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Walt Disney World Receives Award for Autism Awareness

WDW receives autism award

Often unheralded, but used every day, Walt Disney World has top of the industry support and services for accommodating guests with disabilities. So it’s nice when they get recognized for it. The most recent award has come from across the pond. The Gold Autism Award was presented to Disney on behalf of The United Kingdom Autism Foundation for Disney’s efforts supporting and accommodating autistic guests.

The Gold Autism Award, accepted by Greg Hale, Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Standards and Auditing, was presented by Ivan Corea, father of an autistic child, Charin Corea. The award recognizes Disney’s initiatives to help guests with disabilities navigate the Walt Disney World Resort properties in an easy and effortless way.

Charin has inspired an entire autism movement in the United Kingdom. His parents initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year and they founded Autism Sunday which is now a massive international event celebrated in many countries including the United States. The inspiration behind all of this is Charin, a teenager with autism spectrum disorder and a communication disorder, who has inspired world leaders to speak up for people with autism and Asperger syndrome.

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Disney World Recognizes Local Students

One of the many fun jobs Walt Disney World’s ambassadors enjoy is to take Mickey Mouse out to reward achievers in the community. This last week, Mickey Mouse visited local schools this week to recognize 18 students in the five-county area as Disney Dreamers & Doers Shining Stars.

Disney Dreamers & Doers recognizes students throughout Central Florida who serve as role models at school, at home and in their community. Approximately 400 students were chosen as their school’s 2012 Disney Dreamer & Doer.

In addition to a visit from Mickey Mouse and the prize patrol, Disney Dreamers & Doers ShiningStars receive a Mickey Mouse statue known as a “Mousecar”, Walt Disney World annual theme park passes for themselves and their immediate family, a gold medallion and a special invitation to attend the upcoming Kids and Nature Celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.

From the Dreamers & Doers, a panel of judges selected 18 Shining Stars from elementary, middle and high schools in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties, as well as the Florida Virtual School. These students are considered the best of the best. They consistently demonstrate outstanding character, lead by example and have a caring spirit.

“The Disney Dreamers & Doers program is just one way we demonstrate our commitment to the children of Central Florida,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of Community Relations for Walt Disney World Resort. “We are so proud of all these students, especially the Shining Stars. They offer bright hope for the future as each of them has a special spark. They truly are making a difference in our community and inspiring others to do the same.”

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Disney Dream Wins Critics Choice for Best New Cruise Ship

Popular Cruise Line information site, Cruise Critic, has named the best of the best in the industry and Disney Cruise Lines took home some bragging rights. Disney Dream was named the “Best New Ship” and also carried off the award for “Best Inside Cabin.” Disney… Read More »Disney Dream Wins Critics Choice for Best New Cruise Ship

Cars 2 being cast as non-contender for Academy Award

Raise your hand if you seriously thought Cars 2 would be an Oscar contender this year. Yeah, right. Me neither. It was a good effort, but lacked the heart and story craft that separated previous Pixar films from the pack. Yet, for some reason the… Read More »Cars 2 being cast as non-contender for Academy Award

Cooking up a new story for Dick Cook, Former Disney Studio Boss

Not every film can be a hit, but Dick Cook’s record at Walt Disney Studios was much better than average. Disney’s had two films that grossed more than a Billion dollars last year, the first ever studio to achieve that milepost, both of which got… Read More »Cooking up a new story for Dick Cook, Former Disney Studio Boss

Vote 4 The Disney Blog at the Orbbies!

I’m proud to say that The Disney Blog is up for an Orbbie for best Theme Park blog over at the Orlando Sentinel. I’d certainly appreciate it if you head on over the place your vote on the blog’s behalf. Remember, Vote daily! Thank you!

Leonard Maltin Named First Disneyana Fan Club Heritage Award Honoree

Well, the name change may not yet be official, but that hasn’t stopped the Disneyana Fan Club, aka NFFC, from moving forward. A new award honoring individuals outside the Walt Disney Company who have made significant contributions to promoting awareness of, as well as the preservation of, Disney history, will be awarded from the first time in January.

The first recipient of the NFFC—Disneyana Fan Club Heritage Award is Leonard Maltin. In addition to his internationally best selling series of books, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide, Mr. Maltin’s other works include, Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons and The Disney Films. Additionally, he wrote the television special, Fantasia: The Creation of a Disney Classic.

Mr. Maltin is also active in the home entertainment field hosting and producing, among other titles, the popular series of Walt Disney Treasures DVDs.

More about the luncheon and Maltin’s contributions below the jump. But don’t forget the December 10-13 Holiday Show and Sale in Orlando in the meantime. Learn more at NFFC.org.

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Pixar honored at Venice Film Festival

Remember that recent acquisition made by the Walt Disney Company, no not Spider Man, but Buzz Lightyear. Pixar has turned out pretty good for Disney and the rest of the world knows it. Now John Lasseter and the team from Emeryville has been honored at… Read More »Pixar honored at Venice Film Festival