Although 4-year-old Clarice has a rare life-threatening medical condition, her wish is the most popular request for all Make-A-Wish^® chapters. Clarice wished to go to the Walt Disney World^® Resort. In a show of generosity, DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, stepped up to provide tickets and other perks for Clarice and her family to grant the wish.

Clarice’s trip came at just the right time, as she had not been away from home or the hospital for 15 months. During that time, she couldn’t even make the drive to her grandparents’ home two hours away. All that pent-up energy found its way out though as Clarice’s first day at Magic Kingdom^® Park was spent on 27 rides, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain.

The young girl’s mother, Dori, reports that they also visited Disney-MGM Studios^® , where Clarice met characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and danced with Minnie Mouse and Goofy. At Epcot^® , Clarice presented Mickey Mouse with a picture she had drawn of he and Minnie. According to her mom, the little “night owl” kept the family out almost every night until park closing time.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the wish for the active girl was the evening they ate dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, which is on the second floor of Cinderella Castle. At 7 p.m., the family’s waitress took Clarice and her father out to the balcony of the castle to watch the royal fireworks.

In a letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Dori said Clarice talks about her adventure every day and can’t wait to return.