As a proud Make-A-Wish alumnus, Disney Week of Wishes is one of my favorite weeks of the year! The company wide initiative celebrates a longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish, spanning over 45 years during which more than 175,000 Disney wishes have been granted worldwide.
Did you know that a Disney wish is granted every hour of every day? Almost three years ago, I had the opportunity to share my very own Wish Story here on the blog. Now, it’s my time to share the love and put the spotlight on an iconic cast member duo.
Meet Lily and Jim, enthusiastic Make-A-Wish alumni and magic makers at the Disneyland Resort who share a special father-daughter bond. On the day-to-day, Lily enhances the magic as a Guest Talent Assistant with Imagination Campus, and her father, Jim, helps protect the magic in Security Special Services.
While Lily and Jim both radiate positivity, their path to become cast members was not free sailing. “When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with a severe nervous system disorder,” Lily shared. “I was stable enough at 10-years-old to receive my wish from Make-A-Wish and Disney to go on the trip of a lifetime.”
In 2011, Lily sailed to The Bahamas aboard the Disney Dream to experience Disney magic at sea and to swim with dolphins. However, some extra magic was in-store.
After spending the last 11 months deployed overseas in Iraq, her father, Jim — a U.S. Army Veteran with 23 years of service and a member of Disney SALUTE, our veteran employee resource group that honors and empowers cast members with a military background — was able to join Lily and family on the ship, thanks to Make-A-Wish!
While on board, the Moser Family experienced incredible care from the crew.
“The way the crew treated us, we felt like the only people in their orbit,” Jim raved. “The trip was magical in every way and it’s a memory our entire family will always cherish.”
With Lily’s wish taking place over the Halloween season, it was a celebration all about dressing up. She often reflects on the well-known “Pirate Day” and being greeted by none other than Captain Jack Sparrow when arriving at Disney Castaway Cay.
And speaking of captains, Lily even got to meet the Captain of the Disney Dream, who awarded her a signed Captain Mickey Mouse plush that she still has today, serving as a reminder of her wishful journey at sea.
While Lily emphasized there are so many great moments to remember, she shared that her biggest highlight was swimming with dolphins, as it was a joyful and unforgettable moment for the entire family.
Following her wish, Lily was eager to inspire others and joined the Make-A-Wish Oregon chapter volunteer team. As a Wish Ambassador for the chapter, Lily shared her story of hope and rallied others around the Make-A-Wish mission to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Remarkably enough, Jim also served the chapter as a wish granter, helping to make dozens of wishes come true! Over the years, the Moser Family have remained committed to the Make-A-Wish mission, and have even volunteered their time as airport greeters, surprising wish families embarking on adventures like their very own.
In 2021, after moving from Portland, Oregon to sunny Southern California, Jim joined the Disneyland Resort Security Special Services team. Feeling inspired, Lily began her Disney career journey the following year with Disney Imagination Campus.
Now, Lily is working towards becoming a wish granter for the Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire chapter, following in her mother Jen’s footsteps.
To celebrate their incredible Disney journey and the magic of wish granting, we invited Lily and Jim to join us at our Wishes Assemble event — hosted by Disney, Make-A-Wish and Mr. Beast — to help celebrate nearly 40 Make-A-Wish Kids and their families on World Wish Day!
Lily and Jim reflect on their time at Disney as a full-circle moment. Once their annual family vacation spot, Disneyland Resort is now a place where the father-daughter duo can reminisce while feeling proud to represent the magic daily as cast members. But at the root of it all, Disney will always hold a special place in their hearts.
“My life would not have been the same without the hope, strength and joy Make-A-Wish and Disney brought me and my family.” said Lily.
Lily is proud to share she is now seven years seizure-free and her critical illness diagnosis is considered resolved.
To learn more about Jim and Lily and how they create magic at Disneyland Resort, stay tuned for their feature on @disneyparks and @disneylandcastandcommunity social.
For more information on how Disney and Make-A-Wish bring wishes to life, visit wish.org/Disney.
