Welcome to Rosas! D23 Members Enjoy a Magical Day at Wish Screening on The Walt Disney Studios Lot

By Lindsay Brooks and Maura Consedine

The magic of a wish never ends here at Disney. On Sunday, March 3, wishes were made (and granted!) while celebrating the Home Entertainment release of Disney Animation Studios’ Wish. Queen Amaya of Rosas invited fans to The Walt Disney Studios lot for special treats and surprises, including a sing-along to their favorite songs from the film.

Photo ops made the magic of Wish come to life.

A large horizontal Wish poster sits outside on the grass, which features characters Asha, Valentino, Star, and King Magnifico. Text on the poster reads: Buy now on digital. Own it on Blu-Ray March 12.

Chris Buck, Angelique Cabral, character performer Asha, Fawn Veerasunthorn, and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones pose outside in front of a step and repeat, which shows off the picturesque land of Rosas.

Everyone’s favorite Star was present throughout the event in many ways, from plushes, to cookies, to a large inflatable that brightly greeted members as they arrived on the lot.

D23 Members posed with the film’s hero, Asha, and were able to make wishes together. And an interactive 360-degree photo booth allowed fans to see themselves with King Magnifico’s wishes.

Character performer Asha (left) crouches next to a young girl (right), who is holding a yellow Star plush. Both are wearing Asha’s purple dress from the film. They are posed outside in front of the step and repeat, which shows off the picturesque land of Rosas.

Two female guests smile at the camera and hold up purple cookies, which are inside small plastic bags and have a photo of Star on the front. The Wish poster and other guests are visible in the background behind them.

A candid photo of character performer Asha autographing a young girl’s book. Asha (left) is crouching and giving her signature, while the girl (right) interacts with her. Asha is wearing her purple dress from the film. Both are outside in front of the step and repeat, which shows off the picturesque land of Rosas.

Character performer Asha (left) stands back-to-back with a male guest (right). Both have their arms crossed and are smiling off to the left at the camera. They are posed outside in front of the step and repeat, which shows off the picturesque land of Rosas.

Two female guests wearing capes and sunglasses stand on either side of character performer Asha, who is wearing her purple dress from the film. They are posed outside in front of the step and repeat, which shows off the picturesque land of Rosas.

Angelique Cabral (Queen Amaya) read The Grateful Goat (now available for purchase) to fans and then held a wishing ceremony. Fans were handed Star-shaped sticky notes and directed to write down their heart’s desire before throwing their wishes in our pop-up wishing well, where Asha could help their dreams come true!

Co-Directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn sat with guests and taught everyone how to draw Star, Asha, and Valentino. Buck and Veerasunthorn also shared special details about developing the characters of the film.

Angelique Cabral (left) holds a microphone and reads from a large, illustrated Wish storybook, being held by Cast Member Sydney Baines (right). They are standing outside in front of a seated audience.

Fawn Veerasunthorn (left) and Chris Buck (right) sit outside on chairs in front of a large group, where they are leading a drawing tutorial. The screen behind them captures the process of drawing Star, who appears next to a color selector palette.

Chris Buck (left) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (right) sit outside on chairs in front of a large group of children, who are all seated on the grass and holding up pictures of their character drawings.

Three young female guests are circled around the wishing well photo op, where they are writing their wishes onto yellow Star-shaped sticky notes and dropping them into the well’s opening.

Lucky attendees were also granted exclusive access to the Walt Disney Studio Store, where they could purchase merchandise from Wish and countless other beloved Disney brands. Many members arrived at the event already decked out from head-to-toe in Mickey ears, spirit jerseys, backpacks, and more, but plenty left with full bags (and hearts)!

In addition to Cabral, Buck, and Veerasunthorn, composers Julia Michaels and Ben Rice, producer Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones, and Jennifer Kumiyama (Dahlia) were also on hand to welcome guests to the film screening. As the lights dimmed, the audience was treated to a special viewing of the short film Once Upon a Studio, featuring iconic characters we all know and love, which was a beautiful celebration of the enduring Disney legacy before Wish began.

From left to right: Fawn Veerasunthorn, Jennifer Kumiyama, Julia Michaels, Ben Rice, Fawn Veerasunthorn, Chris Buck, and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones stand at the front of the dimly-lit theater. Veerasunthorn holds a microphone and is talking to the crowd. To their back is a large movie screen that shows the Wish key art and reads: On Digital Jan 23. On Blu-Ray March 12

From left to right: Fawn Veerasunthorn, Chris Buck, Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones, Jennifer Kumiyama, Ben Rice, Angelique Cabral, and Julia Michaels smile for the camera and take a group selfie on an iPhone. The large theater audience is behind them, featured in the background of the photo.

During the movie, fans of all ages were encouraged to come forward and sing their hearts out. Cabral even surprised the crowd by getting up and singing her part in “Knowing What I Know Now.” The energy was palpable, and it was clear that the story on screen deeply resonated with many viewers.

Wish is a touching reminder of the importance of friendship and family, and Asha’s tale will undoubtedly empower many to take control of their own story and use their voices to spark change. Seeing the impact that the film had on the generations of Disney fans in attendance was a truly heartwarming experience, and those who stepped up to the microphone showed courage that should inspire us all!

Bring home the magic – Wish is available to stream on Disney+ on April 3^rd.

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