Disney and Make-A-Wish surprise Central Florida elementary student with ‘Disney Princess experience’

ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney World and Make-A-Wish are making dreams come true for families with a special princess-themed ball during World Princess Week.

On Wednesday, Disney announced the “Once Upon A Wish Party,” a special all-day royal experience being dreamed up just for wish families, and also revealed the first wish as part of this event to a Florida first grader from the Orange County Public School district.

Minnie Mouse, Disney cast members and Make-A-Wish surprised seven-year-old Scarlett from Ventura Elementary School in Kissimmee with the news that her wish for a “Disney Princess experience” was coming true. A lifelong fan of Disney Princesses, Scarlett was surrounded by nearly 100 of her fellow first-grade classmates and teachers, as well as her family, when she was surprised.

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“She’s going to have this super special experience and be able to go to the royal ball as a princess … I know she’s going to enjoy every single second of it,” Scarlett’s mom said. “To see her happy and completely fulfilled is every mother’s dream. It means so much that she’ll be able to experience life as a normal kid at a theme park where we don’t have to think about a lot of the medical stuff that has consumed our lives in the past.”

Scarlett was just a baby when her family learned that she would need a heart transplant. After undergoing many surgeries and a transplant at 18 months old.

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“Disney is the largest wish granter in the world, and over our more than 40-year relationship, we’ve granted some pretty incredible wishes together,” said Leslie Motter, Make-A-Wish America President and CEO. “Whatever Disney does, they go all out. I can’t wait to see the new happy memories Scarlett and our other attending wish families will be able to make at what is sure to be an unforgettable event.”

This first-of-its-kind wish event will take place during WDW’s World Princess Week celebration from August 20-26.

In addition to Scarlett, wish families across the country will be invited for surprises from dusk to dawn, including tea and treats, immersive Disney character meet and greets, and a ball they’re sure to remember forever.

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The “Once Upon A Wish Party,” follows the resort’s World Wish Day efforts where the 150,000th Disney-inspired wish was granted to 16-year-old Mikayla from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

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