When the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® granted its first wish in 1980, Disney was there to lend a helping hand. More than 25 years later, this relationship continues to bring smiles to Make-A-Wish^® children everywhere.

Today, a Disney theme park visit remains the Foundation's most requested wish, and each year Disney fulfills more than 5,000 wishes for our wish kids. Other wish experiences have included taking a Disney cruise, working with Disney animators, meeting favorite Disney personalities or visiting the sets of Disney films and television shows.

Disney also played a major role in helping celebrate the Foundation’s 25th anniversary. Disney underwrote a star-studded fundraiser aboard the cruise ship Disney Magic which generated more than $2 million for the Foundation. It also hosted the 25th anniversary celebration at Disneyland, which featured more than 75 wish kids past and present. During that time, Disney granted its 50,000th Disney theme park wish.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney Celebrate 50,000th Disney Theme Park Wish

Five-year-old Christian from Oregon had a simple wish – to visit Disneyland and meet Mickey Mouse. His wish turned out to be more than he ever dreamed possible when he became the 50,000th child to have a Disney theme park wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney.

Christian was all smiles when his wish came true at Disneyland, especially during a special 50,000th wish ceremony in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Christian and his father arrived at the ceremony with Aladdin on a magic carpet ride. Then at Aladdin's request, Christian rubbed a huge magic lamp, which brought forth from the lamp Disney's official wish granter, Genie from “Aladdin,” amid a colorful show of smoke, fireworks and streamers. Genie presented Christian with a special wish cake, and then Christian's mother and brother joined everyone on stage for the finale.

Besides the thrilling wish ceremony, Christian and his family enjoyed a private visit with Mickey Mouse before the park opened one day. Mickey invited Christian to Mickey's Toontown where the new friends, including Minnie Mouse, spent time together and walked hand-in-hand.

“Christian's wish is the beginning of something special,” said Christian's mother, Lisette. “If you have faith and believe that your child can become better, then they will. This is Christian's first time at Disneyland, and we are thrilled to see the joy on his face. When he is happy, we are too.”