This Earth Day, Walt Disney World Resort turns the key on a new initiative to convert the buses that carry guests to a cleaner fuel that will ultimately reduce emissions by nearly half. By doing this, the Disney Transportation bus fleet becomes one of the first in the country to run on R50, a cleaner renewable diesel (RD) made from used cooking oil and non-consumable food waste.
With its significant investment in innovation, the resort anticipates a nearly 50 percent reduction of the green house gases contributed to the environment by Disney guest buses, as well as an overall reduction of 3.5 percent at Walt Disney World Resort.
“Switching to R50 is an example of Disney’s commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation,” said Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of animals, science and environment at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “By leveraging alternative fuels and collaborating with organizations like Harvest Power, Disney continues to reduce its impact on the environment.”
Non-consumable food waste is used to make R50 and help power the fleet, which is among the largest in Florida. More than 330 Disney buses will run on this half-and-half combination of RD and ultra-low-sulfur diesel (which is the type of diesel available at most gas stations).
The switch is part of Disney’s overall environmental strategy, which includes the use of mass transportation systems that move more guests with less energy.
Disney is also using cleaner fuels such as propane and compressed natural gas to power various attractions such as the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom Park and Kilimanjaro Safaris vehicles at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.