“Conservation isn’t just a business of a few people, it’s a matter that concerns all of us.”
—Walt Disney
The link between The Walt Disney Company and the natural world runs deep. From Disney’s Animal Kingdom to its acclaimed “Disneynature” documentaries, the company has long worked to inspire a love of nature through storytelling and entertainment.
What may surprise you is just how far that commitment extends. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has provided more than $132 million to protect at-risk animals, including sea turtles, gorillas, elephants and — you guessed it — pollinators.
Disney has quietly become a serious force in addressing pollinator decline. Would we expect anything less from the company that brought us “A Bug’s Life”?
In this article, we’ll explore:
Step inside any Disney theme park and you’ll find that the magic extends well beyond the rides.
Walt Disney World Resort has permanently set aside over 8,000 acres for wildlife conservation, and throughout the property, guests encounter milkweed, passion vines and nectar plants like firebush and wild petunia. These host plants attract butterfly species like:
To date, over 70 butterfly species have been recorded in pollinator gardens across the resort, a testament to what intentional landscaping can accomplish. Native plant gardens designed specifically for bees round out the effort.
Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT — the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow — was nothing short of revolutionary. That spirit lives on in the park’s 48,000-panel, 5-megawatt solar power plant designed in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head.
But what does a powerplant have to do with pollinator conservation?
Recognizing the potential of the land beneath and around the solar panels, Disney transformed the surrounding area into 160-plus acres of dedicated pollinator habitat. This includes a 10-acre research meadow planted with grasses and forbs — bird’s-foot trefoil, black-eyed Susans and purple love grass — selected to bloom at staggered times throughout the year. No matter the season, bees, butterflies and other pollinators will find resources here.
The project offers a glimpse at a future where energy infrastructure and ecological stewardship coexist.
In 2024, Disney volunteers — known as VoluntEARS — contributed over 1,200 hours planting and caring for pollinator-friendly plants, with a special focus on milkweed, the monarch butterfly’s irreplaceable host plant.
This kind of hands-in-the-soil commitment is more important than ever. Monarch butterflies have suffered a 90% population decline over the past two decades, driven largely by the destruction of habitats they depend on during their annual migration.
Disney’s all about princesses. They just had to come to the aid of a monarch.
Some of the most impactful conservation work Disney does happens in partnership — specifically with the University of Florida. The DCF has awarded over $5 million to UF conservation programs, and the collaboration goes well beyond writing checks.
“Our relationship extends beyond grants to meaningful engagement in conservation solutions as our teams work together to make an impact for wildlife, people and the planet,” said Kim Sams, former director of strategic philanthropy at Disney Enterprise Social Responsibility.
A $350,000 grant supports conservation of more than 40 critically imperiled butterfly species in Florida and California, led by Jaret Daniels, curator and program director at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity.
The results speak for themselves. Together, UF and the DCF team have raised and released:
Disney isn’t paying us to write this. (Surprise!) We just deeply respect the work the company’s done to protect wild places and wildlife. The lesson is worth sharing: Pollinators are essential for global food security.
Bees, butterflies and other pollinators are responsible for producing 35% of the world’s food crops. Without them, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa — among countless other foods — would disappear from our plates.
You don’t need to be a billion-dollar corporation to make a difference. Planting pollinator-friendly flowers like milkweed in your garden is a genuinely impactful place to start. But if you’re ready to take your passion further, there’s a clear path forward for you at UF.
Keep these facts in mind the next time you see a butterfly fluttering in the background of a Disney animated film.
If you want to turn your passion for bees and butterflies into a career that helps protect them, entomology is worth a serious look. A master’s degree in entomology can lead to careers in beekeeping, insect rearing and environmental conservation — fields where the work genuinely matters.
At UF, we offer four online entomology master’s degree programs. The two best suited to pollinator-focused careers are:
Not ready to commit to a full degree? We also offer graduate certificates that are flexible, entirely online and designed to fit around your life.
Want to earn a credential from the same university that partners with Disney for insect conservation? Explore our entomology programs.
You lift the lid of the hive slowly. The sound changes immediately. A low, steady hum rises as thousands of honey bees adjust to the sudden light. You watch their movement before you touch anything: How they cluster. How they fan their wings. Whether the colony feels calm or off. This is what an apiary…
75% of crops producing fruits or seeds for human food depend on pollinators. But commercial beekeepers in the U.S. lost 62% of their colonies between 2024 and 2025. Poor pollination is shrinking yields for key crops like blueberries, coffee and apples by up to 60%. And as our hard-working pollinators decline, fewer crops can thrive. …
Bees do have favorite flowers. In general, they’re drawn to nectar-rich blooms in shades of blue and yellow, especially flowers with sweet scents and petals that make landing easy. Other pollinators have preferences too, and learning what different species look for can help you better support pollination in your garden or landscape. Let’s take a closer look at the flower traits bees prefer…
