
a one-day theme park ticket to Walt Disney World Resort or
Disneyland Resort. Disney is hoping to inspire
one million people to give back to their communities through
the unprecedented "Give a Day, Get A Disney Day"
program.
Disney's
Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade (beginning January 8, 2010)--Each
afternoon just before the daily parade at Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom (and at Disneyland Park in California), Muppets
characters and parade dancers will join special floats and
vehicles celebrating volunteerism and presenting Honorary
VoluntEARS serving as Grand Marshals of the parades. Kermit,
Miss Piggy and Sweetums will be part of the merriment, while
the dancers will be donning outfits that celebrate the work of
volunteers. Fantasyland
Expansion--An early-2010 groundbreaking will mark the
beginning of a three-year construction project that will
result in a vastly expanded Magic Kingdom Fantasyland. When
the project is completed (tentative timetable is 2013), guests
will be able to:
-
Visit a Disney princess in her castle,
cottage or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella;
celebrate Sleeping Beauty’s birthday with the Good
Fairies; or join Belle in an enchanting story performance
in the Beast’s castle library.
-
"Be Our Guest” and dine in one of
three enchanted rooms inside the Beast’s castle.
-
Fly with Dumbo high above brand-new circus
grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a
new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
-
Journey under the sea with Ariel, the
Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Relaunch
(February 2010)--A re-imagining project involving ESPN and
the Disney sports complex, the leading multi-sport venue in
the nation, aims to create immersive and entertaining sports
experiences for athletes, coaches and fans by incorporating
signature elements of ESPN in ways that will connect athletes
and coaches with their favorite ESPN programs, personalities
and elements. Guests will discover a new welcome center,
a digital center where video captured by 44 cameras across the
220-acre sports campus is edited for display on 40 video
screens and two “jumbotrons” throughout the complex as
part of a veritable “Wide World of SportsCenter,” and the
new ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill. Meanwhile, behind
the scenes, technical staff will continue work in the
Innovation Lab to develop ground-breaking ESPN on-air products
– using the action throughout the complex as a real-world
testing environment.
Disney Cruise Line Castaway Cay
Enhancements (by Summer 2010)--Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise
Line’s private island paradise in the tropical waters of the
Bahamas, is getting an extra dose of pixie dust – providing
guests with more water-based family-fun, additional
conveniences and a slice of beachside luxury all designed to
complement the idyllic island setting. Here’s a
snapshot of what’s in store:
-
Guests can slide and splash at a new water
feature called Pelican Plunge, a
2,400-square-foot floating platform located within
swimming distance from shore and featuring an enclosed
corkscrew waterslide, a 140-foot-long open waterslide, a
giant water-filled “bucket dump” and four water
cannons.
-
A
brand-new, 2,400-square-foot water play area called Spring-a-Leak
helps guests cool off while immersing them in what
appears to be the remnants of a washed-away beach
dwelling. The watery fun begins as guests enter the
storm-ravaged structure, greeted by dripping pipes, broken
plumbing and hissing misters, exposed and twisted by the
tropical tempest that wiped out the original structure.
-
The Castaway Family Beach
is being extended by more than 700 feet for families to
enjoy the pristine white sand, build sand castles, relax
in the shade under an umbrella and take a dip in the warm
azure waters of the lagoon. Dotting the expanded
Castaway Family Beach are 16 new family cabanas offering
the privacy and luxury of a deluxe beach retreat.
Disney Cruise Line Spectacle "Villains
Tonight!" (March 27, 2010 premiere)--The first
full-scale musical production dedicated to the Disney
villains, the show is a family-friendly, fun-filled musical
extravaganza that places these famous characters in some
irreverent funny moments. “Villains Tonight!”
features a “Who’s Who” of the Disney villains, including
Disney’s newest crook, Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and
the Frog.” The show also features classic divas and
scoundrels such as Ursula (“The Little Mermaid”), the Evil
Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Captain Hook
(“Peter Pan”) and Scar (“The Lion King”). The
revue-style show initially will be showcased on the Disney
Magic and then will delight guests aboard the new Disney Dream
cruise ship in early 2011.
Disney Cruise Line European Season Port
Adventures (Summer 2010)--To help families better explore
the culture and wonder of Europe, Disney Cruise Line is
working closely with local tour operators to create
family-friendly Port Adventures for 10- and 11-night
Mediterranean voyages and 12-night Northern Europe cruises in
summer 2010. Developed specifically for Disney Cruise
Line guests, these adventures feature Disney touches designed
to entertain and inspire both children and adults while
providing an impeccable level of guest service that pays close
attention to the special travel needs of families. While
every port of call will offer Port Adventures for families to
enjoy together, many tours integrate separate activities for
children and adults. While kids are engaged in
age-appropriate activities supervised by youth counselors from
the ship, parents are given the opportunity to explore
cultural sites and points of interest in greater depth. Examples,
depending on voyage:
-
A
Prince and Princess Ball in St. Petersburg, Russia, at
the
majestic Catherine Palace hosted by Disney princesses such
as Cinderella, Snow White and Belle. Arriving by
horse-drawn carriages, the princesses and their princes
will entertain guests in the gilded Grand Ballroom. Live
musicians and royal courtiers resplendent in period
costumes and powdered wigs add to the ambiance and lead
guests in song, dance and regal revelry.
-
Sidi
Bou Said Treasure Hunt in Tunis,
a family-friendly quest that brings to life the culture,
sites, sounds and flavors of this destination by following
a series of clues. During this adventure, families
visit a traditional Tunisian house, learn about the origin
of Sidi Bou Said from a local storyteller, receive a
hand-painted henna tattoo, bargain with local merchants
for a keepsake water vessel, sip freshly prepared mint tea
and get their name written in Arabic as a souvenir.
-
Tuscan
Cooking School in La Spezia,
where an Italian chef provides one-on-one instruction and
guides the hands-on preparation of an authentic Tuscan
meal. Guests enjoy their culinary creations such as
antipasto, grilled meats, pasta, focaccia and cantucci –
traditional Tuscan almond biscotti – while sampling
wines bottled onsite at the farmhouse.
Walt Disney
World Signature Events and Festivals (throughout 2010)--The
2010 editions of eight guest-favorite theme park special
events and the longest-running Walt Disney World special
event, at Downtown Disney, plus the return of marquee sports
events will dot the calendar throughout the year. In
fact, there will be at least one special event happening on
more than 160 days. Guest celebrities – from
horticultural gurus to culinary wizards to national recording
artists to stars of the stage and screen to heroes of courts
and fields – will participate in events such as ESPN The
Weekend, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Star
Wars Weekends, Night of Joy, Epcot International Food
& Wine Festival and Holidays Around The World. More
than 100 award-winning visual artists from across the country
will “show off” at the 36th annual Festival of the Masters
at Downtown Disney. Disney’s iconic “big cheese”
will host Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select evenings.
Stars from the top tier of professional baseball,
professional golf and college basketball will compete when
Walt Disney World Resort plays host to the Atlanta Braves’
baseball spring training, the Children’s Miracle Network
Classic for PGA TOUR players, and the Old Spice Classic
college basketball tournament.
Give a Day, Get a Disney Day Program
A Disney Day: Walt
Disney Company President and CEO, Robert Iger (left), is
joined by Teri Hatcher, James Denton and
HandsOn Network President, Amy Smith (right), are joined by
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy for an announcement
by Disney Parks at a volunteer event in Los Angeles, Calif.,
on Tuesday. In a first-of-its-kind program, Disney Parks
in 2010 will give a free one-day admission to a Walt Disney
World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park to
one million people in the U.S. and Canada who perform
volunteer service with a participating organization.
As part of "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day," Disney
Parks is working with HandsOn Network, the nation's
largest
volunteer network, to connect families and individual
volunteers to projects.
Disney
Parks Hopes to Inspire 1 Million Volunteers Beginning Jan. 1
Disney
Parks is launching a program that celebrates the spirit of
volunteer service with a simple proposition: “Give a Day,
Get a Disney Day.”
Disney hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their
communities during 2010 through this first-of-its-kind
program. One million people who perform volunteer service
for a participating organization will receive a free one-day
admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland
Resort theme park.
While the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program kicks off
Jan. 1, right now guests can learn more about the program and
how to get their free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World
or Disneyland theme park by visiting www.DisneyParks.com
(for the United States and Puerto Rico) or www.DisneyParks.ca
(for Canada).
In the past year, guests have been celebrating all sorts of
special moments in their lives at Disney parks – from
birthdays and anniversaries to reunions and graduations –
as part of the “What Will You Celebrate?” campaign.
“In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for
celebration: the contributions people make to their
communities every day,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of
Walt
Disney
Parks
and Resorts. “We want to inspire 1 million volunteers
– people who will invest time and energy to make their own
communities and neighborhoods a better place.”
To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project,
Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest
volunteer network. Part of Points of Light Institute,
HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers
across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000
nonprofit agencies that need their help.
“Wherever we live, our communities need our hands-on help to
thrive,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light
Institute. “We are thrilled at this unprecedented
effort by Disney Parks to help mobilize 1 million volunteers
into action. ‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ has the
potential to reach so many families and instill the volunteer
spirit in a new generation.”
Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said,
“‘Give a Day, Get a Disney Day’ fits perfectly with our
long history of supporting and participating in volunteer
efforts. It’s a great way to honor guests who are
making a positive contribution to their communities.”
Starting Jan. 1, 2010, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com
for the
United States
and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca
for
Canada
to search for volunteer opportunities available in those areas
through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer
service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects
that entire families can participate in together.
To raise awareness for grass-roots community volunteerism and
the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, Disney
VoluntEARS and volunteers from Southwest Airlines are joining
with local volunteers on projects coordinated by HandsOn
Network in cities across
North America
this fall and winter. Southwest Airlines also is
providing transportation for the initiative.
“Southwest Airlines strives to make a positive difference in
the communities we serve, from protecting the environment to
supporting a local cause,” said Linda Rutherford, vice
president of Communications and Strategic Outreach, Southwest
Airlines. “Southwest employees give back both locally
and nationally through volunteerism, with individual and
personal efforts, serving together as teams or through
companywide efforts. The opportunity with Disney unites
two companies that are devoted to the spirit of volunteerism.”
Give a Day, Get a Disney Day details:
Must pre-register and sign up for
eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket
quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least
age 6 to participate. Other terms and conditions apply.
For details, see disneyparks.com in the
United States
and
Puerto Rico
. In
Canada
, see disneyparks.ca.
About HandsOn Network
The volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute,
HandsOn Network is the largest volunteer network in the nation
and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach
more than 83 percent of the nation’s population and extend
to 10 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of
more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations
that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled
impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30
million hours of volunteer service.
Despite
Economic Times, Family Volunteering On the Rise
Disney
Press Release dated November 20, 2009
What downturn? Family volunteering
is bucking the economic tide and riding an upturn with
more people giving of their time and working together toward
bettering their communities. More moms, statistics show,
are seeking out budget-pleasing activities for the entire
family that are fun and engage their kids in civic awareness
while helping others.
According to HandsOn
Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network, parents are
increasingly seeing how respect, teamwork and compassion are
traits that volunteerism seeds in their young children. Reports
show that youth are genuinely glad to volunteer (88%) and
would be more engaged in service if their family was involved
(40%). What parents perceive as the biggest challenge,
however, is not knowing where to go to find existing volunteer
opportunities that work for families.
As part of the increasing
trend of families volunteering together, HandsOn Network
is celebrating Family Volunteer Day, sponsored by Disney
Parks, on Nov. 21. Commemorated annually on the
Saturday before Thanksgiving, Family Volunteer Day kicks off
the holiday season with giving and service.
“Family Volunteer Day
demonstrates the power of families coming together to impact
their communities through volunteering,” said HandsOn
Network President Amy Smith. “As Americans approach the
holiday season and navigate through challenging economic
times, families are looking for ways to create memories
together inexpensively, as well as make a positive influence
in their communities."
HandsOn Network can help
families find service projects for Family Volunteer Day and
any other day of the year. Through its more than 250
HandsOn Action Centers, the network connects volunteers with
opportunities that both interest them and tackle tough
challenges facing communities such as education, the
environment and the economy.
For Disney Parks,
supporting the spirit of volunteer service doesn’t end with
Family Volunteer Day. On Jan. 1, 2010, Disney Parks
launches “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” Under this
first-of-its-kind program (to learn more about the program: www.DisneyParks.com),
1 million people who perform volunteer service for a
participating organization in 2010 will receive a free one-day
admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland
Resort theme park.
Here are just a few
examples of volunteer activities listed by HandsOn Network
that are perfect for families looking to make a difference and
enjoy spending a day in service together:
-
Visit seniors and make
seasonal crafts, play games or share stories.
-
Help sort, inspect and
pack donated items at a local food bank.
-
Gather new or gently
used books, DVDs and games for children in homeless
shelters.
-
Raise awareness for a
good cause and participate in a local charity walk.
-
Get outdoors and clean
up or restore a park.
However families choose to
engage in service, family volunteering can mobilize thousands
of new volunteers to meet community needs and instill a
lifelong commitment to volunteering in youth.
Some of the high-impact,
creative projects going on around the country this Family
Volunteer Day include:
Boston Cares, a HandsOn
affiliate, is hosting two events for Family Volunteer Day.
Families can help the Lowell Wish Project by sorting
donations such as clothing, food and domestic products, or
help John Eliot K-8 School by assembling and decorating indoor
recess packets that will help improved student literacy
and learning.
The National
Children’s Museum in the Washington, D.C., region is
celebrating Family Volunteer Day at Oxon Hill Farm, an
important historical landmark and part of the National Park
Service. Volunteers will clear a trail as park rangers
help them discover native plants and animals. The
families will enjoy wagon rides at the conclusion of their
successful day of service.
The Montefiore Medical
Center in New York City is bringing together its employee
and patient families to visit a local nursing home and
entertain the residents. This Montefiore program has a
dual goal: doing a good deed and establishing friendships with
others from different generations.
The United Way of
Larimer County, a HandsOn affiliate, manages a Family
Volunteer Day program that follows the
Give-Educate-Advocate-Volunteer model. Families are
encouraged to: give items like books and canned goods, educate
themselves on social issues in their area such as poverty,
be an advocate by passing along the knowledge they’ve
learned, and volunteer their afternoon by making
holiday greeting cards and making journals for local youth in
foster care programs.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, Disney
Parksand HandsOn Network are celebrating family
volunteerism and Disney Parks will give a free one-day
admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland
Resort theme park to 1 million people who perform community
service for a participating organization. Right now,
families can visit www.DisneyParks.com to learn more about the
program and how to get their free Disney park ticket.
Must pre-register and
sign up for eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Ticket
quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least
age 6 to participate. One ticket per person. Other
terms and conditions apply. For details, see
disneyparks.com.
About HandsOn
Network
HandsOn Network, the
volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the
largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than
250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83% of the
nation’s population and extend to ten countries.
HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000
corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are
answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact.
In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours
of volunteer service valued at $615 million. For more
information, visit handsonnetwork.org.
About
Walt
Disney
Parks
and Resorts
Walt
Disney
Parks
and Resorts are where dreams come true. More than 50
years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment
families could experience together, immersed in detailed
atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now
includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family
vacation destinations – Disneyland
Resort,
Anaheim
,
Calif.
; Walt Disney World Resort,
Lake Buena Vista
,
Fla.
; Tokyo Disney Resort,
Urayasu,
Chiba
,
Japan
; Disneyland Resort Paris,
Marne-la-Vallée
,
France
; and Hong Kong Disneyland
Resort,
Lantau
Island
,
Hong Kong
,
China
. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes
the world-class Disney Cruise
Line; Disney Vacation Club, with nine resorts and more than
420,000 members; Adventures
by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the
world’s most popular destinations; Disney
Regional Entertainment, which operates the ESPN
Zone dining and entertainment
centers; the World of Disney
stores; and Walt
Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney
parks, resorts and attractions. For more information and
images, please visit www.disneyparks.com.
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