865 · When Wishes Assemble: The Story of Disney and Make-A-Wish
WDW Radio: Your Guide to the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise and More Disney Magic!
Lou Mongello - Disney Expert
4.8 • 3.3K Ratings
🗓️ 11 May 2026
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
865 · When Wishes Assemble: The Story of Disney and Make-A-Wish
45 years. 175,000 wishes. One out of every two Make-A-Wish wishes granted in America is a Disney wish.
The Disney Make-A-Wish partnership is about far more than theme park vacations. Every single hour, somewhere in the world, Disney helps grant a wish for a child battling a critical illness - creating moments of hope, joy, strength, and healing for families who need it most.
In this very personal episode, Lou shares the extraordinary history of Disney and Make-A-Wish, from the very first Disneyland wish in 1981 to the incredible “Wishes Assemble” event at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure, featuring Anthony Mackie, MrBeast, Mark Rober, Paul Bettany, and 40 remarkable children and their families.
Along the way, he explores the emotional impact of wish granting, the medical research behind why wishes matter, and why this cause has become such an important part of the WDW Radio community for more than 20 years.
You’ll hear stories about wish kids meeting their heroes, Disney Cast Members who once received wishes themselves, and how the WDW Radio Dream Team Project has helped raise more than $550,000 to help grant wishes for children and families through Make-A-Wish.
If you’ve ever wondered what Disney magic truly means, this episode may change the way you see it forever.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Oh, uh, hi there. Nice to see ya. The name's nine I, and you caught me packing for my big trip through time. |
| 0:09.7 | Who are you? Quinn's Boone, City Postmaster at your service. |
| 0:27.2 | Uh, me. Our meeting has officially come to order. |
| 0:30.7 | Let us all say the pledge. |
| 0:40.9 | Right now, somewhere in the world, |
| 0:43.4 | a Disney wish is being granted. |
| 0:46.8 | Not today, not this hour, right now. |
| 0:48.6 | As you listen to this, |
| 0:51.5 | a child that's battling a critical illness is having a moment that their family will talk about |
| 0:53.9 | for the rest of |
| 0:54.9 | their lives because Disney said yes. They say yes every single hour of every single day to making a |
| 1:03.9 | make a wish trip come true. And when you stop to think about it, it makes you wonder, |
| 1:10.2 | what does that actually look like? |
| 1:11.9 | What does it mean for a child and for a family? |
| 1:14.5 | For the people inside Disney who show up for it every single day. |
| 1:19.2 | I was there last week. |
| 1:21.1 | I witnessed it firsthand, and I want you to understand exactly what it means. |
| 1:26.5 | Hello, my friend, and welcome to WW Radio, your guide to the Disney parks and experiences |
| 1:30.9 | around the world. |
| 1:32.3 | I am Lou Mangelo, and this is show number 865, and today I'm going to tell you the full |
| 1:37.4 | story of Disney and make a wish. |
| 1:40.8 | And whether this is your first time listening, or you've been with me since the very |
... |
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