Disney makes kids' dreams come true with Disney Week of Wishes

GMA TEAMMon, April 27, 2026 at 1:36 PM UTC

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Over the course of more than 40 years, Disney and Make-A-Wish have partnered together to make wishes come true for more than 165,000 children with critical illnesses around the world.

This week, Disney kicked off its second Disney Week of Wishes, bringing together the full power of The Walt Disney Co. to grant as many wishes to kids as possible through its theme parks, television and movie studios and stores around the world.

The week of wish-granting was spotlighted Monday on "Good Morning America" when a 16-year-old who had his wish of experiencing a day in the life of an animator granted at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images - PHOTO: Statues of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse stand in a garden in front of Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World on April 3, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Throughout the week, more wishes will include a 5-year-old getting the royal treatment at Disneyland and two boys getting their wishes fulfilled at the 2026 NFL Draft.

Disney and Make-A-Wish reach 150,000 wishes granted at Once Upon A Wish Party

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The first-ever official wish granted by Make-A-Wish was in 1980, when Frank "Bopsy" Salazar, a 7-year-old diagnosed with leukemia, was granted his wish to visit Disneyland.

Four decades later, Disney is the world's largest wish-granter for Make-A-Wish, according to the nonprofit organization, whose founding was inspired by an Arizona community that rallied together to help a young boy battling leukemia fulfill his wish to be a police officer.

10-year-old battling cancer has Cinderella dream come true

Make-A-Wish recipient makes wishes come true at Disney

Abigail Hoyle's journey with Disney and the Make-A-Wish Foundation began 15 years ago and now continues as she helps children experience the same joy as a cast member at the parks.

16-year-old becomes a Disney animator

A 16-year-old sees his wish of becoming a Disney animator come true thanks to a 46-year- partnership between Make-A-Wish and Disney.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”