Disney Week of Wishes 2026 begins today, April 27, marking the second annual company-wide celebration of the more than 175,000 Disney wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation over 45 years. A Disney wish is granted every hour of every single day, and this week Disney is shining a spotlight on the stories behind that number.
The partnership between Disney and Make-A-Wish dates back to 1981, when 7-year-old Frank “Bopsy” Salazar became the first official Make-A-Wish kid. His wish was a trip to Disneyland, and Disney was there from the start to help grant it. That single moment laid the foundation for what is now the longest-running and largest wish-granting relationship in Make-A-Wish history.
More than four decades later, a visit to a Disney theme park remains the single most requested wish for Make-A-Wish America. Disney CEO and Make-A-Wish Board Member Josh D’Amaro spoke to the weight of that trust. “I’ve seen firsthand how powerful a wish can be, not just for the child but for the entire family,” D’Amaro said. “It’s incredibly meaningful that so many Make-A-Wish kids, when they’re thinking about their wish, they choose Disney.”
Disney is the largest wish granter for Make-A-Wish in the world. Over 175,000 Disney wishes have been granted globally, spanning theme park visits, Disney Cruise Line voyages, ESPN sports experiences, Broadway shows through Disney Theatrical Group, and on-set moments with Disney Entertainment talent. In 2025 alone, Disney donated more than $30 million to support those efforts.
What Disney Week of Wishes Looks Like in 2026
This year’s Disney Week of Wishes runs April 27 through May 1. Each day of the week, Disney will spotlight unique and heartwarming wish stories from across the company and around the world.
On the ESPN side, the network is re-airing the SportsCenter Special: “My Wish” 2025 beginning today on ESPN platforms. The 18th season features Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, boxing champion Canelo Alvarez, and the Savannah Bananas. ESPN is also re-airing its first-ever Spanish-language one-hour special, Mi Deseo, Un Especial de SportsCenter, on ESPN Deportes starting today.
Disney Entertainment has its own roster of wish moments to share this week, including past surprises like the 2024 story of 15-year-old Mya, who battled tumors caused by neurofibromatosis type 2 and had her wish granted to meet Sofia Carson from Disney’s Descendants franchise on ABC’s The View.
Wishes Without Borders
Disney’s wish-granting work extends well beyond U.S. theme parks. In the UK, the “A Disney Wish” program returned for its fifth year in 2025, bringing nearly 200 families together for a three-day immersive experience designed for children who are unable to travel to a Disney park. In Singapore, 8-year-old Chace had his wish granted to meet Beast from Beauty and the Beast. In Latin America, a 6-year-old girl named María received a royal Disney Princess transformation that included a personalized video from a Spanish-speaking Princess Belle recorded in her native language.
These are not PR moments. They are the reason the Disney brand carries
Disney Week of Wishes 2026 Kicks Off Today With 45 Years of Make-A-Wish History Behind It
Stay with Fantasy Land News all week for full coverage of every Disney Week of Wishes 2026 reveal as Disney makes them official. And join the Realm at fantasylandnews.com/the-realm to get updates the moment they drop.
