Thanks to the dreaming hearts of Guests at the , scores of tiny brave get to take a break from the challenges and struggles they face every day.
If you’ve always dreamed of being a , or if you’re the parent of a , you’ve no doubt visited at , and you’ve probably posed for photos behind the iconic wishing well at . But do you remember the last time you tossed a into the well, after wishing over it of course?
Whoever “coined” the term “pocket change” must have never been to , where tiny, magical, manmade bodies of water inside attractions and around each serve as wishing grounds for Guests. Children of all ages, from 1 to 101, make a wish, toss a into the water, and wait patiently, believing their dreams will come true. And those coins add up to create amazing and positive change for children of varying ages in Central Florida.
After all, “if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
And that’s what happens regularly for the youngest and bravest of who have the chance to experience a week-long, no-cost vacation at the Give Kids the World Village.
On Tuesday, announced that Cast Members recently collected coins from the wishing well at at , as well as from at each across the , in preparation for Disney’s donation to Give Kids the World Village.
After each was collected, each was sorted, and each was counted, was proud to present more than $30,000 to Give Kids the World Village.
Give Kids the World is a non-profit organization that serves children in Central Florida (and their families) who are critically ill. The Village is located in Kissimmee on 89 acres and provides week-long, cost-free wish vacations to children who face critical illnesses and the challenges (and triumphs) that can go along with those illnesses.
Many of the families who stay at the Village also have their Disney granted with a trip to as well.
“We’ve had an amazing relationship with for more than 35 years, and this donation on top of the recent $500,000 grant will help us to continue making dreams come true for our very special wish families who visit the Village,” said Pam Landwirth, President and CEO of Give Kids The World Village.
The periodically collects the tossed, wished-upon coins from around the parks, cleans them, and sorts them before making a donation to a Central Florida non-profit, according to USA Today.
In November 2020, coins were collected from the waterways at the “it’s a small world” attraction, from throughout each , and, of course, from the iconic wishing well at . The coins totaled more than $20,000, which then donated to the Coalition for the Homeless, according to ‘s external affairs director that year.
