How Ariel Inspired One Cast Member’s Disney Journey
Sometimes a little Disney magic can go a long way.
For Dylan Cazin, that magic came from his favorite Disney film- The Little Mermaid.
In August 2017, Dylan was diagnosed with leukemia, which kept him separated from the world of high school that his friends, peers, and even twin brother were all experiencing.
Inside his hospital room, Dylan found solace in the story of The Little Mermaid. He identified with Ariel’s determination to break free from her underwater world and her longing to be “Part of Their World”. In Ariel, Dylan found motivation to help overcome his illness.
A Wish Is Granted
Following a relapse, Dylan received a bone marrow transplant in June 2018 through Be The Match, an organization that unites donors and recipients in critical need of a blood stem cell or marrow transplant.
Eventually, Dylan’s health improved and his determination paid off. He was then granted his wish to travel to Walt Disney World for an Imagineering experience. There, he was given a behind-the-scenes tour of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from Imagineer Diego Parras, and of course, got a chance to meet Ariel in person!
Having witnessed first-hand the transformative power of a wish, Dylan wanted to use his story to make a difference. He re-joined Make-A-Wish’s Greater Bay Area chapter in 2020 and volunteered to build their Wish it Forward program.
Eventually, Dylan enrolled in Saint Mary’s College of California where he was involved in the university’s Be The Match program. He did this, he says, to honor Ryan, the selfless donor who saved his life.
Speading Disney Magic
Dylan’s Disney Make-A-Wish also made him realize that he not only wanted to experience Disney magic, he wanted to be a part of it.
This June, Dylan’s wish came true, when he began a Disney Professional Internship on the Disneyland Resort Executive Communications team.
Like Dylan, many wish kids draw strength and hope from Disney princesses. This week, cast members at Walt Disney World are gearing up for a special wish-granting event when 50 families from across the country will have their pricness wishes come true at a special Once Upon A Wish Party.
The first-of-its-kind event is being held in honor of World Princess Week. It will be a full-day affair filled with “enchanting surprises, inspiration, and adventures fit for a hero or heroine, including a royal ball!”
Disney and Make-A-Wish
To learn more about how Disney and Make-A-Wish create wishes together visit wish.org/Disney.
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