Hello all! Isabel here again, and today we will be discussing a few aspects of Disnyland in Anaheim, California, as being a major location for sustainable tourism.

Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, is a leader amongst many in a new category of travel: sustainable tourism. Walt Disney himself was a proponent to environmental respect and sound environmental practices with his ever-growing tourism business sector. Just small adjustments to some of Disney’s operations created a sound business model, which does not disturb the environment. For example, the many trains chugging through Disneyland Park are fueled with a soy-based biodiesel as an effort to decrease fuel emission. On a train track that spans 1.5 miles long in a loop, chugging through the park from 9 am to 8 pm, imagine how much of an affect it would have on the ecosystem if it were run by standard gasoline! Even the Mark Twain Riverboat is run on cooking oil biodiesel, maintaining friendly emissions from the Rivers of America in the park.

Disneyland has replaced old lighting and fixtures with more energy-efficient alternatives, and increased efficiency of chillers, heat exchanges, air handlers and pumps through technology enhancements and controls in an effort to conserve energy in terms of Disneyland’s climate and energy operations. Every time I have visited Disneyland, I have always been curious to see the electricity bills of such a huge establishment, just imagine! At night when all the lights on trees, rides, resorts light up, it is a spectacle to the eye, however I am sure it is not kind to Disney’s budget. It is reassuring to know that Disneyland has been proactive in minimizing not only their costs, but minimizing the energy that the park requires. The surrounding residential land in Anaheim is not affected by Disneyland’s expenses only because of their consistent efforts to minimize energy usage. This goes hand in hand with Walt Disney’s wishes to leave the environment undisturbed around his parks.

Sustainable tourism is especially noticeable with the consistent construction occurring in tourist areas. I have recently visited Las Vegas, Nevada, and am one of many tourists who frequently visit yet am always taking detours on the sidewalks due to construction. The fumes and ruble visible to a regular bystander in Las Vegas make me wonder how unfriendly construction efforts are. This is not the case in Disneyland. Disneyland Park has very high standards for its construction and refurbishing of attractions. Responsible wood is located for its buildings and attractions, literally framing Disneyland with consciously attained material. Existing recycling programs at the park have diminished construction-related waste with the recycling of steel and wood. To me, these efforts in the construction of new buildings and attractions maintain sustainable tourism for generations to come. Those who will visit Disneyland in the future should be comforted to know that the bridges they walk on in the park did not come from endangered rain forests.

Water conservation efforts have enabled Disneyland’s aquifer withdrawals to remain level over the past 20 years of Disneyland’s operation. 6 million gallons of water is reclaimed every day to recharge the park’s aquifer. With 14 water attractions alone in Disneyland, this water recycling effort allows for the park to eliminate over consumption of water from its surrounding area. Take a look at Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise, which has been decorated for the upcoming holidays! The Jungle Cruise is a famous attraction that used to operate on an open waterway and now floats visitors through an authentic jungle ecosystem.

I am glad to say that Disneyland Park in Anaheim has made multiple efforts to maximize sustainability for its tourists. Hopefully you too will be floating along the Jungle Cruise soon!