Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!
‘s was christened on Wednesday, but that’s not the only part of the ceremony that had fans misty-eyed.
Credit: Disney
The for ‘s , the , was announced earlier this month, but in true Disney fashion, there were several surprises in store for those who gathered to witness the first christening of a since the was christening a decade ago.
During the ceremony, the traditional role usually given to the godmother of the was instead entrusted to three from the Make-A- Foundation during the on Wednesday morning at Port Canaveral.
Credit: Disney
Thirteen-year-old Jenna from Sacramento, California, 16-year-old Megan from Brookfield, Wisconsin, and 10-year-old Colby from Lexington, Massachusetts, served as “representative godchildren of all past, present, and future recipients of the Make-A- charity,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. All three are survivors of life-threatening illnesses.
The trio of had the honor of christening the newest member of the , declaring in unison, “I christen thee, . May God bless this ship and all who sail on her.”
As part of the , images were shown of Jenna, Megan, and Colby during their individual journeys during which they received treatment for their illnesses. One image even included a sign that read, “Cancer Free,” evoking an emotional response in many in the audience.
The partnership between The and the Make-A- Foundation is a long-standing one. Over the years, the foundation has granted almost 150,000 wishes.
Try watching this video from Disney Parks and the Make-A-Wish Foundation with dry eyes:
Megan, the 16-year-old from Wisconsin who had a role in the christening of the had a rare form of leukemia–one that affects only 2 people out of one million. Her was to meet a member of , and her finally came true this week.
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option,” Megan said.
Credit: Disney
The Disney Wish christening event held at Port Canaveral also featured a vocal performance from Anika Noni Rose, who lent her voice to Tiana in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. CEO also spoke at the ceremony, as did Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products, Josh D’Amaro.
Credit: Disney
This ship is a celebration of nearly 100 years of Disney storytelling excellence,” said . “And it brings fantastic worlds and characters to life like never before. As you walk through the ship, you’ll notice around every corner is another amazing story. We’ve combined these amazing characters and stories with incredible technology to create brand-new experiences for our Guests that they can’t get anywhere else from bow to stern.”
Josh D’Amaro talked to the audience about the numbers of the , which has been in the works for almost six years.
RELATED: Let’s compare: The MS Disney Wish and the RMS Titanic
Credit: CruiseHive
“It has been a labor of love, and our teams worked hard to get her here today,” D’Amaro said. “This incredible ship has 25 entertainment venues. It’s got more than 4,400 pieces of art onboard. It’s got 70,000 garments for cast and crew, and Rapunzel’s hair on the ship’s stern is 60 feet long. And in every detail, we are connecting people to our stories in fantastic new ways.”
The is the fifth ship among the , joining the , the , the , and the .
Credit: Disney
At 144,000 gross tonnes, the is much bigger than the and the , though she will accommodate roughly the same number of passengers as her sister ships.
The is the first of the to be LNG-powered. Liquefied natural gas is a fuel that burns cleaner. She’s only the second in the industry to use LNG as fuel, after Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras. She’s also the first construction in Disney’s Titan class of ships.
You can watch the entire Disney Wish christening ceremony here: (grab your Kleenex first!)
The , or inaugural sailing, of the is scheduled for July 14.
