The Walt Disney Company brings magic to children in hospitals through Movie Moments

The Walt Disney Company brings magic to children in hospitals through Movie Moments

For over 100 years, The Walt Disney Company has positively impacted children and communities worldwide through its social purpose programmes. That legacy is at the heart of Movie Moments – a programme that reimagines hospital stays through the magic of movies.

Through its Movie Moments programme, The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) collaborates with charities to bring the magic of movies to children in hospitals – helping them escape the day-to-day reality and immerse themselves in great stories. From big-screen movie cinema experiences to providing mobile movie theatres and Disney+ subscriptions for more intimate viewings, the programme helps children and their families experience moments of joy, comfort, and togetherness when they need it the most.

Reimagining care

The magic doesn’t stop at the screen. TWDC works with healthcare professionals to reimagine care journeys by reducing stress and fear. Spaces and procedures are transformed through enchanting installations, workshops, hospital visits and more, with the aim of making every moment matter. For children living with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses, TWDC makes wishes come true, by partnering with wish granting organisations to create unforgettable experiences for them and their families.

This commitment is rooted in Walt Disney’s own tradition of visiting children’s hospitals with animators and beloved characters to bring joy and comfort. TWDC has continued this legacy by making a $100 million investment, announced in 2018, to support more than 1,500 children’s hospitals and paediatric care locations in 45 countries around the world, including in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Examples of Impact across EMEA

Since 2020, the Disney Moments That Matter Programme has created over 500,000 moments of joy, comfort, and togetherness for children across EMEA. This is a major contributor to TWDC’s ambition to create one million moments that matter by 2030.

Here are just a few examples of how the programme comes to life.

Italy & UK

For 25 years, MediCinema and TWDC have proudly worked together to bring movie magic to patients, their families, and the medical staff who care for them. MediCinema, builds and runs cinemas inside hospitals equipped with space for beds, wheelchairs, and medical equipment.

France & Spain

Disney VoluntEARS have brightened hospital stays with character visits for years. In 2020, “happy kits” were introduced to provide children facing unexpected hospital stays with toiletry essentials and a surprise Mickey plush. To date, over 13,000 kits have been donated to children in emergency units at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris and La Paz Hospital in Madrid.

Germany, Turkey & Portugal

Since 2019 Disney Germany have supported Deutsches Herzzentrum München – Klinik für Kinderkardiologie und angeborene Herzfehler to help reduce fear and anxiety in young patients experiencing MRI scans with Disney+ subscriptions tvia VR headsets that allow them to escape into their favourite story during the procedure.

In 2025, Disney Germany, Turkey, and Portugal installed murals inspired by Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars in collaboration with their partner hospitals in each region. The vibrant designs help ease anxiety and bring moments of joy, turning intimidating spaces into comforting ones.

Mural in Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital and München Klinik Schwabing hospital in Germany.

South Africa

In 2024, Disney South Africa partnered with non-profit organisation Reach For A Dream to create the 45th “Dream Room” at Pholosong Regional Hospital – a vibrant space featuring a fully renovated ward, dedicated therapy room, and playful garden designed to inspire hope and joy.

By transforming hospital spaces into places where children can dream, laugh, and experience the magic of movies, The Walt Disney Company builds on its legacy of social purpose and moves closer to its ambition of creating one million Moments that Matter by 2030.