Make-A-Wish kids’ requests guide Disney World princess event
Walt Disney World is doubling down on its pixie dust and the power of wishes to create its largest event for Make-A-Wish Foundation kids.
The company says 59 children plus families are attending the Once Upon a Wish Party, which includes Friday’s royal ball featuring Disney’s vast stable of princesses, princes and other characters. The 42,000-square-foot Fantasia Ballroom inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort was transformed with a castle-inspired facade, chandelier, a dance floor and multiple backdrops for meeting and greeting the royals.
The concept is a compilation of specific Disney-oriented wishes from the kids.
“On any given day, we could have over 100 Wish kids in our parks. But this is different because we really took those princess wishes and created an entire daylong event off of those specific wishes,” Stefanie Steele, senior manager of corporate responsibility, said.
For example, many kids wanted to see where princesses live, she said. One wanted a princess tea party, and that’s being granted to all participants. Guests included Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit.
“There’s a lot [of wishes] for meeting princesses, hence the 30 characters that we’re doing,” Steele said. “The cutest one to me was, ‘I wish to tell Elsa I love her.’”
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Make-A-Wish Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to fulfill the wishes of children with critical illnesses.
Other festivities for the Once Upon a Wish Party participants included theme park tickets, a special fireworks viewing and a welcome breakfast where the Fairy Godmother proclaimed them royals for the day.
“And then, since they’re now royalty, they will then get their royal wardrobe,” Steele said. Tiaras were involved.
Friday afternoon included two “dream parlors,” where small groups of Wish kids met with characters. One housed characters whom Disney calls the “adventure” princesses (plus Bruno from “Encanto”), and the other sported a “Frozen” theme.
“Anna and Elsa will prepare them for the ball or prepare them for their coronation,” Steele said. This included lessons on bowing and curtseying and how to let it go.
Wish kids received a red-carpet welcome when checking into the Contemporary this week.
Orlando’s Scarlett Jaycock, 7, was the first invitee to the event. Minnie Mouse made an appearance at her school last spring to surprise her.
“There was actually a surprise assembly where myself, her dad, and her sister and brother were able to surprise her at school,” said Dianna Jaycock, Scarlett’s mother. “Scarlett is a giant fan of just all things Disney princess.”
Scarlett said that her choice of favorite Disney princess changes depending on what movie she has seen recently.
Her mom said they have not been able to visit Disney World as a family.
“This is extra special for our family to be able to spend this time together, especially for the length of time that we’re going to be at Disney,” Dianna Jaycock said. She said Scarlett had been asking Alexa how many days away the event was.
“We’re super excited is the understatement of the century,” she said.
Participants come from 22 states and as far away as the west coast of the U.S.
The ball includes royal dancers on stage, live entertainment, character interaction as well as Wish kids on the dance floor.
Also on stage will be 17-year-old Wish kid Mikayla Beatty from Palm Beach Gardens. Her wish was to sing at Disney, and she was set to perform a couple of movie songs at the ball. She represents the 150,000th Disney Wish granted.
“She’s been getting the full celebrity experience,” Steele said, with rehearsal time and selection of costuming.
The idea for the royal gathering has been around for more than a year, with serious plans beginning in December, Steele said. About 500 Disney employees have been involved, plus local vendors and small businesses.
“We were so uniquely positioned, our company, to be able to pull something like this off. We have princesses,” Steele said. “This was just a big dream that we were able to do.”