Emersyn’s Magical Dream Week of Joy, Connection, and Pixie Dust

Five-year-old Emersyn is a bright, joyful spirit who loves adventure, and during her Dream trip to Give Kids The World Village and the Orlando theme parks, she had the time of her life.

From the moment her family arrived, the magic began. “We hadn’t realized how much we really needed the break, the breather, until we got there,” shared Emersyn’s mom. “Give Kids The World was amazing.”

At GKTW, Emersyn discovered her happy places, the pool, the arcade and the ice cream shop. She enjoyed her time splashing, laughing, and being with her family, even having ice cream with sprinkles for breakfast! But the most special moment of all came when she met a very magical friend, Stellar the Star Fairy.

Earlier in the week, Emersyn had created her very own star to be placed in the GKTW Star Galaxy, joining the thousands of stars representing children who have stayed at the Village. Later that day, she met Stellar in person at the arcade. Stellar climbed into an arcade car with Emersyn, and the two instantly bonded. They laughed, played, and hugged so tightly that Stellar lovingly called her “my hug champion.”

The friendship didn’t end there. At the end of the week, during GKTW’s signature character tuck-in, Stellar appeared again to Emersyn’s delight. She even signed a copy of the photo of the two of them together, a keepsake Emersyn had given her the original copy of earlier so they could remember each other.

Outside the Village, Emersyn’s sense of adventure truly came alive. She is a huge ride fan, and the parks did not disappoint. Her absolute favorite was Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. She had just made the height requirement and couldn’t get enough, first riding with Dad, then immediately again with Mom. “I want to ride it again!” she cheered.

The character meet-and-greets were another highlight. Meeting Mickey and Minnie for the first time at Animal Kingdom was pure joy. Emersyn’s hugs and excitement even brought her 15-year-old sister to tears. “She’s just so adorable,” her sister noted, overwhelmed by the moment.

This trip also marked another first, Emersyn’s first airplane ride. She and her mom shared the experience together, full of excitement and wonder as they took off for their big adventure.

For Emersyn’s family, the Dream trip was about more than fun. It was a chance to reconnect, to laugh, and to simply breathe. “The bonding we got to do as a family without having to worry about anything, it was incredible,” her mom shared. “We all really needed it. This Dream trip definitely provided that. It was a true reset for us.”

From Stellar’s sparkle to soaring through the skies, Emersyn’s Dream was filled with magic, laughter, and love, creating memories her family will cherish forever. Thank you, Give Kids the World Village and to Chartway Promise Foundation, for being our funding partner and helping us make this dream come true.