If you’ve been following along, you may already be well aware of Disney’s conservation efforts which were announced in late July. Measures to eliminate plastic waste in Disney destinations worldwide include refillable amenities in Resort rooms and the reduction of plastic shopping bags as well as the reduction of plastic straws used at the resorts and restaurants. It was announced that these efforts were to be in place by mid-2019.
Single-Use Plastic Straws to be Eliminated
However, implementations have already begun in earnest. We just reported that plastic straws are now available only by request at several restaurants in Walt Disney World. And now, we’ve learned that Disneyland Resort is set to eliminate single-use plastic straws, lids, and shopping bags across property this week.
According to Mouse Mail (an official Disneyland publication) plastic straws are to be available only by request. And plastic lids for adult iced beverages will no longer be offered. (Currently in Disney World, kids will continue to get plastic straws in the kids’ cups.) Please note that guests with disabilities who may require a straw or lid for their beverage will be accommodated with alternative options, and the Services for Guests with Disabilities team will be available before and during visits.
Plastic shopping bags will only be available by request in merchandise locations as well.
Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff confectionery and merchandise shop
According to Disney’s Bob Chapek, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products: “Eliminating plastic straws and other plastic items are meaningful steps in our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship. These new global efforts help reduce our environmental footprint, and advance our long-term sustainability goals.” Disney also invites guests to explore the following website: www.thewaltdisneycompany.com/environment.
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What do you think of these conservation efforts in Disneyland? Please let us know with a comment!
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ok, so what is the bag alternative? Paper bags? Then you’re cutting down more trees….
I’m all for eliminating plastic, but if I don’t ask for a bag when I buy a souvenir will I get no bag at all… even paper?
Also, I consider the plastic shopping bags to be souvenirs in themselves.
I think not getting a bag for the items that you purchased is cheap. If you are at home and walking to your car then driving home that is one thing. However, we are on vacation buying items at an amusement park walking around all day. I also like having straw for my drinks. I am grossed out by people touching the rim of my cup.
So now we will have sticky messes on the ground and floors from all the drinks that get spilt.
I love this and I really hope people don’t start freaking out. Plastic is a convenient crutch that is hurting our environment. We managed without these things in the past. I went to a Disney store at a local mall last month and they simply told me they were trying not to use plastic and offered me a reusable bag for $1. Now we have a great Disney bag that we use for trips to the library. If anyone is worried about spilled drinks then bring a reusable cup. It may not be convenient but it is better for the world that we are giving to our children and their children.
Actually, I’m looking forward to the Disney themed reusable straws they will start selling! 😉 Since I live in California where this ban is everywhere the Disney straws will be handy to carry around.
Why not substitute paper straws for the plastic straws? And no lids??? I feel for the parents with smaller kids (even adults), this is a disaster just waiting to happen.
Are slurpees going to be served with a straw still or are they going to hike up the price and include a Mickey crazy straw like in WDW? I’m gonna need to order one of those reusable straw kits you showed the other day. TBH I’d like them to just switch over to paper straws entirely. I really enjoy them at Animal Kingdom.
As an adult I don’t spill many drinks, but I do like a lid, especially outside. I prefer not to have bugs swimming in my drink!!
The statement, “bags, lids, straws will still be available on request “, is another way to say Disney will charge you if you request!!
I was curious about the bags. I wonder if they’re going to have paper bags.
Please consider refillable drink cups like every other theme park. You can have your lid and straw and bring them back every time. Less cup waste as well.
I’m all for this but now bugs in my drink and not to mention people constantly bumping into you constantly..I don’t want to be covered in drinks. Hope Disney thinks of something alternative and not at an outrageous price.
I like how they spin it as saving the economy but really I’m sure it’s saving them a ton of money. If they were to it for the right reasons, wouldn’t they eliminate balloons too? Oh yeah I forgot how much $$$ they make off those….
For some reason, I thought WDW always recycled plastic and other things so that they weren’t going into a landfill. Am I wrong in this? Because if they’ve always recycled – so there’s no detriment to the environment – what’s the rationale for switching to paper? — I’m certainly not against paper [when I was little, all straws were paper!], but I’d just like to know the factual reason: e.g., it’s good press because it shows environmental stewardship; WDW wasn’t recycling and now wants to take action to help right environmental wrongs; they’ve found a paper supplier that makes switching economically advantageous, etc. I’m truly curious about the reason(s).
I was at Animal Kingdom in June and asked about the switch to the paper straws and a cast member said that it was to protect the animals there so they wouldn’t accidentally eat plastic. This struck me as bizarre because I can’t imagine an elephant casually strolling over to where the nightly garbage is stored and gorging on plastic bottles/straws, etc. And I don’t see Disney employees accidentally dropping off trash in the animals’ pens. So that reason just didn’t sound real.
It doesn’t hurt that they will also save a ton of money… I doubt any of the savings will be passed on…
Margaret,
Unfortunately not everyone actually throws their trash away in the trash can like you do. Sometimes they’re dropped or thrown on the ground. You’re cleanliness is appreciated but your egocentric veiw is not.
I also thought that WDW was recycling discarded plastic. Walking with drinks without covers and without straws will result in wet, sticky hands and slippery, sticky walking surfaces. You think children will not spill their drinks, let alone adults? This new regulation will be a major inconvenience to any family visiting either Disney Land or Disney World and should be scrapped! Instead, Walt Disney should think of innovative ways to improve and expand their recycling procedures.
It’s not really eliminating these items if you can simply ask for them.
Will they still wrap your purchase in a bag if you have them send your park purchase to your hotel?
In regaurds to Disney recycling: there are no plastic single-use straws that are recyclable. Plastic straws are banned at any zoo or animal attraction as they can and do find their way to animals. They are lightweight and roll easily. If someone drops one it can travel very quickly.
@Ryan – Thank you! After reading your comment, I did a bit of online research. It seems that most single-use straws are made of #2 or #5 plastic which is considered recyclable, but most recycling centers don’t take straws – and those that do, sort through things and straws are left with other unusable items and end up in landfills or in our oceans. I didn’t realize this. For some reason, I thought that if it was recyclable, it was recycled – chopped up, melted down, reformulated, or whatever and reused, i.e., recycled. — I actually save my straws from drinks that I get when I’m out and wash and reuse them at home in my protein shakes. But because of knowing a bit more about this, I’ll be refusing those plastic straws from now on. – So this Grandma is on board 100%!
How about replacing the drinking fountains with bottle refilling stations and stop selling aquafina? Oh wait, $6 water, that’s why! The don’t care about the enviroment, just profits!
I think the worst part in the shopping bags. Guests spend good money in shops and making them ask for a bag when they just dropped 200 in a stores. I fully appreciate the efforts Disney is making, but the endgame for me is just spending less money. I dont carry bags big Enough to fit souvenirs.
This is such nonense, and the lid thing in particular is just ASKING for more messes. I really hope they still have the option to get lids, straws and bags by the time I go there, and that they don’t try to charge people extra for them.