A “Truly Magical” Moment Shared by a Disneyland Cast Member and “Honorary Hero”

There’s no such thing as “employees” in Walt Disney World. There are only storytellers and magic makers, and they’re appropriately called Cast Members.

Since 1978, Cast Members have brought Disney themes to life for Guests, never breaking character while carrying on the theme Park’s productions. In the last 40 years, Disney’s onsite representatives have waved their wands to create magical moments for children with critical illnesses. Throughout a perfect partnership with Make-A-Wish®, Disney Cast Members have played a starring role in bringing 145,000 Disney dreams to life.

Disney Parks reintroduced World Wish Day in May 2022 after a two-year hiatus prompted by COVID-19, and the Cast Members have been hard at work transforming Disney Days into magical wishes ever since. In March 2023, 200 Disney Cast Members participated in the Walk for Wishes, raising $8,500 to grant wishes for tiny Disney enthusiasts through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Related: Make-A-Wish Helps Second-Grader Fulfil Dream of Going to Disney World

Colton’s Story

Following a succession of wish-granting events, a Cast Member in Disneyland shared a personal story of a three-year-old Wish Kid named Colton, who is truly a marvel.

Disney Cast Member Nathaniel Pester shared Colton’s Make-A-Wish visit to the Disneyland Resort from Oregon earlier this year. Donning an Iron Man costume as he arrived at the Chamber of Commerce in Disney California Adventure Park, his family asked Nathaniel and fellow Cast Members if he could meet Iron Man at the Avengers Campus.

The Cast Members soon learned Colton was cut from the same cloth as his superhero idols, fighting through his life without an immune system since birth. The young Iron Man only made it to Disneyland through a lifesaving bone marrow transplant, and the Cast Members quickly got to work to see his Avengers request through.

Nathaniel gathered Guest Relations and Trainees to arrange a heroic meet-and-greet for Colton’s Disney wish, complete with a Disney PhotoPass photographer. When the family arrived at the Avengers Campus for the iron-clad arrangement, they were met with a few surprises.

One by one, a line of superstars emerged, including Black Panther, Dora Milaje, Gamora, and Doctor Strange. Colton’s wonder-filled eyes finally met his mirror image in “the” Iron Man, and at that moment, he became an honorary superhero.

Colton’s mom, Kayla, remarked:

It was just a moment for them, but it was truly life-changing for him.

While Colton and his family exchanged hugs and tears with the superheroes and Cast Members, it was revealed that another hero was among them. Colton’s older sister, Khloe, was his bone marrow donor. When Black Panther found out, he knelt and told her she was a real superhero.

With both Disney and Make-A-Wish in the business of making dreams come true, Nathaniel said moments like these “will stay with Colton and his family forever.”

He added:

It will always stay with me, as well.