As Disneyland Paris continues to celebrate the milestone of granting its 25,000th child’s wish, we met with Marie-Françoise, Disney Wishes Manager within the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. For several years, she has supported wish families and coordinated these one-of-a-kind stays that offer seriously ill children a magical escape. In this new edition of Cast Behind the Magic, she reflects on her career journey, takes us behind the scenes of her role, and shares the heartfelt moments that give true meaning to her commitment.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey since joining Disneyland Paris?
My name is Marie-Françoise, and today I’m the Manager of Disney Wishes at Disneyland Paris. I began my career at Disneyland Paris in February 1992. At first, I wanted to work in Attractions simply out of curiosity—I wanted to discover what happened behind the scenes. I had already visited Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and thought that working in Attractions would give me a better understanding of how everything worked. Before long, I became an on-the-job trainer and then took on coordination responsibilities.
After working my way up to become a manager in Frontierland, I felt ready for a new challenge. Since I had originally studied to become a teacher, learning and sharing knowledge had always been important to me, so I applied for a role on the Casting team.
At the time, I was recruiting for Food & Beverage when the department decided to launch a workforce inclusion program. I was asked to lead the project, and that was a turning point for me. I realized that beyond traditional recruiting, what truly inspired me was finding opportunities for people with unconventional backgrounds and helping open doors for them. After the program proved successful, I developed additional initiatives, which ultimately allowed me to build Disneyland Paris’ very first workforce inclusion program.
Today, you’re part of the Corporate Social Responsibility team. Is that right?
Yes. I was offered the opportunity to join the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. After spending ten years in my previous role, it felt like the perfect time for a new chapter.
Within CSR, I initially focused on inclusion and youth inspiration programs. Later, I also took responsibility for Disney Wishes. Today, I officially manage the Disney Wishes program while continuing to lead initiatives that inspire young people.
Today, you’re a CSR Project Manager. What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis?
Is there really such a thing as a typical day? There certainly isn’t any routine!
A big part of my role is strategic. I help define the long-term direction of the Disney Wishes program and manage our ongoing relationships with partner organizations, especially Make-A-Wish, with whom Disneyland Paris shares a long-standing and meaningful partnership.
Then there’s the operational side of the job: processing wish requests, responding to each family’s specific needs, creating personalized wish experiences, coordinating with the many internal teams that support us, preparing gifts, and organizing every aspect of the families’ welcome. My time is split between the office and the field, since I’m also there alongside the families during our Disney Wishes event weekends.
What does your schedule look like during a Disney Wishes weekend?
A Disney Wishes weekend begins on Friday morning at 7:00 a.m. The Disney Wishes team and I arrive at the hotel to set up our welcome area, check all our equipment, and organize the gifts that arrived the day before. Throughout the day, we welcome each family as they arrive. It’s a magical moment when we present them with their itinerary and all the surprises we’ve prepared. On Friday evening, we accompany the families to the nighttime spectacular, and we remain at the hotel overnight in case anyone needs assistance.
On Saturday morning, I’m at the convention center by 8:00 a.m. to welcome the families once again and coordinate our Disney VoluntEARS—the Cast Members who volunteer to support the program. Each volunteer accompanies one family throughout their stay, and my role is to make sure they have all the information they need, answer their questions, and support them whenever challenges arise. Throughout Saturday, I move between the Disney Parks to oversee the special experiences we’ve organized, whether it’s Disney Character encounters or reserved viewing areas for the parade. Once the day’s events are over, I coordinate the return of supplies and make sure all our equipment is packed away.
My weekend doesn’t end until Sunday, after the last family has left the destination.
It’s a demanding role because the situations we face can be quite complex. A last-minute train cancellation may mean extending a family’s hotel stay, or bad weather might require us to distribute ponchos to our volunteers. Even with a busy schedule, I always make time to share joyful moments with the children during their Disney Character encounters. Staying connected to those moments is essential because they remind me why we do what we do.
Throughout your career, you’ve naturally gravitated toward philanthropy. Is that something you’ve always carried within you, or is it something Disneyland Paris helped you discover?
It’s really rooted in the way I was raised. From a very young age, my parents taught me the importance of helping others and showing kindness. It’s always been part of who I am. Even when I worked in Human Resources or Workforce Inclusion—areas that aren’t directly linked to philanthropy—the underlying mindset was exactly the same: genuinely caring about people and looking for ways to help.
My current role in CSR feels like a natural progression in both my personal and professional life. As the years go by, you naturally want your work to have greater meaning and a lasting positive impact. My son is incredibly proud of what I do, and that’s already a wonderful reward.
When parents tell us that they were able to forget about their child’s illness for three days, or when a doctor writes to say that a wish trip gave a young patient the strength to keep fighting through treatment, I know exactly why I do this work. That’s what motivates me every single day.
To wrap up, do you have a memorable story you’d like to share?
After more than 34 years at Disneyland Paris, I have countless stories!
Originally, I was planning to become a teacher of French, Latin, and Ancient Greek. As a fun anecdote, while completing my master’s degree in Medieval Literature, I gave a presentation about the character of Merlin… using Walt Disney’s animated film as one of my references! Funny how life comes full circle.
On a more personal level, the story that has touched me most in recent years is about a little boy whose wish we granted three years ago. After their stay, his mother was so inspired by the experience that she founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing gifts to children in hospitals. Her son, who is still bravely battling his illness, plays an active role in the organization. He visits Disneyland Paris regularly, and we’ve stayed in touch. One day, he looked at me and said, “When I grow up, I want to do for others what you did for me.” Hearing those words from a seven-year-old child was incredibly moving. Knowing that we didn’t just bring him joy, but also inspired him to help others, is the greatest testament to the impact of what we do. Moments like that remind me that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.