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Disney Cruise Line Brings Joy to Make-A-Wish Families
During The Walt Disney Company’s first-ever “Disney Week of Wishes,” a celebration of their 45-year partnership with Make-A-Wish, Disney Cruise Line brought some magical wishes to life on the ocean. Three Make-A-Wish children and their families experienced their wishes granted with an invitation to sail on the aptly named Disney Wish.
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Disney Cruise Line cast and crew members were excited to welcome Kara, Delaney, Anthony and their families aboard for a magical cruise vacation. Each of the families sailed aboard the Disney Wish from Port Canaveral, Florida, visiting Nassau, The Bahamas, and Disney Cruise Line’s private island destination, Disney Castaway Cay. While onboard, they experienced incredible live shows, spectacular fireworks at sea, special moments with some of their favorite characters, and more.
Efforts like these are part of what makes Disney the world’s largest wish-granter for Make-A-Wish, granting a wish every hour of every day.
Meet the Wish Kids
For years, ever since she saw her first TV commercial for Disney Cruise Line, 15-year-old Kara Betancourt, from Colorado, dreamed of sailing with DCL. When asked what her wish would be, Kara, who is nonverbal, gleefully signed “big boat” in American Sign Language. Kara’s sister, Ella, another Make-A-Wish grant recipient, and their parents joined for a family adventure. The family had a blast floating in the turquoise water at Disney Castaway Cay and delighted in catching bubbles during the stage show of The Little Mermaid in The Walt Disney Theater.
Delaney Binker, 15, from Florida, was excited to board the Disney Wish and visit another country – The Bahamas – for the first time. Along with her mom, dad, and brother, Delaney was joined by her best friend, her grandma. Onboard the Disney Wish, Delaney met all of her favorite Disney princesses. “The smile that she’s had this entire trip has said everything it needs to,” her dad Brian said at the end of the voyage. “Only Disney can do it better than anybody else.”
Anthony DiDonato, 17, from Colorado, loves cruising and enjoyed his first time on a Disney Cruise Line ship. Anthony’s younger sister Aubrey, 10, said that Anthony was “really happy” during the sailing, adding that “he loves spending time with his family.” Anthony, Aubrey, their parents, and members of their extended family donned pirate garb for the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party, where they danced in the glow of fireworks over the upper decks.
Meet the Wish Makers
While onboard, Anthony, Delaney and Kara made friends with many of the Disney Cruise Line crew members, who helped make their voyage even more magical. “Crew and cast members have gone out of their way and just make you feel like you’re the most special person on the ship,” said Delaney’s mom, Carolyn.
And it wasn’t only the guests who were moved and inspired by the courage and resilience of guests like Anthony, Delaney and Kara.
Dining team crew members said they are proud and honored to serve Make-A-Wish families onboard. “You’re creating memories that they’re going to cherish for the rest of their life. It makes me happy inside” said Gilmar “Gil” Carneiro, a member of the dining team from Brazil. Added Richard Allemant Vera, a crew member from Italy, “We do something magical; it’s really beautiful.”
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