It’s hard to believe December is already here! And in case you missed it, Mickey Mouse has accepted a heartwarming mission to spread a little magic to kids in need this holiday season.
Here’s the plan: Mickey will head to Disney Store Times Square to pick up new, wrapped toys donated as part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. From there, he’ll help deliver them to Walt Disney World to be shared with local kids in need and the Marine Toys for Tots Program, spreading the happiness and wonder of the season.
But before he sets off, our favorite mouse has a few final things to check off his to-do list. He’s already checked in with Santa and asked Goofy to watch Pluto while he’s away. Now, he just has to pack for the journey! Don’t worry – he’s promised Minnie Mouse he’ll be back just in time for the holiday festivities. It should be a quick trip, right?
Follow along on Mickey’s holiday journey at DisneyConnect.com/MickeyTracker. Plus, stream The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular on Hulu and Disney+ beginning Monday, December 2 where Mickey’s exciting journey was first announced!
Mickey’s Journey Kicks Off at Disney Store Times Square!
When Mickey was tasked with delivering toys during the holiday season, he knew that Disney Store Times Square was the place to pick up toys for his journey! Here, Mickey and Disney VoluntEARS picked out special gifts for kids of all ages — from plush to dolls, collectibles, games and more. Alongside Disney Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad, Toys for Tots, and Marines, Disney VoluntEARS helped Mickey load up with goodies galore and gathered toys for kids in New York. Before heading out, Mickey helped the Disney Store team surprise the Marine Toys for Tots Program with a donation of 10,000 toys from Disney Store, through the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive!
A Quick ESPN Detour on First Take
As he was leaving Times Square, Mickey heard that some friends down the street at ESPN had been collecting toy donations as part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. What’s one quick detour on ESPN’s First Take before heading down?
Mickey took to the streets of New York and joined host Molly Qerim live on air, helping add the collected toys to his growing stash of holiday cheer. It was a moment of festive fun, teamwork and community spirit!
Mickey Joins Disney VoluntEARS at New Hudson Square Office
Shortly after his appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Mickey got a call from the new Disney office space located in Hudson Square to join Disney VoluntEARS and Marines hard at work sorting toys collected through the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. After hearing Mickey was in the city, they invited him to stop by and join. Of course, he said yes!
The festive employee event got an extra dose of magic when Mickey arrived to lend a helping hand. Together, they organized toys that will soon be delivered to children and families in need.
Delivering Gifts and Games with Crew Members from the Disney Wish
Shortly after his time in New York, Mickey received another invitation and took off to the Disney Cruise Line at Port Canaveral. He was joined by Disney VoluntEARS aboard the Disney Wish to help surprise students and families at a local elementary school in Brevard County, Florida!
Disney VoluntEARS brought gifts, played games, and shared snacks with the kids while Mickey shared hugs with teachers, students, and families bringing the Disney spirit to all for a happy holiday season.
Mickey Visits the Bahamas to Bring Toys to a School in Nassau
Before making his way to Walt Disney World, Mickey got a call from Cruise Director Joshua asking him to visit a school in Nassau, Bahamas. Of course, Mickey was overjoyed! He visited Disney VoluntEARS from the Disney Wish to surprise students and families at a primary school in Nassau. Here, the students received new books from Disney Publishing Group and lots of Disney plush toys before taking photos with Mickey.
Mickey Goes to Paris to Deliver Toys at a Children’s Hospital
After a good night’s rest, Mickey woke up bright and early to begin his travels to Walt Disney World, but on his way, he received yet another call from his pals in France asking for his help!
After being greeted in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle by Jose Alfaro Navarro and Dylan Legras, the Disney Ambassadors of Disneyland Paris, Mickey joined hundreds of Disney VoluntEARS with their families to wrap thousands of Christmas gifts destined for 60 hospitals across France. Mickey then accompanied Disney VoluntEARS to distribute the gifts to hospitalized children at the Parisian Hospital Trousseau.
A Pit Stop in Hong Kong for “Give a Toy Share the Love”
While leaving Paris, you guessed it! Mickey received another call and was off to another city to spread even more holiday magic.
Disney VoluntEARS, along with Disney Ambassadors of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Beyan Tse and Gisele Abejero, and executives, came together with Mickey to bring holiday happiness to children from underserved communities in Hong Kong. In collaboration with The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau, Mickey gathered with around 80 Disney VoluntEARS to pack thousands of Disney toys, creating personalized Christmas gift bags with items from each child’s wish list.
Mickey Helps Wrap Gifts for Chinese New Year in Shanghai
Friends at Shanghai Disney Resort heard Mickey was in the area and invited him over! Our favorite pal just had to stop by, so he sent Minnie a quick message that he was stopping for another heartwarming event – this time, at a Chinese New Year gift wrapping event.
Mickey teamed up with Disney VoluntEARS, Disney Ambassadors Alice Wang and Wendy Feng, and Shanghai Disney Resort cast members to pack themed toys and prepare holiday greeting cards. On the first day of Chinese New Year, these gifts and greeting cards from Mickey and the Disney VoluntEARS will be delivered to over 900 inpatient children at Fudan Children’s Hospital who will be unable to spend the holiday with their loved ones at home.
Mickey Takes on Tokyo Collecting Toys for Make-A-Wish Kids
After another successful day, Mickey woke to an invitation from Tokyo Disney Resort Disney Ambassador, Nodoka Mikata, to join fellow cast members and site leaders to help collect toys for Make-A-Wish Japan children. As the Disney VoluntEARS gathered around the Christmas tree at Tokyo Disneyland’s World Bazaar to collect toys and gifts, something magical happened. Mickey suddenly appeared to lend a helping hand! Everyone was delighted to see that Mickey was able to join them for the special occasion to deliver magic to children in Japan despite his busy schedule. Collected toys will be delivered to the Japan chapter of Make-A-Wish International to fulfill children’s wishes for holiday presents.
A Stop in Sydney, Australia for Toy Deliveries to Starlight Children’s Foundation
As he wrapped up in Tokyo, Mickey journeyed via the Disney Cruise Line to the iconic Sydney Harbour! He spent the afternoon with Disney VoluntEARS delivering toys and holiday happiness to patients as a guest of Starlight Children’s Foundation at Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick and The Children’s Hospital Westmead in the Starlight Express Rooms.
Thanks to Mickey’s surprise appearance, the Starlight Express Room celebrated a festive “Disney Day” filled with toys, hugs, and holiday cheer galore. Mickey joined Disney VoluntEARS in handing out presents and sharing festive cheer while patients and their families enjoyed crafts, baking, music and fun!
Starlight Children’s Foundation brings the fun, joy and laughter that helps sick kids be kids in every children’s hospital around Australia.
Mickey Joins Friends from Aulani to Share the Magic
Just as he was leaving Sydney, Mickey was asked to help spread some cheer in Hawai‘i. Mickey decided he wasn’t done yet!
Taking a stop in the middle of the Pacific to the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i, he met up with friends from Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Mickey joined Aulani Disney Ambassador Dylan Rogers, and Disney VoluntEARS to share holiday happiness with a Hawai‘i twist. Visiting the rooms of young patients with their families, Mickey helped bring smiles to the children’s faces while Aunty and Uncle filled the halls with the music of holiday classics and the hula maiden provided her gift of dance.
A Surprise for the Boys & Girls Club with Disneyland Resort VoluntEARS
After a beautiful night in the Aloha state, Mickey hopped on a plane to Walt Disney World – but guess what? An unexpected detour took him to California where he received a call from more friends in Anaheim for a quick pit stop!
In the final stretch of what’s now become a magical journey around the world, Mickey visited Disneyland Resort next, where he joined Disney VoluntEARS, Disney Ambassadors Jada Young and Raul Aquino Rojas, and other cast members at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Anaheim-Cypress for a special holiday delivery of toys, festive crafts, and games for local children to celebrate the season.
Mickey Joins Marines on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
Mickey found himself on track to his original destination of Walt Disney World, but on the way, he heard about yet another event – a reception on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. where even more toys were being packed up and donated to Toys for Tots.
The U.S. Marines and Disney VoluntEARS teamed up with Mickey to add even more toys to his magical delivery before heading down to Florida. The evening was a celebration of service and community.
Mickey’s Holiday Journey Concludes at Walt Disney World (After 12 Detours Around the World)
After making 12 detours around the world, Mickey Mouse finally arrived in Florida. He first stopped at Give Kids The World Village to share joy and toys with children facing critical illnesses and their families alongside Disney VoluntEARS and the Disney Ambassadors of Walt Disney World, Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu!
Then, it was time for Mickey Mouse to officially complete his mission with a final stop at Walt Disney World where he joined dozens of cast members and local Marines on Main Steet, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom.
While the original mission was for Mickey to deliver toys (which he did), Disney World cast members had a surprise for him … they had been collecting toys for local kids in need for weeks as part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive supporting Toys for Tots.
Thanks to the toys Mickey delivered and those collected by cast, extra special holiday happiness was shared with Florida families in need.
So, how did everyone celebrate Mickey’s journey around the world? A parade down Main Street complete with the Philharmonic Band!
After four exciting days of giving, Mickey is finally returning home to tell Minnie Mouse and his pals all about his magical holiday adventure. And while his journey around the world may be over, the Season of Giving never truly is!
This year’s Disney Ultimate Toy Drive was the biggest yet, breaking Disney records with collections of nearly half a million toys for children in need! Over half a million toys were donated around the world, with more than 422,000 toys going to the Marine Toys for Tots Program in the U.S.