Disney Cruise Line and Make-A-Wish Italia Bring Magic to Families in Italy

For the first time in Italy, <strong>Disney Cruise Line</strong> and <strong>Make-A-Wish Italia</strong> partnered to host nearly 40 families of children with critical illnesses aboard the <strong>Disney Fantasy</strong> during a port call in <strong>Civitavecchia</strong> this summer. Wish children from across Italy spent a full day onboard meeting Disney characters — including Cinderella, Thor, and BB-8 — attending a Royal Tea Party, exploring the Oceaneer's Club, and closing the day with a dance party hosted by Captain Mickey and the crew. The Walt Disney Company has helped grant over 170,000 wishes with Make-A-Wish globally since the program's founding nearly 45 years ago.

During a summer port call at Civitavecchia, Italy, the Disney Fantasy transformed into a wish-granting venue for nearly 40 families of children living with critical illnesses — the first time Disney Cruise Line has hosted a Make-A-Wish event on Italian soil. The collaboration between Disney Cruise Line and Make-A-Wish Italia brought Disney character encounters, a Royal Tea Party, children's club activities, and a farewell dance party to wish kids and their families who were unable to travel to a Disney park.

A First-Ever Wish Day in Italy

With many Make-A-Wish families in Italy unable to travel to a Disney theme park, Disney Cruise Line brought the experience to them. During one of the Disney Fantasy's regular stops at the port of Civitavecchia during its summer Mediterranean season, the ship opened its doors to nearly 40 Italian wish families for a full day of immersive Disney magic — the first time this type of event has taken place in Italy.

Among the wish children was five-year-old Aurora, whose long-held dream was to meet Cinderella. "Today I met Cinderella, and I hugged her!" she said after the encounter. Aurora's mother, Daniela, described the weight of the moment: "To be able to grant such an important wish, means to give a child the strength to dream, to really believe in the power of dreams, of life, of everything beyond illness."

A Day Onboard: Royal Tea, Character Meets, and a Dance Party

The wish children and their families were treated as guests of honor throughout the day. The program opened with a Royal Tea Party, where kids met an array of beloved Disney characters including Disney Princesses, Thor, BB-8, Woody, and Jessie. After the Tea Party, families moved to the Oceaneer's Club for activities hosted by the ship's crew members.

The day closed with a dance party hosted by Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto — a finale that encapsulated the full scope of Disney character programming available onboard.

Crew Voices: The Human Impact

John, Manager of Human Resources aboard the Disney Fantasy and a Disney VoluntEAR, reflected on participating in the event: "Witnessing the joy that this day brought to the children and their families was an unforgettable experience that made me deeply grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference in their lives. It reminded me of the power of kindness and community, two things that are very dear to my heart."

Luciano Manzo, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish International, said of the collaboration: "Disney Cruise Line's warmth, care, and attention to detail created magical moments that these families will cherish forever. For many, it was a once-in-a-lifetime journey filled with joy, laughter, and wonder."

Disney and Make-A-Wish: A 45-Year Partnership

The Walt Disney Company is the single largest wish-grantor for Make-A-Wish in the world, fulfilling a wish every hour of every day. The Italy event builds on nearly 45 years of collaboration — beginning with the very first official Make-A-Wish wish granted at Disneyland Resort — and more than 170,000 wishes granted globally in the decades since. The Civitavecchia event represents an expansion of that partnership into European territory, using the Disney Cruise Line's Mediterranean itinerary infrastructure to deliver wish experiences where families live rather than requiring international travel to a Disney park.