As a new Walt Disney World Florida Annual Passholder, I’m eager to take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way due to my status. So, when I heard about a presentation on Frogs open to Passholders at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, I jumped (no pun intended) at the chance to expand my horizons.
Granted, I was a bit skeptical about the topic, but I learned that these little critters are good indicators of how planet earth is doing. Unfortunately, frogs, toads, salamanders and the worm-like caecilians (pronounced she-Sill-yuns) are not doing well due to pollution, the dissolution and/or splitting of their habitats, and the introduction of one species that preys on another. Scientists are also finding that some amphibians may secrete fluids that may be helpful to humans in curing disease. We need to take care of these critters!
It’s not often that guests are taken backstage without having to pay for the privilege. That alone made it a great event. The presentation was held in a classroom behind Conservation Station which kept the group small–I’m guessing less than 40–thus making the situation less intimidating for guests and Cast Members. Children were invited to stay with their parents for the presentation or they could opt to join Cast Members in creating a number of craft projects in a classroom across the hall. For parents, there was a slide presentation as well as a show and tell at the end. The presenters stayed to answer questions and to talk with guests. I know it sounds a bit like Biology 101, but it really wasn’t.
I won’t go into full recitation of all the facts that were expounded by the three speakers from Disney during the hour presentation, but I think it’s important to mention that this is not just a Disney project. “The Year of the Frog” is going on worldwide and many institutions are cooperating with each other to raise funds to build awareness and to find a solution to the chytrid fungus that is attacking many species. This rare act of cooperation was part of the reason Cast Members were eager to share their excitement and expertise on amphibians. Maybe you’ve seen the ad with Kermit the Frog and Selena Gomez on the Disney Channel? It’s just another way that scientists are trying to spread the word about “The Year of the Frog.”
So what other events like this are open to Annual Passholders? It turns out that our group was sort of the “test” project and I’m happy to report that the feedback from this presentation was generally positive on both sides. Passholders may be able to look forward to other special events that are not particularly grandiose in the grand scheme of things, but they will allow us to experience a “little magical moment.” Big Passholder events like previews of new attractions have always been exciting; just ask anyone who attended the Passholder previews of the new Tinker Bell DVD, Toy Story Mania or Expedition Everest. But these new, smaller events may offer Passholders little glimpses into the amount of expertise that are held by many behind-the-scenes cast members, as well as the sharing of information which shows guests the sides of the Disney Company that are beyond the entertainment industry.
My suggestions for getting the most on your investment: make sure you read your Mickey Monitor when it arrives, register on-line to make so you are receiving notices on other special events, and make sure you check the Passholder section of the Disneyworld.com website often when you have a trip planned to Walt Disney World. A little “magical moment” may occur during your visit, and you won’t want to miss a chance to make your 27th, 34th, or 51st trip something out of the ordinary.
If you want to know more about “The Year of the Frog” and what you can do to help save the species, log on to www.yearofthefrog.org. What could be more magical than saving the planet?
