This month Disney Cruise Line and the nonprofit Starlight Children’s Foundation paid a visit to Children’s Hospital New Orleans to mark the arrival of a new mobile movie theater. The event included the distribution of Disney-themed toys, games, and Starlight Hospital Wear. The celebration was made even more special with the presence of Captain Minnie Mouse and DCL cast and crew members, who treated the children to a special preview of Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto.

Lou Fragoso, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital New Orleans, expressed gratitude for the generosity of Disney Cruise Line and Starlight Children’s Foundation, saying, “Disney sets the gold standard for creating an extraordinary experience, and we could not be more excited to bring that same standard inside the walls of our hospital to deliver moments of joy and fun to our patients and their families while receiving care in the hospital. We are grateful for the generosity of the Disney Cruise Line and Starlight Children’s Foundation in making the mobile movie theater possible.”

This donation from Disney Cruise Line is part of its global commitment to helping reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals. The mobile movie theater offers patients and their families comfort and joy while enjoying new releases and beloved classics through complimentary Disney+ access and Disney Movie Moments. The design of the mobile movie theater is inspired by the cinema on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Resort in California.

Disney’s mobile movie theaters are versatile and easy to implement in a hospital setting. They can be easily moved throughout the hospital and stored away when not in use, which helps the hospital’s child life teams bring flexible entertainment and engagement opportunities to patients and their families. Disney Cruise Line plans to deliver five mobile movie theaters to children’s hospitals in port communities across the United States, including Children’s Hospital New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida, Galveston, Texas, and San Diego, California.

This initiative is part of Disney’s ongoing collaboration with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring the positive power of Disney stories to children’s hospitals nationwide. The collaboration includes the distribution of Disney-themed Starlight Hospital Wear, Disney care packages, toys, and games. Child life specialists use these items as engagement tools to help young patients cope with the stress of medical procedures and hospitalization.

Adam Garone, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation, expressed gratitude for the partnership with Disney, saying, “We’re honored and grateful to have a longstanding relationship with Disney in helping us achieve our mission of delivering happiness to seriously ill kids and their families. For over 20 years, we’ve been transforming the hospital experience through programs like Disney-themed Hospital Wear and toy deliveries that comfort young patients coping with illnesses.”