For most guests, the holiday season arrives at Magic Kingdom as if by magic. For 6-year-old wish kid, Wednesday, it began with an invitation from Jack Skellington and Sally to put the final touches of Christmas cheer on their corner of Halloween Town.
As the biggest fan of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and all things holidays, Wednesday had a special wish: to help transition Walt Disney World from Halloween to Christmas. Alongside Jack, Sally, Disney, and Make-A-Wish, Wednesday and her sisters got to do just that, with some festive adventures and surprises along the way.
From Halloween to Christmas Town
For Wednesday and her family, Jack and Sally’s story is more than a favorite movie. Their shared love of the film, combined with a passion for celebrating the holidays, has made the story a cherished part of their family traditions. After facing a difficult medical journey and uncertainty, Wednesday’s wish created an unforgettable memory with the people she loves most.
When asked whether she likes celebrating Halloween or Christmas more, Wednesday enthusiastically exclaimed, “Christmas!” Good thing she was in the perfect place – Wednesday was about to get a head start on her favorite season, in true Christmas Town fashion.
While pumpkins and scarecrows were traded for wreaths and twinkling lights on Main Street, U.S.A., Wednesday and her sisters joined Jack and Sally to help transform their meet and greet location from Halloween Town to Christmas Town for the holiday season.
Before decorating, the girls warmed up by playing a couple rounds of “Hide and Go Shriek,” led by Jack, as they explored every inch of Halloween Town, finding the perfect hiding spots. Professionals at the game, Wednesday and her sisters quickly noticed that a certain transparent friend was missing. Soon, the whole family was helping search for Jack’s loyal ghost dog, Zero, turning the adventure into a scavenger hunt.
Once everyone was tired from hiding, seeking, and shrieking, the fun shifted from playtime to performance time. Sally shared that her favorite song to perform is “Silent Fright,” though her rendition involved far less singing and far more dramatic posing.
Wednesday was ready with a favorite of her own, “What’s This?” from – you guessed it – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. The girls took turns showing off their respective theatrical skills, complete with cartwheels, dance parties, and enthusiastic cheers of “encore!” from their biggest fans. It was the perfect celebration for a family whose love of the story and memories together inspired the wish in the first place.
But the fun didn’t stop there, as a special surprise was waiting just around the corner.
A Surprise Mistletoe-ken of Magic
What’s this? What’s this? Presented to Wednesday was a unique snowflake ornament created just for her, fashioned after the first snowflake that Jack discovers after stumbling upon Christmas Town and marveling at the snow.
Wednesday helped find the perfect spot for the frosty bauble on Jack’s Christmas tree, leaving behind a piece of magic for guests to enjoy all season long and officially becoming part of Halloween Town’s holiday celebration.
Waiting in a wrapped present under the tree was a matching ornament for Wednesday to take home and hang on her own tree. Inspired by one of the film’s most iconic moments, the snowflake serves as a memory of the time she brought a little extra holiday spirit to Walt Disney World.
More Than a Wish
This season brings magic for families in many ways, and so does the power of a wish. Wednesday’s wish allowed her family to step into the world of their favorite film, creating joyful memories that will last long after the holidays end.
Wednesday’s mom, Kelly, said it best. “If we do ever have bad times again, I always think about the better times. But this is one memory that will always stick out. It’s the beginning of the rest of our lives.”
Making wishes like Wednesday’s come true is only possible through the real magic of the longstanding collaboration between Disney and Make-A-Wish. Disney is the world’s largest wish granter for the organization, with a Disney wish being granted every hour of every day.
For Wednesday, her Disney wish experience was one filled with festive fun and surprises that only Jack and Sally could deliver. From playing silly games with her sisters, to unwrapping a one-of-a-kind Christmas keepsake (perfect for Wednesday, who said her favorite part of the holiday is receiving presents), each moment was thoughtfully crafted just for her.
The experience also offered something even more meaningful: the opportunity for the entire family to share this experience together, celebrating each other and a story that they love.
And each year, as her snowflake ornament finds its place on their family’s Christmas tree, Wednesday will be reminded of the day she visited Jack and Sally and helped them bring the spirit of the season to Halloween Town.
Join us to help make the holidays magic for kids and families – like Wednesday’s – around the world. Learn more at Disney.com/HolidayMagic.
