Shanghai, March 10, 2024 – Shanghai Disney Resort granted its 200th wish through the Disney Wish program on March 7, which aims to make wishes come true for children with critical illnesses across the Chinese Mainland. Since the founding of the program in 2017 at Shanghai Disney Resort, the Disney Wish program has collaborated closely with non-profit organizations, including Make-A-Wish Shanghai, combining the magic of Disney with the transformative power of wishes to bring hope and strength for children and their families.
“At Shanghai Disney Resort, we believe in the power of dreams and recognize the profound impact a granted wish can have on the lives of children living with critical illnesses and their families,” said Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. “As we celebrate the milestone of granting 200 wishes, we look forward to the privilege of being a part of even more courageous journeys of wish children in the future, bringing light and magic into their lives when they need it most.”
At Shanghai Disney Resort, wish-granting has been a vital part of the resort’s larger citizenship responsibility efforts within the community, delivering countless moments of joy to children facing critical illness and their loved ones as they confront the challenges and adversity of life-threatening illnesses. Each wish journey has been tailored for each individual child. The granted wishes range from turning into a fairytale character with a prince or princess makeover at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique salon to receiving a personally guided tour of the Enchanted Storybook Castle by Walt Disney Imagineering; from drawing a Disney character on the ground with cast members to spending special together time with their beloved Disney friends. Each wish is as unique as the children making it, bringing a sheer of joy and happiness that lasts beyond the wish moment and creating cherished memories for the children and their families.
On March 7, 2024, Shanghai Disney Resort celebrated a significant milestone for the Disney Wish program, as the 200th Disney Wish was granted to eight-year-old Zuozuo, whose wish was to explore the magic inside Shanghai Disneyland with his parents and older sister. Zuozuo who has an adventurous spirit of mind, has always been inspired by Buzz Lightyear who symbolizes the power of exploration and bravery, and at the same time has been wanting to set sail to experience a pirate life. At Toy Story Hotel, Zuozuo met his favorite character Buzz Lightyear for the first time ever and set on a journey with tasks to Shanghai Disneyland. Along the journey, Zuozuo met two pirates when looking for a treasure map and received “gold coins” as a token from the pirates. Zuozuo and his family were also invited to be the Grand Marshal of Mickey’s Storybook Express for the day, receiving greetings from both guests and cast along the parade route. The wish experience allowed Zuozuo to feel the pure joy of being a child and put aside momentarily the medical condition amid the challenging times.
Shanghai Disney Resort works closely with Make-A-Wish Shanghai to grant the majority of its wishes. In continued recognition of this longstanding collaboration, a charity gala was hosted on March 9 at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, sponsored by Shanghai Disney Resort and attended by guests, supporters and volunteers, with wish children and their families joining as guests of honor. Along with the resort’s signature live Disney entertainment, a spirited auction of tickets to an immersive experience at Shanghai Disney Resort, limited edition Disney collectibles, and other prizes was held to raise funds for this noteworthy cause.
As the Disney Wish program surpasses the milestone of its 200th wish, the collaboration with local wish-granting partners will help to reach even more children in need. By creating unforgettable moments for wish children and their families, the healing power of happiness and joy continues to play an incalculable role in the journey to recovery for children with critical illnesses.
