Sarah Bretz, ContributorAs part of The Walt Disney Company’s inaugural “Disney Week of Wishes” celebrating the company’s 45-year relationship with Make-a-Wish, Disney Cruise Line has granted some wishes at sea. Three Make-a-Wish kids and their families had their wishes granted when they were invited to sail aboard Disney Wish.
Cast and crew members welcomed Kara, Delaney, Anthony, and their families aboard for a magical cruise vacation. Each of the families sailed on Disney Wish from Port Canaveral, visiting Nassau and Disney’s private island Castaway Cay.
Meet the Wish Kids
Kara
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 Disney Cruise Line. 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
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 ship, 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
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.
World’s Largest Wish Granter
Disney is proud to be the world’s largest wish granter for Make-A-Wish, and Disney Cruise Line cast and crew are thrilled to play a part in making magic for these special families.
Since 2010, Disney Cruise Line has granted over 5,600 wishes for kids around the world. When Disney Wish debuted in 2022, Disney Cruise Line named all Make-A-Wish kids — including past, present, and future recipients — as godchildren of the vessel.
Disney and Make-A-Wish have helped grant life-changing wishes for kids with critical illnesses around the world since 1980. Historically, one out of every two wishes granted in the U.S. through Make-A-Wish has been a Disney wish. For nearly 45 years, Disney has created joy for kids and families when it’s needed most, granting over 165,000 wishes in the process. For children with critical illnesses, a Disney wish can be transformative — bringing happiness, hope, and inspiration when it’s needed most.
