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A Fort Myers teenager who is battling cancer wasn’t going to let treatment keep a dream from coming true.
Madison, 13, is big on technology and learning all she can about how it works, from animation to audio and then some.
Her request with Make-A-Wish Foundation, which provides life-changing experiences for kids facing critical illness, was a tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering campus in Glendale, California.
Madison, 13, of Fort Myers, laughs with staff at Disney’s Imagineering campus in Glendale California. Her trip July 17, 2025 was through Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has leukemia.
Make-A-Wish keeps the last names of children confidential.
While undergoing treatment for leukemia, Madison read “The Imagineering Story” and watched “Behind the Attraction” on Disney+ to learn all about the creative and tech professionals, called “Imagineers.”
They bring the parks to life. One day she plans to join the team.
“Meeting the Imagineers felt like something out of a dream,” she said. “I want to bring joy to people like they do.”
A 13-year-old, Madison, from Fort Myers visited Disney’s Imagineering campus in Glendale, Calfornia onJuly 17, 2025 through Make-A-Wish Foundation. She has leukemia.
What did she get to experience?
Another highlight during her July 17 visit to Disneyland Resort; she became Disney’s 170,000th child visiting through Make-A-Wish.
She met Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro and Leslie Motter, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish America.
Some of the biggest moments of her exclusive VIP tour included a panel hosted by five Imagineers. They talked about the creative process for the special Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Madison learned all about the attraction’s cutting edge technology.
She got a full-on insider’s look at the rich history of Imagineering and the resort through sketches and archives at the Imagineering Resource Center.
The next day she and her family did a walk through of Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park.
The family visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and rode Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.
Her trip culminated with recognition during the Celebrate Happy Cavalcade and a memorable tour of Walt Disney’s apartment on Main Street, U.S.A, where she was presented with a special autograph book signed by Imagineers
All in a day’s work at Disney
D’Amaro said Disney is honored to have so many Make-A-Wish kids choose the park.
“Our Imagineers were thrilled to show Madison how they bring our stories to life in our parks,” he said. “Fulfilling her wish on the 70th anniversary of Disneyland made the moment even more special.”
Disney has been supporting the Wish foundation from day one and today, 45 years later, is still making an impact on kids’ lives, Motter said.
“170,000 wishes granted is a testament to the company’s steadfast commitment to delivering hope and joy when it’s needed most to wish kids and their families around the world,” he said.
Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955. More than 70 years later, Disney today has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences.
Since 1980 Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How did a Fort Myers teen use her Make-A-Wish? Think imagination
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