Three-year-old Paytlee had a simple but very cute wish, one that millions of girls have no doubt had since Disney’s High School Musical began captivating audiences around the world.

“I want to kiss Troy!” Paytlee said gleefully before she and her family were off to Hollywood to meet “Troy,” High School Musical star Zac Efron before the premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

The little Texas spitfire, who has overcome a brain tumor, is one of more than 70 seriously ill children who requested wishes related to Disney’s High School Musical through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Wishes have included visiting movie sets, attending movie premieres and meeting stars of the wildly popular trilogy since it debuted in 2006.

Thanks to Disney and the High School Musical cast and crew, these children have been delighted to go behind the scenes to watch rehearsals on set, walk the red carpet at the premieres and visit with the movies’ stars – including Efron, Corbin Bleu, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, KayCee Stroh, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr. and Ryan Sanborn. This being High School Musical, there’s even been a little singing, dancing and cheering mixed in.

Director Kenny Ortega is a huge supporter of having wish children on the set because of the courage and inspiration they bring to everyone on all of their visits.

Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman clown around with wish kid Lani during the set visit.
Photo: (c)Disney Enterprises, Inc.

“When the kids are here, it livens everybody’s spirit,” Ortega said during the filming of Disney’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year. “It makes for a special day for everyone. The minute you arrive (on set), it’s like, ‘Where are they? Where are they?’”

Vanessa Hudgens and wish kid Jenna get acquainted on the set. Photo: (c)Disney Enterprises, Inc.

For High School Musical 3: Senior Year, 13 children visited the movie set in Utah, enjoying the action of rehearsals and filming during a seven-hour day, getting photos and autographs with the stars and enthusiastically joining in some East High Wildcats cheers.

Three more wish kids attended the world premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year on Oct. 16 in Los Angeles. Jennifer, Rachel and Scarlett paraded down the red carpet at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center and received a variety of High School Musical treats, including an East High Wildcats yearbook. Amid the screaming crowd, Efron, Hudgens, Tisdale, Ortega and the rest of the cast stopped by for photos and signed the girls’ yearbooks. Once inside, the girls couldn’t believe they were watching the movie not far away from their High School Musical idols.

As for Paytlee, her wish was granted when she met Efron during a High School Musical fan event at the El Capitan Theatre. Though a little star-struck at first, Paytlee couldn’t resist Efron’s magnetic smile and eventually was able to get her kiss.

“He let me sit on his lap!” she said.

Granting a child’s wish is equally rewarding for Efron.

“It’s a humbling experience,” he told People. “The fact that for a minute we can let them forget about whatever issues they are currently going through and take them into the High School Musical world, which is more carefree and fun, that’s a pretty thrilling aspect of it.”

Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman clown around with wish kid Lani during the set visit. Photo: (c)Disney Enterprises, Inc.

And it’s been just as exciting for the Make-A-Wish children who have enjoyed that enthusiastic Wildcats spirit through their unforgettable wishes.

Disney is proud to be a long-time supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and uses its magic to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. In the past 28 years, Disney has supported the Make-A-Wish mission, contributing more than $11 million in cash and in-kind donations annually. With more than 6,000 wishes granted every year – including visits to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruises, meeting Disney Characters, attending sporting events and visiting TV and movie sets – Disney-themed wishes are the most popular requests to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. If you would like to comment on this story and you are haven’t problems logging in.

Send your comment to dan@goldcoastchronicle.com and we will post it.

Eight-year-old Allison wished for a cruise that she could share with her parents and three siblings who help her stay strong in her battle with leukemia. What she got was a voyage to paradise aboard the Carnival Freedom with many extra special stops along the way.

Allison took full advantage of each port starting with her bus tour of Old San Juan, where she saw beautiful cathedrals and architecture. In St. Thomas, she boarded the Skyride to Paradise Point 700 feet above sea level to catch some panoramic views of the harbor and lots of cruise ships.

In Antigua, Allison and her family headed to Runaway Beach for some fun in the sun – swimming, watching crabs and just digging their toes in the soft sand. Tortola offered Allison and her family more breathtaking views during their tour of the island. Lastly, Allison headed to the Bahamas for a day at the Atlantis Resort.

When she wasn’t island hopping, Allison was enjoying VIP perks on the ship. From a “Bon Voyage” party to milk and cookies in her cabin nightly and the discovery of different towel animals on her bed each day (she liked the orangutan the best), it was an adventure like no other!

Referred by: her mother
Wish Granters: Yenisse Alonso & Richard Kelly
Sponsored by: Lennar Corporation

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Source Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

To a 6-year-old who loves toys, what could be more thrilling than a trip to Toys“R”Us? How about a shopping spree at Toys“R”Us with Geoffrey the Giraffe by your side and lots of other special perks! Chris, who has cerebral palsy, was blown away by his over-the-top experience that featured limousine transportation, a personal shopper and VIP status.

As his limo pulled up in front of the local Toys“R”Us store, Chris received a warm welcome from cheering store employees that were holding banners and balloons. It was a thrilling feeling when he got to hold all the money that he would be spending that day. He thought his day could not get any better but there was one more super-sized surprise for Chris – Geoffrey the Giraffe was there to escort him through every inch of the store. Together, they walked hand-in-hand as Chris scooped up everything on his list including a PlayStation 3 game console and a bunch of games, a guitar, a camera and his very own television.

Since he could not take Geoffrey home with him, Chris happily settled for a miniature version of his favorite giraffe. He left the store with several shopping bags and a huge appetite so he and his family headed to his favorite restaurant, the Big Cheese. It was the perfect after-shopping destination for Chris and his family to feast on what he called, “the best pizza I’ve ever eaten!”

Wish Granters: Ben Eisenberg & Michael Rose
Referred by: his home nurse
Adopted by: Mr. & Mrs. William Heffernan

Source Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Greeted with a fragrant lei and a friendly “Aloha,” 10-year-old Maggie from Boynton Beach felt right at home during her wish trip to Hawaii. It was her ideal wish because of her love of the outdoors and her desire to have fun with her family. There’s so much to do and see in Honolulu and Maggie, who is battling leukemia, tried her hardest to do it all.

There was time for plenty of water activities including snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, with its horseshoe-shaped beach lined with mountains. To make her swim even more special, a turtle poked its head out to say aloha. She and her father also took a private surf lesson with the Hawaiian Fire Surf School at Kalaeloa Beach where the waves are tame enough for beginners to tackle.

At a traditional luau, Maggie and her family learned the hula, played island games and made their own leis. Maggie got a turtle painted on her arm and tasted the local specialty called poi. She had one word for the paste-like Polynesian favorite – “Eck!”

Having studied Hawaii in school, Maggie revisited her history class with a tour of the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor. She even trekked to the top of Diamond Head, a dormant volcano, that she said is “like a crater.” She took a bus tour of Oahu, where she saw lots of breathtaking mountain and water views.

Maggie’s mother said, “It was a fantastic time for our whole family. Maggie had a ball every day.”

Wish Granters: Elaine Oswald & Carolyn Pucci
Referred by: a family friend
Adopted by: Jewelers for Children3

Source Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

Because of her battle with cerebral palsy, 7-year-old Brenda uses a communicative device to interact with others. She made it clear to her wish granters that her one true wish was to go on a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. Once aboard the Disney Wonder, there were characters everywhere Brenda turned. She could not believe she was really there. The Broadway-style shows were entertaining, the Mickey Mouse pool was refreshing and the sunsets were breathtaking. Brenda was mesmerized by her dolphin encounter as she pet and hugged her new friend. Every night, Brenda tried her hardest not to sleep because she wanted to keep having fun.

Brenda’s Disney Cruise continues to inspire her months after returning from her dream vacation. Her mother said, “Her wish really made an impact. It was a life experience for her. Brenda is expressing herself better and being more independent.” The other morning, she woke up saying “Mickey’s boat” over and over. She has a scrapbook and often goes and gets the album to revisit the fun she had with Captain Mickey on his big red boat.

Brenda’s mother said, “Every detail was thoughtful. All the words I can say but ‘thank you’ is not enough!”

Wish Granters: Michelle Del Valle & Andrea Liscano
Referred by: her mother
Sponsored by: Palm Beach Sailfish Classic & Village Tavern

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com

On the day that 14-year-old Jordan learned his wish would come true, his volunteer wish granters presented him with a hard hat and pronounced him the honorary chairman of the bathroom construction. Jordan, who battles cerebral palsy, was overjoyed because he knew that a bathroom makeover would impact his life in so many ways.

For three exhausting weeks, CDC Builders were in Jordan’s Lauderhill house, toiling away. They replaced all the tiles on the floor and on the walls, moved the toilet to a more accessible location and added a grab bar. The shower was also moved and made bigger. An accessible jet tub was installed and grab bars were added for extra security. This tub will also help with his physical therapy. Even the old sink was torn out and replaced with an all-new, wheelchair accessible sink and vanity. Finishing touches to his dream bathroom include new lighting, mirrors, cabinets and handles.

By bidding farewell to his old bathroom, Jordan is enjoying a new sense of independence. He can now tend to his personal needs without assistance from his parents. An ecstatic Jordan said, “It’s not what I expected, it’s even better! The shower and all the new fixtures work perfectly.”

Wish Granters: Andrea Giraldo & Deirdre Trevett
Referred by: his mother
Sponsored by: Mark J. Gordon Foundation

Source: Make A Wish Foundation

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@goldcoastchronicle.com