News Round Up 2018

[Fantasia79]

I certainly like taking some shampoo bottles home for free, but it is a lot of plastic waste. My wife won’t even think about using hotel soap, let alone shampoo.

Paper straws are fine.

 

[Roxyfire]

Disney Eliminating Plastic Straws Among Other Enviromental Initatives

https://www.laughingplace.com/w/new...c-straws-among-other-enviromental-initatives/

I despise the refillable shampoo things. Ugh.

Oh man my son is gonna be so irritated. He understands the need for the paper straws environmentally but he hates using them.

 

[jlundeen]

Oh man my son is gonna be so irritated. He understands the need for the paper straws environmentally but he hates using them.

Ha Ha...I guess since I grew up using them, they don't matter at all to me... We have become so dependent on plastic, it's going to take a LOT of folks changing their mindsets to recover from it. Every time I see that huge garbage mat floating in the ocean, I just get re-charged to try to use less, but sometimes, there are no alternatives. I guess it will take time, but hopefully, the people who create all those plastic products can do more to make them more recyclable...

 

[writerguyfl]

We cannot have plastic shopping bags to hold purchases, because they are crafty and escape to the wilds. These crafty plastic shopping bags cause littering and damaging the environment because people do not dispose of them properly prompting a tax to wean us all away from them. Yet it is a good idea to hand out Ziploc bags at Splash, without any concerns about polluting the environment???? Am I the only one aghast at the idea? Or is the idea to collect $0.07 per Ziploc?

I dont mind the refillable shampoo,etc., but its confuing that at the same time they initiate these things, they partner with Ziploc in Magic Kingdom.

It's just a sponsorship. It's not like they're going to force every rider to take a plastic bag whether they need it or not.

Total speculation, but I'd bet the sponsorships are part of a broader marketing/licensing agreement. For example, in exchange for sponsoring Splash Mountain and Kidcot, Disney could reduce or eliminate the licensing fees Ziploc pays to use Star Wars, Frozen, and Marvel characters on the special edition bags they sell in retail stores. Like these:

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ha Ha...I guess since I grew up using them, they don't matter at all to me... We have become so dependent on plastic, it's going to take a LOT of folks changing their mindsets to recover from it. Every time I see that huge garbage mat floating in the ocean, I just get re-charged to try to use less, but sometimes, there are no alternatives. I guess it will take time, but hopefully, the people who create all those plastic products can do more to make them more recyclable...

At the same time if you're looking to do more for the environment ditching the straw but adding a lid that uses more plastic than the straw makes little sense (speaking about Starbucks).

 

[Hoodie]

Oh man my son is gonna be so irritated. He understands the need for the paper straws environmentally but he hates using them.

Bring your own. It's about $5 for 200 of them - we'll just toss them in the back pack.

 

[wareagle57]

I dont mind the refillable shampoo,etc., but its confusing that at the same time they initiate these things, they partner with Ziploc in Magic Kingdom.

Ziploc bags have uses that aren't easily replicated or replaced like plastic straws. I don't really have a problem with them eliminating plastic straws and stirrers, but the plastic bag thing really gets to me. And selfishly I don't want them to replace the shampoo bottles because I haven't built up a collection yet and really like using them and reminding me of Disney when I'm not there. When I run out of Disney soap, I refill them with my own. They are such great travel bottles.

 

[Roxyfire]

Ha Ha...I guess since I grew up using them, they don't matter at all to me... We have become so dependent on plastic, it's going to take a LOT of folks changing their mindsets to recover from it. Every time I see that huge garbage mat floating in the ocean, I just get re-charged to try to use less, but sometimes, there are no alternatives. I guess it will take time, but hopefully, the people who create all those plastic products can do more to make them more recyclable...

Yeah I'd love a good alternative, and perhaps someone will come up with something soon. I'm fine with the paper ones and he will just have to deal but I can hear the whining already haha.

At the same time if you're looking to do more for the environment ditching the straw but adding a lid that uses more plastic than the straw makes little sense (speaking about Starbucks).

True but at least the bigger plastic is easier to actually recycle. If they end up using that sippy cup style I've seen, that's not that much bigger than the current lid and it could potentially be reused a couple of times also.

 

[Roxyfire]

Bring your own. It's about $5 for 200 of them - we'll just toss them in the back pack.

I buy them for home too, the bendy ones at that, for like $1 something at Target. If it came down to it we could certainly do that. I'd rather reduce the things I carry but I know a small baggy of them wouldn't take up that much space either.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

True but at least the bigger plastic is easier to actually recycle. If they end up using that sippy cup style I've seen, that's not that much bigger than the current lid and it could potentially be reused a couple of times also.

I'm just speaking to the amount of plastic used. Doing away with straws only to implement something that used more plastic than the straw is what I'm meaning.

As far as being reused-in what way? You'd have to have a significant amount of the population purchasing items with the lids to actually wash and reuse the lid for it to have that affect. Otherwise they will either throw it away or recycle it if they think about it and there is means to do it.

 

[SteveDude]

Of course all plastic is not good for the environment, though I do believe straws pose a bigger risk? Constantly hearing about sea life getting affected due to straws, not lids.

Starbucks doing away with the straws is a great start (same with Disney), but I can understand why they're keeping the lid around. It's more utility than anything. I can't even imagine the amount of the general public that'd be crawling back to Starbucks, complaining, because they spilt their $6 coffee since they don't offer lids. Especially while walking around a theme park. Maybe someday.

 

[Roxyfire]

I'm just speaking to the amount of plastic used. Doing away with straws only to implement something that used more plastic than the straw is what I'm meaning.

As far as being reused-in what way? You'd have to have a significant amount of the population purchasing items with the lids to actually wash and reuse the lid for it to have that affect. Otherwise they will either throw it away or recycle it if they think about it and there is means to do it.

I'm not sure it's about the amount of plastic used, it's about being able to recycle or reuse it properly. It's really not that hard to recycle things at home or in public, just throw it in the bin. I understand the concept that individuals have very little impact but I'd rather be a part of the solution than part of the problem, if that makes sense.

As far as reusing, I don't see what's confusing. Talking on a more personal level, if I buy an iced drink or something at Starbucks, for example, once the drink is empty I often rinse the cup and refill it with some water or something after I get home. It's so I'm not dirtying another glass and I quite like the size and durability of their cups. I have a perfectly good drink container and just because it once held iced tea or something doesn't meant I can't use it for some water and then recycle it later. The straw is kind of an issue when mixing different types of drinks. So shifting to a cup that can be rinsed and dried has potential to be more reuse friendly would be nice. And hey it might even encourage people to reuse a bit more before immediately thinking to throw things away.

 

[j2thomason]

I dont mind the refillable shampoo,etc., but its confusing that at the same time they initiate these things, they partner with Ziploc in Magic Kingdom.

My refillable conditioner ran out mid-shower on my last trip. At home I would just pick up the bottle and shake it until I got every drop out of it. That is not an option if it is secured to the wall!

 

[rteetz]

News

New Ears coming to Disney Parks

https://wdwnt.com/2018/07/first-loo...ickey-mouse-club-ears-coming-to-disney-parks/

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Comcast reports increased theme park revenue in 2nd quarter earnings:

http://universal.wdwinfo.com/news/c...-revenue-for-theme-parks-in-2nd-quarter-2018/

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not sure it's about the amount of plastic used, it's about being able to recycle or reuse it properly. It's really not that hard to recycle things at home or in public, just throw it in the bin. I understand the concept that individuals have very little impact but I'd rather be a part of the solution than part of the problem, if that makes sense.

As far as reusing, I don't see what's confusing. Talking on a more personal level, if I buy an iced drink or something at Starbucks, for example, once the drink is empty I often rinse the cup and refill it with some water or something after I get home. It's so I'm not dirtying another glass and I quite like the size and durability of their cups. I have a perfectly good drink container and just because it once held iced tea or something doesn't meant I can't use it for some water and then recycle it later. The straw is kind of an issue when mixing different types of drinks. So shifting to a cup that can be rinsed and dried has potential to be more reuse friendly would be nice. And hey it might even encourage people to reuse a bit more before immediately thinking to throw things away.

I know of absolutely no one who goes to Starbucks and reuses anything when they order coffee or a fancier drink. It simply is thrown away unless they have it at home and can recycle it should they choose to do so and I would imagine that the majority of people who purchase things from Starbucks are the same way. In order for it to be a more meaningful way you'd have to have a significant population of people who purchase items from Starbucks be exactly like you in that they actually wash the plastic cup and now the new plastic lid and reuse it. Otherwise it's just more plastic than before being thrown away. Most people I know are concerned about BPA and leaching of chemicals from the plastic though that is usually from multiple reuses.

I'm not talking about how easy it is to recycle, I live in a city that has for the last 4 years I believe had the most percentage of waste diverted from the landfill and instead recycled throughout our County and that's with recycling only picked up every other week as opposed to every week. I recycle quite a lot. But I'm being realistic about other people's personal habits at large not at an individual level and especially when away from home. At home I know I can easily put qualifying plastics in my recyling bin. Out and about I either need to keep the item to take home and recycle at home (which I do for water bottles, aluminum cans, etc when I feasibly can) or hope that they have a recycling bin handy wherever I'm at when I'm done drinking my beverage and that's def. not the case everywhere.

Anywho my initial point was about removing something in favor of something worse insomuch about the amount of plastic used but we'll get back to the News

 

[rteetz]

Comcast reports increased theme park revenue in 2nd quarter earnings:

http://universal.wdwinfo.com/news/c...-revenue-for-theme-parks-in-2nd-quarter-2018/

According to a report during the earnings call they kind of said that they want to make Universal Orlando a week long destination. That of course would add fuel to the inevitable fire of a third gate.

 

[BigRed98]

According to a report during the earnings call they kind of said that they want to make Universal Orlando a week long destination. That of course would add fuel to the inevitable fire of a third gate.

Here’s a quote from a Comcast executive regarding this:

https://mobile.twitter.com/richobj/status/1022479532555689984

 

[Ambehnke]

I buy them for home too, the bendy ones at that, for like $1 something at Target. If it came down to it we could certainly do that. I'd rather reduce the things I carry but I know a small baggy of them wouldn't take up that much space either.

I got a pack of four stainless steel ones with a rubber mouth piece at target for $8. Don’t like paper either but also want to be environmentally friendly.

 

[hakepb]

If they really wanted to encourage reuse and much less trash, they could allow resort refillable mugs to work in all the parks, too.