New York – Disney is offering a free day’s admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., in 2010.
Would-be volunteers must register online with Disney and must be residents of the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico to be eligible for the free admission.
Disney is partnering with HandsOn Network, a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities, to connect people with projects and to certify that the work was done.
“We are trying to inspire 1 million people to volunteer in their communities and we’re inspiring them to do that by giving them a free day at a Disney park,” Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Rasulo called the promotion “very timely,” citing the increased needs of nonprofits in the weak economy, as well as President Barack Obama’s national volunteering initiative.
Duncan Dickson, who teaches theme park management at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen School of Hospitality Management in Orlando, said the volunteer initiative is “a smart marketing move.”
Dickson said Disney will get good buzz for encouraging volunteerism plus free publicity from the nonprofits that benefit. And even when theme parks let people in for free, they make their money back in other ways, Dickson said.
“You make a lot of money in popcorn and T-shirts and other things,” Dickson said.
sounds “Goofy” to me
Can I get the hours by Volunteering for Hatzalah, Chavairim?
Disney should hook up with Lev L’achim. Or Chabad!!!
bet ya they got money for this from none other than obama! call it stimulus shtimulus whatever, or rather lets call obamas pets acorn to find a name for the grant which won’t show.
Its basically a way for Disney to get people into their parks and spend money. Plus if someone goes to their park in Florida and doesn’t live in the area, chances are they will stay in a Disney Hotel, and also pay for admission to the park for another day other than their free day, plus they will spend money on meals, drinks, parking and everything else. It seems nice, but its free advertising, and a promotion to get people into the park.
Nu, so Lipa can stop by there after his concert!
Actually, as a Floridian, I can tell you that it is not the first time our theme parks have done things like this. Disney, Universal, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and other smaller parks all do things like this. It is frequently done for charity volunteers like my friend who works with Give Kids The World (look them up on Google… amazing stuff), military veterans, volunteer firefighters, and others. Disney has always been an EXTREMELY charitable company. Just on my experience with my friend, I know that they give all the park tickets FREE to the families staying at Give Kids The World Village.
Why do some people have to be so cynical all the time. It is so sad that a family-friendly place can’t even do something to help those who help others without some self-hating loser making a nasty comment about it. Take a look at yourself and realize why it is that you have to put down anything nice anyone tries to do because of your own self-loathing. Pathetic.