Disney children’s hospital program brings magic to Central Florida
The Disney children’s hospital program has introduced magical elements like interactive play spaces and whimsical murals to provide moments of joy for seriously ill children in three Central Florida children’s hospitals.
“For decades, timeless Disney stories have warmed the hearts and lifted the spirits of families and children around the world,” said Elissa Margolis, senior vice president of Enterprise Social Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company. “Our beloved characters have this special ability to resonate with fans and even bring joy to those enduring difficult times.”
Sprinkling a little pixie dust is part of Disney’s ongoing legacy, and is an important part of the Disney children’s hospitals program. This past year, explains director of external affairs for Walt Disney Resort Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Disney has created spaces at AdventHealth for Children, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and Nemours Children’s Hospital to bring joy to children when they need it most.
“These reimagined spaces will positively impact thousands of children and families in Central Florida and beyond,” Ancora-Brown said. “They are just one part of our overall effort to deliver magic to children’s hospitals around the globe.”
Through murals, magic windows, and magic art, the interactive spaces allow patients to actively participate in Disney storytelling through personalized moments with much-loved Disney characters. According to Margolis, they were specifically designed to provide comfort and distractions from patients’ highest-anxiety moments.
Ava, a patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital, agrees. “I think it will be helpful for kids that are in the hospital,” she says. “Instead of sitting in a boring hospital room doing nothing, they can […] see familiar characters that […] make them happy.”
