What does Disney do with all the coins thrown into attractions and fountains?

Have you ever noticed all of the coins under water in the It’s a Small World queue? Have you ever wondered what happens to all the coins that get tossed into fountains, wells and attractions at Disney’s parks?

One coin and one wish at a time, hopeful guests toss their pocket change into wishing wells and fountains around Walt Disney World. Ultimately, those quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies are collectively helping to make wishes come true for thousands of Central Florida children.

During this season of sharing, Disney surprised Community Based Care (CBC) of Central Florida with $18,000 scooped up from wishing wells and fountains around the parks and resorts to help thousands of children in foster care. CBC provides foster care, adoption, mentoring and independent living to more than 3,000 kids every day. This year, through an online voting process, cast members chose to support CBC’s Over-18 Support program which helps youngsters obtain their driver’s licenses, find jobs, secure housing and apply for other health and human services.

“This gift from Disney guests will help us create new opportunities for foster care children as they transition into adulthood,” said Karla Radka, vice president of community impact and leadership development for CBC. For more than 30 years, Walt Disney World has donated the money from the wishing wells and fountains to children’s charities in Central Florida.

“Every coin collected represents a precious wish,” said Nancy Gidusko, director of corporate citizenship for Walt Disney World Resort. “Equally inspiring is that every wish will help fulfill the dreams of young people in the foster care system ­ and let them know that we care, that they are an important part of this community, and that they are not alone.”