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Tag Archives: Lake Buena Vista Florida
Central Florida Students Help Open IBM THINK Exhibit at INNOVENTIONS
Just in time to celebrate National Engineers Week,dozens of students from University High School in Orlando teamed with IBM to unveil IBM THINK, a new interactive experience in INNOVENTIONS West at Epcot. As part of the opening, the group was among the first to explore the exhibit and try its mobile app and free STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) lesson plans.
“The IBM THINK experience, the THINK app and lesson plans provide an engaging way to enable students to learn STEM concepts in a real-world context,” said Danielle Miller, Astronomy and Physical Science Teacher at University High School. “THINK has made my students see the process of innovation in a way they never have before. It has helped my students become scientists.”
Spanning over 6,600 square feet, The THINK experience presented by IBM showcases how technology makes the world work better by transforming the way we live and work. Highlights include a 40-foot dynamic “gesture wall” that reveals the ebb and flow of data in our daily lives through colorful visualizations; a 12-minute inspirational film about building a better future and a self-guided interactive tour featuring 20 seven-foot touchscreens that encourage discovery.
The new exhibit is based on IBM’s 2011 THINK pop-up exhibit at New York’s Lincoln Center, which was developed for the company’s Centennial.
After guests experience the exhibit, they can continue their THINK experience through free mobile apps and STEM lesson plans for grades 5-12, available online at Teachers TryScience.
For more information about the IBM THINK exhibit, visit www.ibm.com/think.
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Disney Joins Statewide Coalition Against Texting and Driving
In an effort to make driving on Florida’s roadways safer, Walt Disney World Resort today joined a coalition of state and national organizations, including the Florida League of Cities, Florida Sheriffs Association, AAA and the City of Orlando to support legislation to stop motorists from texting while driving.
According to the National Safety Council, each year more than 100,000 crashes happen in the United States because of drivers who are distracted by activities like texting, emailing and sending instant messages. A study by the Virginia Tech Highway Safety Institute found that individuals who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
Florida is one of the few states without a distracted driving law. The Florida House and Senate are expected to discuss a measure to prohibit distracted driving during the upcoming legislative session.
As part of an ongoing commitment to safety, Walt Disney World Resort is already among the growing number of companies across Florida that has a distracted driving policy in place.
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Mickey Mail! Sending Disney Postcards to Friends & Family
I think we all agree that the best mail to receive is our Travel documents from the Walt Disney World resort – whether it’s a confirmation of your resort reservation, Disney luggage tags or Magical Express tags – it just builds to the excitement of your upcoming trip!
Care to share any of that magic with your friends or family who aren’t with you on vacation? You can! Send them a Disney postcard. Disney postcards can be found in almost every resort or gift shop on Disney property. Here are a few tips to make your post card mailing a bit more easy:
Raytheon honors service members and military families at Shades of Green at the Walt Disney World Resort
Raytheon Company is honored to renew its sponsorship of the Raytheon Wounded Warrior Suite at the Shades of Green Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Raytheon Wounded Warrior Suite provides wounded service members and their families with a 1,200-square-foot ADA compliant suite that can accommodate up to 10 adults and four children.
“Raytheon salutes and thanks all of our service members and their families who make daily sacrifices on our behalf,” said Pamela Erickson, Raytheon’s vice president of Community Relations. “Our continued support for Shades of Green® and the Wounded Warrior Suite is a small token of our appreciation to those we can never thank enough.”
Raytheon also hosted character breakfasts for military families today, during which children of all ages had a chance to meet their favorite Disney characters at Shades of Green. The breakfasts, which the company hosts annually, were capped off with cake to celebrate Raytheon’s 90th anniversary and the third anniversary of Raytheon’s Sum of all Thrills experience at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot.
The Shades of Green Resort provides active service members, veterans and their families with a vacation filled with fun and relaxation at an affordable cost. Shades of Green is operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center by the U.S. Army in support of all branches of the U.S. military, their family members and guests.
Raytheon’s relationship with Shades of Green began in 2009 with the company’s donation of The Family Technology Center, a game room for the guests’ “home away from home.” The center includes plasma televisions, personal computers, Nintendo Wii™ and Microsoft Xbox systems, providing an on-site extension of the Disney experience – to relax, connect and enjoy a family experience.
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Disney Receives Gold Autism Award
Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts was awarded the Gold Autism Award earlier this month by The United Kingdom Autism Foundation for its efforts supporting and accommodating autistic guests.
The Gold Autism Award, accepted by Greg Hale, Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Standards and Auditing, was presented by Ivan Corea, father of an autistic child, Charin Corea. The award recognizes Disney’s initiatives to help guests with disabilities navigate the Walt Disney World Resort properties in an easy and effortless way.
Charin has inspired an entire autism movement in the United Kingdom. His parents initiated 2002 as Autism Awareness Year and they founded Autism Sunday which is now a massive international event celebrated in many countries including the United States. The inspiration behind all of this is Charin, a teenager with autism spectrum disorder and a communication disorder, who has inspired world leaders to speak up for people with autism and Asperger syndrome.
“I don’t want the public to see the world they live in while they are at the park. I want them to feel they are in another world,” said Corea quoting Walt Disney. “Disney World does just that, and makes it possible for (my son) Charin and other guests to truly enjoy their time in the parks because of its excellent attention and service.”
Raising awareness about autism and the needs of those who suffer from this condition is the main goal of the UK Autism Foundation.
Disney works to accommodate guests with disabilities by appropriately training Cast Members, making the latest technology available to guests and constantly reviewing policies and procedures that govern park operations. In addition, guests with disabilities can plan their park experience by reviewing a copy of the Guide for Guests with Disabilities.
“Part of Disney’s heritage is to have no one feel excluded,” said Hale. “Our goal here is to make experiences accessible to any guest that enters the parks.”
To learn more about Disney services for guests with disabilities please visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guests-with-disabilities/
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