Recently Disney Cruise Line released its 2010 Community Report, highlighting the many ways it is actively involved in making a difference in the port communities it frequents – from Europe to the Caribbean. The report showcases how Disney Cruise Line is giving back to communities around the world, practicing environmental stewardship and fostering an inclusive workplace for its cast and crew members.
Special Disney memories were created in some of the world’s most remarkable destinations where Disney ships traveled in 2010. Many children personally experienced the magic of Disney for the first time when beloved Disney characters visited hospitals and schools throughout Europe. The children’s ward at a hospital in Barcelona now features a larger-than-life mural of Disney characters, painted by more than 300 guests and shipboard volunteers when the Disney Magic spent a summer season in Europe.
In Papenburg, Germany, where the line’s first new ship in more than a decade was recently built, Disney, together with the Meyer Werft shipyard, placed a high focus on energy efficiency during construction. As a result the Disney Dream came online this past January with some of the most energy efficient equipment in the industry. Utilizing new technologies and minimizing waste continues to be a focus as Disney Cruise Line moves forward with its historic business expansion and completes construction of sister ship Disney Fantasy in early 2012.
Additional highlights from the report include:
Community Outreach
The cast and crew of Disney Cruise Line take great pride in giving back to many port communities around the world. This tradition of community service has long been a hallmark of the company culture. More than 3,200 children were visited by Disney characters in Disney Cruise Line ports of call last year.
- As part of a special summer season in Europe, crew members aboard the Disney Magic shared time with more than 1,400 children in 14 different countries across 22 ports of call.
- More than 550 wish trips were granted to children faced with life-threatening medical conditions.
- More than 300 Disney Magic guests joined shipboard crew in completing a larger-than-life, hand-painted mural of beloved Disney characters in partnership with the Foundation for Hospital Art. The finished piece brightened a children’s ward at a hospital in Barcelona.
The Environment
Disney Cruise Line is dedicated to minimizing our impact on the environment through efforts focused on utilizing new technologies, increasing fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and promoting conservation worldwide. The line strives to instill positive environmental stewardship in cast and crew members, and seeks to inspire others through programs that engage guests and the communities in Disney’s ports of call.
- Annual shore cleanups by cast and crew members have removed more than 33,000 pounds of trash and debris from entering fragile waterways.
- Shipboard recycling processes eliminate more than 405 tons of recyclables, including metals, plastics and paper, from traditional waste streams annually.
- Disney Cruise Line contributed generously to community organizations that focus on helping children and families and supporting the natural environment across 31 different communities in the ports we call home.
- Disney Cruise Line made energy efficiency a high priority when constructing the Disney Dream. As a result, the ship has some of the most energy-efficient equipment in the cruise industry, as well as several notable industry firsts, such as smart technology that self-adjusts temperatures throughout the ship.
The Workplace
Disney Cruise Line is committed to providing workplaces that foster safety, inclusion and respect both on land and at sea.
- Shipboard and shoreside Disney VoluntEARS devoted more than 4,500 hours of their personal time to assist nonprofit groups in Central Florida, The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Europe.
- Since safety of guests and crew members is of the utmost importance, all crew members must take part in comprehensive ongoing training. In 2010, crew members participated in more than 232,000 hours of safety training.
The Community Report represents the latest phase in Disney’s longstanding heritage of corporate social responsibility and reflects a company-wide effort to build an integrated, transparent strategy that focuses on serving the needs of primary stakeholders, including guests, cast and crew members, shareholders, business partners and local communities.
As part of The Walt Disney Company’s consolidated corporate responsibility report, the Disney Cruise Line Community Report reflects activities between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. To view the complete 2010 Disney Cruise Line report, please visit: http://community.disneycruisenews.com/.
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