More Disney Cruise Line Stories

The Power of a Disney Wish: Jenna’s Story

Evily Giannopoulos Peros

by , Senior Manager, Public Relations, Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Wish, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, is brimming with a grand sense of wonder, optimism and, of course, wishes!

As we reflect on a magical year at Disney Cruise Line, that connection to wishes brought us one of the greatest gifts of all: The opportunity to celebrate Make-A-Wish children, including past, present and future wish recipients, as the godchildren of this very special ship.

During the Disney Wish christening ceremony on June 29, three Make-A-Wish ambassadors — Jenna, Colby and Megan — played a historic role, reciting a time-honored blessing of the ship, which symbolically bestows good fortune on the vessel and all who sail aboard it.

But before we christened the ship, we traveled to the hometowns of our Make-A-Wish ambassadors to learn more about their life-changing journeys and how bravery, determination and resiliency guided them as they overcame critical illnesses.

Our Make-A-Wish ambassador Jenna is a 13-year-old cancer survivor who lives with her mom, grandmother and younger sister in Sacramento, California. Following her diagnosis of neuroblastoma, Jenna’s wish to go to Aulani: A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i was granted in 2015.

Today, we’re pleased to share an inside look at Jenna’s inspirational story.


Disney has worked with Make-A-Wish since 1980 to grant more than 145,000 wishes. In fact, half of all wishes in the United States involve Disney, with many of these wishes involving visits to global Disney destinations and sailings with Disney Cruise Line.

Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog over the next few weeks as we share Colby and Megan’s stories as well!