More than 30 wish children and their families came together for ‘A Disney Wish’ aboard the Disney Dream for a first-of-its kind day filled with happiness and Disney magic during the ship’s visit to Cork.
The experience brought Disney storytelling, characters and moments of joy to families close to home, with the ship serving as the setting for a special day of character encounters and interactive activities.
As the world’s largest wish granter, on average, Disney helps fulfill a wish every hour of every day by bringing its stories, characters, experiences and cast members across the globe.
Before embarking on the Disney Dream, the evening before held a special welcome celebration, where the children met Disney characters Joy and Sadness from Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out. They were also presented with their own Disney wish wands.
Aboard the Disney Dream on Saturday, each wish child received a personalised greeting in the ship’s atrium before the group enjoyed a majestic brunch at Royal Palace alongside Disney Princesses, including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana and Belle.
The day continued with themed arts and crafts and a fun-filled visit with Stitch in Disney’s Oceaneer Club as well as a silent disco dance party with Mickey Mouse and friends. Each child received special Disney keepsakes, including plush toys, pins, autograph books and other souvenirs to commemorate the experience.
“Disney and Make-A-Wish have worked together for many years to grant wishes that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children when they need it most,” said Tracy Wilson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Cruise Line. “As Disney Cruise Line continues to visit more places around the world, we have the unique opportunity to bring Disney stories and characters directly to these families, creating moments of joy and happiness closer to where they call home.”
“At Make-A-Wish Ireland, we see every day the powerful difference that hope, joy and connection can make in the lives of wish children and their families,” said Susan O’Dwyer, Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Ireland. “Disney Cruise Line shares that spirit, creating joyful experiences that bring families together. This event gave our wish families a wonderful opportunity to have fun, build lasting memories and connect with others who understand the journey they are on.”
For the Leavy family, Ella’s special day is one they’ll remember forever. Her parents shared, “Ella has always said she wanted to play and be a little girl. Because of her diagnosis, that was stripped from her. We spent the last year at medical appointments instead of playgrounds and in surgeries instead of enjoying Disney movies and different things. Ella’s wish was to go and see all the Disney characters and meet her biggest fan, Minnie Mouse, and that dream came true today.”
For Ella, the magic didn’t stop there. During lunch at Royal Palace, the children and their families were joined by a few special friends for a magical dining experience.
Tyler’s wish to meet Mickey Mouse also came true aboard the Disney Dream.
“Today, I met Captain Mickey Mouse on the cruise ship,” Tyler said. “I was on the cruise ship and dancing with Mickey Mouse.”
Alan Curtin, Tyler’s dad, reflected on the impact of the experience: “It was such an amazing day. It was filled with uplifting, rewarding moments from start to finish. Seeing the light in their eyes was so special. After all the heartbreak we’ve been through, to have a day like this — a day to simply enjoy and make memories together — was incredibly meaningful. It was just amazing.”
As Disney Cruise Line continues to expand its fleet and reach new destinations around the world, experiences like this create unique opportunities to bring Disney stories, characters and magic directly to children and families in the communities it visits.
Disney and Make-A-Wish have collaborated for more than 45 years to grant more than 175,000 life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses around the world. The ‘A Disney Wish’ event in Ireland is part of Disney’s Moments That Matter programme, bringing moments of comfort, joy and togetherness to children and families close to home when travel is not possible, through the power of Disney stories, characters and experiences.