Make-A-Wish and Disney Cruise Line Grant Dreams in Italy for the First Time. For 5-year-old Aurora, meeting her favorite Disney Princess, Cinderella, has been a dream she’s held onto for as long as she can remember. The only little hiccup? Aurora lives in Italy, which is quite a distance from Cinderella’s castle at a Disney park.
But through the power of some special Disney magic, Aurora’s dream was able to come true with help from Disney Cruise Line. “Today I met Cinderella, and I hugged her!” Aurora said.
Making Wishes Come True for Nearly 40 Families
This summer, while the Disney Fantasy was docked at the port of Civitavecchia, Disney teamed up with Make-A-Wish Italia to give nearly 40 families from all over Italy a truly special day on the ship, filled with Disney magic just when they needed it the most.
“To be able to grant such an important wish, means to give a child the strength to dream, to really believe in the power of dreams, of life, of everything beyond illness,” Aurora’s mother, Daniela, said.
For the very first time in Italy, our team brought the joy, happiness, and magic of Disney to kids battling serious illnesses who had dreamed of meeting their beloved Disney characters.
With many Make-A-Wish families unable to travel to a Disney park, this day provided an opportunity for wish children to enjoy a magical day close to home.
A Day of Fun and Adventure with Disney Characters
The kids, along with their families, were the special guests on board, kicking off their day with a super fun Royal Tea Party where they got to hang out with their favorite characters like the Disney Princesses, Thor, BB-8, Woody, and Jessie. After that, they headed over to check out the activities at the Oceaneer’s Club, all organized by the ship’s crew.
“Witnessing the joy that this day brought to the children and their families was an unforgettable experience that made me deeply grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in their lives,” said John, Manager of Human Resources onboard the Disney Fantasy and Disney VoluntEAR. “It reminded me of the power of kindness and community, two things that are very dear to my heart.”
And what better way to wrap up an amazing day than to celebrate with a dance party hosted by Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto!
“Disney Cruise Line’s warmth, care, and attention to detail created magical moments that these families will cherish forever. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime journey filled with joy, laughter, and wonder,” said Luciano Manzo, President & CEO Make-A-Wish International.
The Walt Disney Company is the largest wish granter in the world for Make-A-Wish, granting a wish every hour of every day. This special event in Italy is one of the many experiences that Disney and Make-A-Wish have worked together to create. Since the very first official wish was granted at Disneyland Resort nearly 45 years ago, Disney has helped fulfil over 170,000 wishes globally with Make-A-Wish, delivering happiness when it’s needed most to wish kids and their families.
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