A foster child can absolutely go to Disney for free, and it is one of our favorite ways to bring joy back into a foster home. Disney Days gives children in foster care free tickets sponsored by donors to reunite them with their siblings.
Grab a churro and let us tell you what it is, why it started, how much it really costs, and how foster kids get to go.
SPONSOR DISNEY DAYS FOR A CHILD HERE
What Is Disney Days?
Disney Days is one of Foster Love’s biggest programs. It was created 11 years ago when Foster Love’s founder asked for donations for children for his birthday. He then used those donations to take a group of children to Disneyland. Since then, it has grown into the largest sibling reunification event of its kind in the country!
Disney Days brings siblings in foster care together for a full day at Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World in Florida, giving them laughter and lifelong memories during the most magical day of their lives, made possible by sponsors and volunteers.
Here is the hard truth behind this event
A majority of siblings in foster care are placed in separate homes, and they can go months or even years without seeing each other.
The goal of Disney Days is to reunite as many of those separated siblings as possible to keep hope and family ties strong. Research shows that children placed in the same foster home experience more stability, reduced trauma, and maintain a sense of identity with their families. Unfortunately, due to an overwhelmed foster care system, including a lack of foster homes, almost 80% of siblings do not live in the same foster home.
This is a larger issue within the system itself that needs to be addressed. But until it is, Disney Days is here to support siblings.
We are so glad that small idea grew into what it is today. It is now a full team effort with corporate partners, volunteer chaperones, and donors, all working together so no one ever forgets what it feels like to just be a kid.
How foster youth attend Disney Days
Foster Love works efficiently through our agency partners throughout the country.
The way it works is that foster care agencies, group homes, and other child welfare groups partner with us. This ensures that they can be in contact when there is an emergency need. Because we have connections with their workers, we can ship our resources, supplies, and other support to them immediately.
Disney Days runs the same way. Our agency partners refer the kids they work with, and we take it from there, working to turn that trip into reality.
That means the fastest way to make sure your child makes it to Disney Days is to make sure your child’s agency is a partner with us. You can ask them to partner with us using this link HERE.
We sometimes also take requests from foster parents in unique situations, or when we have the resources to take additional guests. If you have a special situation and would like to have your child attend Disney Days, please email us at info@fosterlove.com, and we will do our best to grant your wish!
If you have questions about whether your kids qualify or how the process works, our team is always glad to talk it through and help you find the answer with confidence.
How much money does Disney Days cost?
Disney does not sponsor Disney Days events, so every dollar comes from generous partners and individual donors. Sponsoring one child costs $650, and sponsoring a group of six siblings costs $5,500.
That covers park tickets, meals, transportation, and other expenses. Participants are encouraged to fundraise their sponsorship fees to cover their sponsorship.
START A FUNDRAISER HERE
Payment is never expected of the foster family. Every trip runs entirely on donor funds, never out of a family’s own pocket.
Can I use my annual pass when I chaperone?
Unfortunately, because our chaperones are the ones to sponsor the children attending, we are unable to accept annual passes for the event.
You can find the answer to more frequently asked questions like this HERE.
When Disney Days happens
We hold multiple Disney Days events every year. That means there is almost always a Disney Days on the calendar, giving more sibling groups across the country a chance to reconnect. The number of Disney Days events depends on the number of foster youth attending, the amount of donations received, and the number of participants that sign up to be chaperones.
This year, three events occurred at Disneyland in March, September, and November, and one at Walt Disney World in June. That means there are still two more Disney Days events left this year, so now is a good time to plan if you want to be part of one!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP AS A PARTICIPANT
What the day is like
Picture siblings running toward each other the second they spot one another in the park. That love is the heart of the event.
Every child is paired with a caring chaperone for the whole day, so they always feel supported. Transportation is covered, admission is handled, and once inside, it is rides, character hugs, and enough treats to make any kid smile.
But the real magic is not the fireworks; it’s siblings getting an uninterrupted day together, no case files, no court dates, just family, at the happiest place on earth.
How to get involved
If you have ever wondered whether foster kids can really go to Disney for free, now you know the answer: yes, and it is because people like you show up and make it happen.
Whether you want to volunteer as a chaperone, sign up your agency to submit families, or become a sponsor and give the gift of access to a sibling group, here is where to start: www.FosterLove.com/Disney