The 50th Disney Fun House – the very first themed to Zootopia – is now open and ready to bring young patients and their families some much-needed moments of happiness during their hospital stays.
This is part of a $3.1 million USD (RMB 20 million) donation to fund Disney-themed play spaces and therapeutic play activities — called Disney Fun Houses — at 50 children’s hospitals across China. The company announced the donation in June, 2016 to coincide with the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort.
Featuring Disney characters and infused with storytelling from the company’s beloved films, Disney Fun Houses provide young patients and their families a space for interactive play activities hosted by Disney VoluntEARS and hospital staff.
“We are incredibly grateful for the tremendous and ongoing support of everyone who has helped us since our opening to bring hope and happiness to those in need through Disney storytelling,” Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, said.
The 50th Disney Fun House — located at the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou — has transformed the space in the hospital with murals featuring Zootopia’s diverse landscapes, including the iconic Zootopia skyline and a one-of-a-kind Zootopia-themed mobile movie theater where young patients and their families can watch favorite cartoons, short movie clips and documentaries during their stay at the hospital.
To celebrate the grand opening, Zootopia characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde made special visits to hospital wards, delivering Zootopia-themed plushes and hand-made crafts. Disney VoluntEARS also joined young patients to put their “paws” up with dancing and drawing.
“It’s an honor to be here for the opening of the 50th Disney Fun House,” Mia Gao, Disney VoluntEAR, said. “I’m also happy to be here on this special day, International Children’s Day, to accompany the children as a happy VoluntEAR!”
Shanghai Disney Resort and The Walt Disney Company China also distributed around 5,000 Disney-themed gifts to all 50 of the Disney Fun Houses, spreading magic to children across China.
Earlier in May, two more Disney Fun Houses opened at the Shunyi Branch of Beijing Children’s Hospital and Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (Fujian Children’s Hospital) respectively.
Representatives from Disney China, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the hospitals attended the ceremonies, along with Mickey and Minnie who made surprise appearances to celebrate the occasions.
The Walt Disney Company China and Shanghai Disney Resort have collaborated with China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Shanghai Charity Foundation, respectively, to build 50 Disney Fun Houses in hospitals across 41 cities of 24 provincial and municipal regions in Mainland China, bringing Disney magic and happiness to those undergoing treatment and recovery.
Since Walt Disney first brought animators and characters to visit hospitalized children, Disney stories have inspired a world of hope for seriously ill children. Today, that support includes millions of dollars in in-kind donations that provide engaging play spaces, theme park tickets, complimentary first-run movies, toy deliveries, and hospital visits from beloved Disney characters.
These efforts are part of Disney’s commitment to help reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals globally and support meaningful causes in the local community.
