Walt Disney World Works to Share the Magic Beyond the Theme Parks in Central Florida

Walt Disney World Resort employs nearly 70,000 cast members in Central Florida and they are committed to investing in the community and improving life in the area.

The contributions to the local community include millions of dollars in taxes for local governments, leadership on community issues, and support of non-profit organizations through thousands of volunteer hours by cast members.

Disney's economic impact on Central Florida includes $18.2 billion in economic activity generated by the Parks and Resorts which accounts for 2.5 percent of Florida's gross domestic product.

One out of every 50 Floridians in the workforce in 2009 had a job that was directly or indirectly tied to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and 6 percent of jobs in Central Florida are tied to Disney's operations. More than $6 billion in paychecks in Florida can be tied directly or indirectly to Disney operations.

Disney is also the largest taxpayer in Central Florida, paying nearly $566 million in state and local taxes every year. In Orange County, Disney pay more in taxes than the next 10 highest county taxpayers, with nearly $46 million going to education.

When it comes to community leadership, close to 100 Disney cast members serve on boards of local nonprofit organizations. Disney is also contributing $12.5 million to sponsor the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Philips Center for Performing Arts which will contribute to the cultural growth of Central Florida.

Walt Disney World Resorts contributed $1 million to build the Walt Disney World Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, in addition to giving $750,000 for a teen center in the Tupperware Brands Boys & Girls Club in Osceola County.

Last year the company donated $36.5 million in cash and in-kind support to local nonprofit organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida.

Disney also donates surplus inventory from the Walt Disney World Resort to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations. In 2013 the donations valued $4.4 million.

Disney VoluntEARS donated more than 308,000 hours in 2013, and donated a total of $955,000 to 500 local non-profit agencies through Disney's EARS To You Program.

Last year, Walt Disney World also hosted more than 7,000 wish trips for children and donated nearly $10 million in complimentary tickets to Give Kids the World Village and other wish-granting groups.

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