In honour of the 35th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Netherlands, The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish teamed up to grant the wishes of 63 seriously ill children at the ‘A Disney Wish’ event, which took place at the historic location of Landgoed Duin en Kruidberg in Santpoort-Noord.
Bringing the magic of Disney to the Netherlands, the children and their families had the chance to immerse themselves in all things Disney, including the opportunity to meet Mickey and his friends, as well as Woody, Stitch, Spiderman, Anna, Elsa, Olaf and all the Disney Princesses.
During their stay, families could enjoy exclusive Disney shows as well as several Disney-themed family activities, including the “Royal Ball” with Disney Princesses, a special celebration to mark Donald Duck’s 90th birthday and many other fun surprises together with beloved Disney characters. To add to the magic of it all, the wish kids also received a special letter from Mickey Mouse a week prior to the event.
Photography Credit: Rijk in Beeld
Hanneke Verburg of Make-A-Wish Netherlands said: “We want to give children and their parents strength and confidence to face the future. We achieve this by making a wish come true. An experience like ‘A Disney Wish’ contributes to this. The positive energy of looking forward to the wish fulfilment is exactly what these families need.”
Worldwide, The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish have worked together for 44 years to provide joy when it is needed most. Together, they give children in life-threatening or limiting circumstances the chance to have special experiences, such as the “A Disney Wish” event along with their families. The Walt Disney Company’s Theory of Change research shows that Disney’s stories and characters help build confidence in children in fearful circumstances.
Marco de Ruiter, Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Benelux said: “Creating moments that matter to children and their families is at the heart of our social focus. We know the happiness, joy and magic that our beloved characters, stories, movies and experiences bring to children and families, so it is our privilege to partner with Make-A-Wish and see the joy and positive impact that these very special Disney wish experiences have on children and their families when they need it most.”
Since the first official wish granting ceremony at the Disneyland Resort in 1980, The Walt Disney Company and Make-A-Wish together have granted more than 155,000 Disney wishes worldwide.