Wish Kid Feels Like a Princess with Her Own Magical Fairytale
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 2024): Lucia was away with her family when she received the coolest surprise, a visit from Princess Elsa! It was a magical time of childhood fun for Lucia and her siblings, spending time with the princess jumping, twirling and giggling as they played Freeze Dance. Elsa also had another surprise that she just couldn’t hold back anymore. She told Lucia that Kids Wish Network was making her dream come true, sending her family to Disney to see Mickey and Minnie! Lucia’s joy emanated, and her beaming smile widened as she learned more about her wish. She was especially looking forward to seeing the Disney parade, and also hoped to see Elsa again and meet her sister Anna. She couldn’t wait for her trip! Princess Elsa was courtesy of Fairytale Entertainment.
On the flight provided by Kids Wish Network, Lucia also received the royal treatment. There was a lot of pre-flight excitement getting to meet the pilots and sit in the pilot’s chair. When they landed, Lucia and her family were also invited to have a group photo taken with the flight crew. She was already feeling the magic of her wish, and this little princess’ fairytale had just begun.
The Magic Kingdom was even more than Lucia could have imagined. After watching the Disney parade so many times on TV, she was in complete wonder seeing it live with her favorite characters, the colorful floats, and iconic music. She also loved all the classic Disney rides and shows. After spending time at the park, they were welcomed aboard for dinner at Paddlefish, a luxurious stationary steamboat surrounded by beautiful views of Lake Buena Vista. Their family’s upscale culinary experience was sweetened when the chef brought out an exquisite assortment of desserts. Lucia and her siblings’ mouths gaped open in pure delight. Paddlefish graciously provided her family’s meals.
After dinner, her family headed back to their hotel, and there was a big surprise waiting for Lucia. Their suite was all decked out with unicorn decorations and balloons, along with a gift basket with personalized snacks. Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando/International Drive South also generously provided Lucia’s family with suite accommodations during her wish trip.
The following day they enjoyed more theme parks. Their time at EPCOT was elevated with an exclusive meet and greet with Frozen royalty Anna and Elsa, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. It was a private gathering for their family, having all the characters to themselves. There were so many smiles, hugs and photos taken to capture the precious moments. Dinner at Ford’s Garage completed their spectacular day. The restaurant had gifts for Lucia’s whole family, and she also had fun getting to push the button that makes the restaurant’s truck horn honk. Their dining experience was courtesy of Ford’s Garage.
After a night’s sleep, they were off to Hollywood Studios. They explored the Star Wars attractions and Toy Story Land, followed by another visit to the Magic Kingdom. The family’s park hopper passes made it easy to visit multiple parks each day. They maximized their fun, also going to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, where Lucia rode her very first kiddie roller coaster. That evening they had another festive dinner at Café Tu Tu Tango who also went above and beyond to make their visit special. After finishing their meals, they were also treated to a massive ice cream sundae surrounded by a decadent sampler of desserts. Their dinners were kindly donated by Café Tu Tu Tango.
“There were so many little moments where people made her feel like a princess and just magical, it was really special and blew me away,” said her mom Kate. “Thank you for everything you have done for Lucy and our whole family!!! You have brought so much joy to her and all of us, and so many happy memories as we head back into a full day of appointments for her tomorrow. What you do makes such a difference and we are so so grateful.”
Lucia has WARS 2 mitochondrial metabolism defect, a gene mutation with only 50 known cases worldwide. Her mitochondria does not create enough energy, causing her body to be deficient which progressively damages her body systems. She’s also in the beginning stages of optic nerve atrophy, with the nerves from her eyes to her brain deteriorating. Lucia undergoes physical, occupational, feeding and speech therapies, and sees many specialists including a genetics doctor, neurologist, ophthalmologist, cardiologist, biochemist, physiologist, neuro psychologist, and audiologist. Their trip was much-needed time away from all her appointments and medical stresses. It was especially meaningful for her family that Lucia could experience her wish while she was still fully able to enjoy it.
Many Thanks
Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Anais without the help of the West Covina Police Department, Springhill Suites Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center/Western Entrance, Planet Hollywood, and the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope. Also special thanks to Bahama Breeze and Red Robin for their support.
Sponsors:
West Covina Police Department
FB: https://www.facebook.com/WestCovinaPD/
IG: @westcovinapd
X: @WestCovinaPD
SpringHill Suites Orlando at FLAMINGO CROSSINGS Town Center/Western Entrance
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SpringHillSuitesOrlandoFlamingo/
IG: @mariottbonvoy
X: @SHSFlamingoXing
Planet Hollywood
https://www.planethollywoodintl.com/restaurants/orlando
FB: https://www.facebook.com/planethollywood/
IG: @planethollywood
X: @ PlanetHollywood
Bahama Breeze
https://www.bahamabreeze.com/happy-hour/fl/orlando-restaurant/3001
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BahamaBreezeOrlandoFL3001/
X: @BahamaBreeze
Red Robin
https://locations.redrobin.com/fl/orlando/554/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RedRobinInternationalDrive554/
IG: @redrobinburgers
X: @redrobinburgers
Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about our different programs. Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.
Every kid’s wish is worth the investment because every wish changes a life.
If you would like to sponsor a child’s wish, or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network’s wish-granting services, please call 727-789-0008.