From Cancer Survivor to Cast Member

Disneyland Resort celebrated World Wish Day on April 29, 2023. The date marks the anniversary of the first wish that inspired the organization’s founding in 1980.

To honor the Make-A-Wish foundation and the first two wish kids, Disneyland Park dedicated three of its Main Street, U.S.A. windows and decorated them accordingly.

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Colin’s Story

The event was a unique and heart-warming reminder of many children’s daily struggles. But the unveiling of the windows had a personal meaning to one Cast Member, Colin Smith.

Over 30 years ago, Colin was himself, a wish kid fighting for his life. He was diagnosed with stage four cancer as a child. Through the Make-A-Wish foundation, he received his wish–to visit Disneyland with his family and meet his favorite characters (Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore). Now a Cast Member at the Resort decades later, Colin discovered that his leader Lori was one of the Cast Members who helped grant him his wish when he was a child.

“I’ve been wanting to get involved with Make-A-Wish here at the resort ever since [my wish] and I think today spearheaded that,” Colin said. He then reflected on his experience and credited his cancer fight and Make-A-Wish memories for making him who he is today. Colin added that his wish at the Resort made it possible to “turn hardship into a positive experience.”

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Colin the Cast Member

At Disneyland Park, Colin is a stage technician for the Resort’s fireworks shows. But on World Wish Day, he dropped the curtain for the big window reveal as the crowd chanted, “Make-A-Wish!”

“Disneyland is a place that I continue to come back to,” Colin said. “It’s a safe place that holds a lot of special memories for me.”

Colin shared the window unveiling with Lori, who helped make his wish come true at the Disney Park over 30 years ago.

After the window dedication, Colin said, “I’d like to say to all the Make-A-Wish kids out there to just have the most fun you possibly can every day. Make the most of every memory, the good ones, the hard ones and the ones that can bring you so much joy.”

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