“ We did a very science-based , data-driven approach ,” Dr . Zak explained . “ We had two-meter-by-two-meter plots where we could experiment with different seed mixtures , different seeding rates , different watering regimes , fertilization , soil types . And then we could collect data over a long term — not just on the plants and the resources that would be provided for pollinating insects , but on the insects themselves . And based on what we learned from that , we developed best management practices . So we could go from putting in pollinator habitats on a squaremeter basis to an acre-by-acre basis . And now we can go in , and we have a really good method set up where we say , ‘ You know what ? Hey , we ’ ve got six acres right here to make use of .’ And over a couple of weeks , we can turn that into what will be an incredible pollinator habitat , a meadow that will last for years .”
“ Really , all of Walt Disney World , I like to think of as one giant pollinator garden .”
Of course , when you visit Walt Disney World , you ’ re not traipsing through those 9,000 acres of protected wilderness or admiring the Mickey-shaped solar farm and all the milkweed , passion vines , firebrush , and wild petunia taking root there . You ’ re gulping down DOLE Whips in line for Jungle Cruise or watching Indiana Jones outrun a boulder . But that doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t spot butterflies on property .
“ We have two different pollinator gardens in Animal Kingdom ,” Dr . Zak explained . “ We have pollinator gardens at various resorts . EPCOT , during Flower & Garden , is basically one giant pollinator garden . It ’ s just marvelous . Really , all of Walt Disney World , I like to think of as one giant pollinator garden .”
Rafiki ’ s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom is the best place in the parks to spot butterflies and learn from Cast Members about them ( save for during Flower & Garden , when you can walk through an enclosed butterfly garden in EPCOT ). But Dr . Zak invites you to explore the resorts as well .
“ Fort Wilderness always lives up to its name ,” Dr . Zak said . “ I see more wildlife in Fort Wilderness than anywhere else .”
Beyond the obvious , other Walt Disney World Resort Hotels attract pollinators such as birds , bees , and butterflies — many through intentional pollinator gardens .
“ The first one we ever put in was in Coronado Springs , and it ’ s still one of the most beautiful ,” said Dr . Zak . “ It ’ s right by the bridge by Casitas 5 . And on both sides of the bridge there , there ’ s just a beautiful pollinator habitat where I never fail to see pollinators .”
Pollinator gardens and the untouched wilderness on Walt Disney World Property are increasingly important for butterflies and other species , from birds to bugs to bears , who play a vital role in our world ’ s larger picture . As animals of all sizes , from the American alligator to the Miami blue butterfly , face habitat loss , the work of Walt Disney World , the Disney Conservation Fund , and other conservation organizations becomes more important . The monarch butterfly — the poster child for insects and , according to Dr . Zak , “ one of the few animals where people can see it and recognize it down to the species level ” — is a prime example .
“ The West Coast population of monarch butterflies has dropped as much as 99.9 % over the last 20 years ,” Dr . Zak told me . “ And the population of eastern monarchs has dropped by 80 % to 90 % over that period of time .”
Yet it ’ s common to see monarchs perched on a railing on your hotel balcony or flying overhead while you boat down the Sassagoula or snacking on a flower as you wander the grounds of Animal Kingdom , thanks to the work Disney has done to provide a welcoming environment for the species . Disney ’ s pollinator gardens serve as crucial rest stops for the monarch , which makes an annual , multi-generational migration across the US down to their overwintering sites in Mexico , California , and southern Florida in the late summer — and then back up in the spring . ( The monarch is the only butterfly species to undertake this two-way migration .)
The EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival is a particularly great time to see butterflies at Disney . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP