by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director, Disney Parks
On Thursday March 14, over 150 Disney VoluntEARS brought the magic of Disney to City of Hope patients, staff and their families at ToyFest. From singing in the choir, to hosting themed carnival games, to animating beloved Disney characters, some incredible cast members made unforgettable memories for the children, families, and staff of this world-class hospital and cancer research center.
The fourth annual winter festival was themed to Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story”! ToyFest featured a wide array of activities for its guests. Aspiring artists were given the chance to attend Disney Doodles, an animation class taught by Disney Consumer Products character artists. Woody, Jessie and Buzz had a rootin’, tootin’ good time with some of their biggest fans. And in honor of Mickey’s 90th, Disney’s Glendale Cast Choir performed a medley of Disney hits and classics, including a special rendition of the “Mickey Mouse March”!
In addition to the Toys, a few notable faces from a galaxy far, far away joined in the festivities. Darth Vader and Chewbacca met with families while a host of Storm Troopers playfully patrolled the area.
Disney has a strong legacy of supporting hospitals like City of Hope, and this event was created to bring a distinctly Disney experience to children battling life-threatening medical conditions. ToyFest is just another example of the Disney Team of Heroes’ commitment to reinventing the patient and family experiences at children’s hospitals across the globe.
Talk about a toy-riffic way to make some memories!