Latest news with #DisneyWeekofWishes
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Make-a-Wish Kids Get Royal Treatment During First-Ever Disney Week of Wishes
Every year, on April 29, Disney partners with Make-A-Wish to celebrate World Wish Day–where they work to grant wishes for more than 165,000 children worldwide with critical illnesses. Whether it's creating space for a kid to meet their on-screen hero, or opening the door to a once-in-a-lifetime experience, World Wish Day is about making memories that inspire and give hope. This year, Disney took things up a notch by kicking off its first-ever Disney Week of Wishes. Between April 26–May 2, 2025, they shared stories of granting wishes through specially-designed experiences across the company. And we got a look at how some of the wish-granting designs came together. A big component of the week was the granting of Disney Princess wishes, where families were treated with immersive character experiences across the Disney parks and resorts. Some of these princess wish experiences included: immersive story-focused adventures princess breakfasts and boutique transformations baking sessions cruiseline experiences shopping sprees special character meet & greets and photo shoots And kids received their very own princess character costumes to wear during these experiences to make the magic even more real for them. Ariella Hendrix, Product Design Manager at Disney Consumer Products, works directly with the design company Disguise to create these costumes. She spoke with Parents about what went into making these princess wishes special for families this year. How long have you been designing costumes for Week of Wishes, and how does the experience align with what you envisioned? AH: I've been a Costume Designer at Disney Consumer Products for 12 years. I'm so excited that some of the costumes I helped develop, like Elsa & Rapunzel were requested by kids who wished for princess-themed experiences! It was so special to be a small part of developing these costumes, and that children around the world were able to immerse themselves in becoming their favorite characters. Can you speak a bit to the level of detail that goes into the design of the costumes, and how important it is for each one to be character-accurate? AH: The design process in licensed costume development is collaborative. We partner [with Disguise] in ensuring that the designs are authentic to the characters, while also finding meaningful ways to weave details of their stories into the costume designs and their artwork. It is also very important to ensure that the costumes are comfortable for all children. Is there a most-requested Disney Princess costume that you find among wish kids, and are they able to keep the costumes? AH: Costumes from Disney's Frozen are always some of our most popular costume requests, and that was certainly the case this World Wish Day. [And] Yes! The kids (and their siblings) get to keep any costumes and accessories they receive during the princess makeovers as well as any toys, books, and goodies they receive throughout the wish itself. This allows them to bring a piece of the magic home with them, making the wish even more unforgettable. One phase of the Disney Princess wish experience came via the Once Upon A Wish Party–where nearly 50 kids and their families were invited to Walt Disney World to take part in a two-day immersive storybook adventure. During this time, the kids are treated like royalty, as their families were given some inspiration designed to help them through their medical journeys. 4-year-old Lila Tenney was one of the 50 wish kids invited to the party this year. Here's a look at her family's experience: It's easy to get emotional over stories like these, watching families get to experience some joy amidst some challenging times. 'This means everything,' said Lila's dad. 'With this experience that Make-A-Wish and Disney allows us, it puts us at ease and gives us a moment to relax and enjoy.' When discussing what it takes to bring something like this to life for families, Hendrix highlights the attention to detail. "So much goes into making each wish as special as possible," she says. "While every wish is different, we're always putting the same attention to detail and level of care into every wish experience we grant. At Once Upon A Wish Party, each child's experience was tailored to their specific interests and included fun moments. No matter the wish, our products help create a truly unforgettable experience and lasting memories for the kids and their families." As Disney and Make-A-Wish continue their partnership with a yearly week-long focus of granting wishes, the expansion should provide even more opportunities to fill a family's day with magic. Stories like these should also serve as a reminder to create memorable experiences daily with family, no matter what you may be going through. 'Creating happiness for the children who need it most is an incredible privilege,' said Tasia Filippatos, President of Disney Consumer Products and Make-A-Wish International Board Member. 'Disney products are a special piece of the Disney wish experience that create lasting memories, spread hope and bring the magic home for wish kids and their families.' Hendrix seconds this notion with, 'Words can't describe how special it feels to know that the work I'm so passionate about is directly helping wish kids around the world. My dream is that everyone has a costume that they feel seen in. Knowing the costumes I design create a more fun and immersive experience for kids in need, seeing the smiles on their faces, that's exactly why I do what I do.' Read the original article on Parents
Business Wire
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
The Walt Disney Company Launches Inaugural, Company-Wide 'Disney Week of Wishes' Campaign to Celebrate World Wish Day With Make-A-Wish
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) kicks off a weeklong company-wide campaign to celebrate its 45-year relationship with Make-A-Wish ® by launching the first ever 'Disney Week of Wishes.' During this unprecedented week, Disney is honoring World Wish Day on April 29 by sharing unique wishes selected by Make-A-Wish kids that only Disney can make come true. This includes a wish-granting moment on American Idol, a Princess-themed ball for nearly 50 families at Disney World, and making one girl's wish of meeting a star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe come true. The unique power of Disney to grant more than 170 signature wishes this week is made possible by harnessing the breadth of the company's businesses to deliver on the core promise that has guided Disney for over a century: to create happiness for kids and families around the world. 'We're enormously proud of Disney's relationship with Make-A-Wish, which dates back nearly 45 years to the first official wish at Disneyland,' said Disney CEO Bob Iger. 'It's a privilege to use the power of Disney's stories and characters to lift children's spirits when they need it most, and we're honored to work with Make-A-Wish to grant a Disney wish every hour of every day.' 'Disney has supported Make-A-Wish from the very beginning, and now 45 years later, we are making a greater impact together than ever before in honor of World Wish Day on April 29,' said Leslie Motter, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish America. 'Disney Week of Wishes is a testament to the company's steadfast commitment to delivering hope and joy when it's needed most to wish kids and their families around the world." ABC News' Good Morning America kicked off the week by highlighting the company's longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish, taking viewers back to where the first official wish was granted: Disneyland. Now, 45 years later, six-year-old Justice from Washington State traveled to Disneyland where her wish to be a princess came true. Throughout Disney Week of Wishes, Disney will spotlight several different wishes taking place across the company. Some of the wishes include: Meeting Luke Bryan of ABC's American Idol Meeting Sebastian Stan of Marvel's Thunderbolts* Announcing a draft pick for the NFL, broadcast on ESPN Having the ultimate Disney Princess experience at Once Upon A Wish Party, a storybook event at Walt Disney World for about 50 Make-A-Wish kids and their families Visiting Disneyland Resort, which is hosting nine wish kids and their families for a princess celebration Sailing on Disney Cruise Line, which granted the wish of three kids who set sail aboard the fittingly named Disney Wish A Disney Store shopping spree and princess makeovers for two sisters, arranged by Disney Consumer Products Global Disney teams are also bringing happiness to wish kids around the world. A few examples include: Disneyland Paris, which hosted 78 Make-A-Wish families for a special wish weekend Disney's Latin America office, which created the first ever Princess wish event in Argentina for six wish kids and their families Disney teams across Asia are working with Make-A-Wish to grant wishes, inviting wish alumni to franchise-themed experiences, and hosting activations at Shanghai Disney Store and Parks sites across the region All week, the company's largest social handles will share wish stories in the U.S. and around the world for fans to follow along. To join Disney and become a WishMaker with Make-A-Wish visit Disney is the world's largest wish granter for Make-A-Wish, granting a wish every hour of every day. Disney has helped grant more than 165,000 life-changing wishes since the first official wish was granted at Disneyland Resort in 1981. These Disney wishes are transformative. They have the power to renew hope, uplift spirits, and unite families in life-changing experiences. About The Walt Disney Company For more than 100 years, Disney has been committed to bringing happiness to kids and families around the world. Learn more about Disney's commitment to delivering happiness and joy when it's needed most at Join Disney and become a WishMaker with Make-A-Wish at About Make-A-Wish® Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 20,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit
