Theme Park Shark recently covered Disney’s commitment to making their first ever “Week of Wishes” a truly magical experience for families in need through their partnership with the Make-A-Wish foundation. Now, to kick off the inaugural event, Disney has hosted their second-ever Once Upon a Wish party – a “multi-day, large-scale, wish-granting event” where nearly 50 children facing critical illness got to experience the Disney Magic of a lifetime, as Disney’s very own princesses swept them up into a fairy tale adventure unlike any other.
“We are always dreaming up innovative ways for people to experience the magic of Disney, and with the Once Upon A Wish Party, we invited these kids to step into their own storybooks,” Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences, said. “It was a very special opportunity to bring our beloved characters and powerful stories to life in experiences that only Disney can offer — creating happiness for families when it’s needed most.”
Events like these – where families can experience the magic of Disney together – that make Disney one of the Make-A-Wish foundation’s top wish-granters. With over 165,000 wishes granted since the program launched in 1981, one out of every two wishes granted through the foundation is a Disney wish.
These fifty children and their families spent multiple days hosted at the Walt Disney World resort property, where they were given the royal treatment. They were coronated as Disney royalty, the experience all culminating in a Royal Ball planned just for them and held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Creating Happy Memories with Once Upon a Wish
Even though we all agree that Disney Magic is very real, it still needs a little bit of a helping hand to get going. That’s why over five hundred cast members contributed to bringing this experience to life for these children and their families during the Once Upon a Wish party. Among those cast members was Tajiana Ancora Brown, Director of External Affairs at the Walt Disney World Resort.
“We kept the transformative power of happiness as our north star because we know the impact it has on kids and their families,” Ancora-Brown stated, reflecting upon the project’s guiding principle. “My favorite part of granting a Disney wish is seeing all our cast members join forces to make the magic happen. It truly is Disney magic at its best.”
Cast members from various branches of the Walt Disney Company banded together to bring this experience to life – from Parks & Resorts Operations, Disney Live Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products, Events, Food & Beverage, and more, the teams pulled together to create a truly unforgettable and formative moment for these children, giving them a shining beacon amid difficult times.
This year’s event went all out – and in typical Disney fashion, pushed the envelope of what many know themed entertainment to be. With all-new interactive experiences that allowed the kids to take part in their own Disney adventures, the innovative spirit of Disney helped create outstanding memories for the event’s attendees.
The kids were magically transformed into their favorite Disney heroes and heroines – the characters who often times help inspire them to fight through their own harrowing medical journeys. Princess dresses and matching tiaras were seen being sported on the red carpet, and over fifty-five character greetings, including interactive experiences with Frozen and Moana characters, took place on the opening day of the event.
“This means everything,” Patrick Tenney, one wish kid’s dad, said. “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.”
On the final night at the stroke of Midnight (as happens often in fairy tales) the children attending the Royal Ball were browned Disney Royalty, cementing their place within the illustrious line of Disney Monarchs alongside Elsa and Anna, Belle, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.
“Some of the Most Important Work We Do”
“When you ask a sick child what their one wish is, and more than half of the time it’s to experience Disney, it’s a reminder for me of why we do what we do,” Ancora-Brown said.
D’Amaro agreed, stating that “wish-granting is some of the most important work we do in Disney Experiences,” and noting that the responsibility that falls upon the company when fulfilling these wishes is not taken lightly. When these critically ill children receive one spectacular wish, and wish to experience Disney, the company makes it their own responsibility to ensure that it is a memory that will last a lifetime, and will outweigh at least a little bit of the hardship that they faced due to their illness – which is no small feat for some of the wish kids.
“These moments are life-changing for the kids and families. They build them up with strength and resilience, and they have a lasting impact on them — and also on us,” D’Amaro said. “We are so honored when kids choose Disney to grant their wish, and it’s a very special privilege to share these experiences with them, and help them make joyful new memories.”
Disney’s Week of Wishes
The Once Upon a Wish Party took place during Disney’s first ever Week of Wishes – a perfect union of action and reflection that allow these events to make such an impact. All week long, the Walt Disney Company is honoring the ‘transformative power of happiness’ by granting wishes through the Make-A-Wish foundation that only Disney can bring to life. The Once Upon a Wish party was just the first part of this unprecedented week of celebration, gratitude, and giving back to the community.
In addition to the Once Upon a Wish Party, Disney has granted other wishes as well, including wish-granting moments on American Idol, and giving wish kids the chance to meet their favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe characters.
“[T]he unique power of Disney to share more than 170 signature wishes this week is made possible by harnessing the breadth of the company’s businesses to deliver on the core promise that has guided Disney for over a century: to create happiness for kids and families around the world,” The Walt Disney Company stated in a press release earlier this week.
And as the biggest granter of wishes partnered with the Make-A-Wish organization, it’s safe to say that their core promise is being upheld in a spectacular way – and a way that these wish kids will remember for the rest of their lives as a bright spot in a dark time.
For more information about what The Walt Disney Company does in partnership with the Make-A-Wish foundation, or to learn how to become a Wish-Maker yourself and aid the organization in bringing joy to families across North America, check out the foundation’s official page [here.]
Check back soon, as Theme Park Shark will continue to report on the remarkable partnership between Disney and the Make-A-Wish foundation, as well as theme park news from Disney, Universal, and theme parks from all across the world!
