This week at Disneyland, a special Make-A-Wish Moment was held in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. This was the culmination of a magical day for several Make-A-Wish kids. Over at Walt Disney World Resort, a group of kids were also getting the royal Disney treatment. This was with the Once Upon A Wish Party.
“As the largest wish-granter for Make-A-Wish, Disney grants a wish every hour of every day,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences. “It’s a special privilege to help families make joyful new memories when they need it most. Only Disney creates this kind of optimism and happiness.”
The Once Upon A Wish Part is a two-day event that was dreamed up by Cast Members. It offers Make-A-Wish families a storybook experience with magic around every corner. So much magic that it brought nearly 50 different princess wishes to life for children with critical illnesses. Throughout the event, there were different shows and experiences for these children and their families to enjoy. The goal for all of these experiences was to create happiness and grant wishes for kids like:
- 4-year-old Cora’s from Arizona who has leukemia and wished to sing “Let It Go” with Queens Anna and Elsa from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen.
- 6-year-old Bailey’s from California who also has leukemia and wanted to dress up like Rapunzel.
- 7-year-old Debora’s from Massachusetts who has a respiratory disorder and wished for a Disney Princess makeover.
The event saw wish kids transformed into Disney heroines who inspired them during their medical journeys. They received their princess dresses and designed their crowns to match. They also were able to experience more than 55 character greetings, including interactive experiences that were themed to Frozen and Moana.
“This means everything,” said Patrick Tenney, one wish kid’s dad. “With this experience that Make-A-Wish and Disney allows us, it puts us at ease and gives us a moment to relax and enjoy. It’s so wonderful for all the kids, especially our girls.”
The event culminated with the wish kids being whisked away for magical makeovers ahead of the event’s grand finale on the last night: The Royal Ball. Nearly every Disney Princess also attended this event, and the kids enjoyed entertainment from iconic fairytales. Just before the clock struck midnight, wish kids were officially crowned as Disney Royalty. This created an unforgettable moment for all of the families in attendance.
“I’m continually inspired by Disney’s ability to find new and creative ways to deliver life-changing impact for wish kids,” said Leslie Motter, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish America. “It’s clear from the level of detail and customization that hundreds of Disney WishMakers poured their hearts into the Once Upon A Wish Party. That level of care is what creates a truly unforgettable experience that will serve as a source of hope, joy and inspiration for everyone involved.”
The partnership between Disney and Make-A-Wish goes back nearly 45 years. During this time, they have granted over 165,000 Disney wishes together. These types of events (like Once Upon a Wish Party) are a critical part of the healing journey as they build hope and lift spirits. They also provide a chance for families to escape daily pressures and create lasting memories.
The Once Upon a Wish Party kicked off Disney’s Week of Wishes. There are many other wish-granting events taking place throughout Disney Experiences. This includes:
- Disney Cruise Line made wishes come true for three kids with an unforgettable voyage aboard the Disney Wish.
- Disneyland Resort granted 6-year-old Justice’s wish to meet her favorite princesses at the California theme park. Several other Make-A-Wish kids and their siblings also got the royal treatment including a princess breakfast, makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and a grand celebration where park guests cheered them on.
- On World Wish Day, three young aspiring bakers mastered their cooking skills at Shanghai Disney Resort with Chef Donald Duck and prepared a “royal cake” ahead of meeting Cinderella, Ariel and Rapunzel.
- 75 Make-A-Wish families from across Europe visited Disneyland Paris for a weekend of wishes come true, including four special musical wishes with UK singer Sam Ryder, as part of the new Disney Music Festival.
- Make-A-Wish families will gather at Aulani from May 4-9 for a fun-filled wish week complete with adventure, Hawaiian traditions and one child’s wish to meet Moana.
- At Tokyo Disney Resort, the first-ever Rapunzel wish at Fantasy Springs was granted where 8-year-oldwish child Mei met her hero.
- Hong Kong Disneyland granted a total of five wishes, including that of 7-year-old Yee Sun, who wished to perform in the Mickey and the Wondrous Book stage performance.
- In addition to donating items for Once Upon A Wish Party, Disney Consumer Products surprised two sisters who are both wish kids with a magical Disney Store shopping spree complete with princess makeovers.
Once Upon a Party Photos:
