On February 23rd, the Bert’s Big Adventure staff and our twelve incredible new families were up, up, and away for our milestone 20th journey to Walt Disney World! As part of the yearly tradition, the send-off party was full of excitement as The Bert Show unveiled multiple surprises to the families during their live broadcast at the Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel.
Some surprises included – an upcoming performance alongside killer band, The Big Beyond, on the lawn at Avalon – including a rocker outfit and an overnight stay at the posh Hotel at Avalon for our music-lover Jax; an official Floor is Lava party at Toan’s home in Peachtree City thanks to the host of Floor is Lava, Rutledge Wood, and Crisp; and home accessibility renovations for sisters, Ava and Annabelle, thanks to CEO Lawyer and Ron Swansey of Swansey Contracting.
RBM of Alpharetta, Rule One Investing, and K1 Speed joined together to surprise sweet Duckie! He received a brand new K1 Speed racing uniform, an Adrenaline Pass to K1 Speed, indoor racing gloves, t-shirts, a trucker hat, and a new GoCart! Plus, a VIP race-car experience on a pro racetrack with Rule One’s official race car and driver.
In addition, our amazing friend, Justin Landis of Justin Landis Group, blew us away by gifting a year of rent to Korbin and his deserving family. Korbin’s mother has been having car issues for quite some time, and we are hopeful that she can focus on getting a reliable vehicle for trips to treatment for Korbin.
Georgia Amusement & Music Operators Association (GAMOA) generously gifted several of our families with unique experiences tailored to the family’s needs and favorite things. They are the best!
As a very special surprise, #BBA2023 kiddo, Layla, received a once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to Zaxby’s! Layla and her mother, who battled breast cancer last year, will receive VIP seats at a Luke Bryan concert during his 2023 tour! Our most heartfelt gratitude to Zaxby’s, who will be covering airfare, hotels, food, and everything they will need to make it the perfect girls’ weekend.
Following the party, Fur Bus shuttled the families to the airport, where they boarded a chartered flight courtesy of Endeavor Air to Walt Disney World. The kiddos were spoiled in flight as Endeavor Air decorated the airplane cabin in celebratory Disney decor and served a delicious lunch mid-flight!
Upon arrival at the happiest place on earth, the families checked in to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort for a couple of hours of much-needed rest before our first night in the parks.
We met back up to head out for a delicious dinner at Epcot’s Living Seas where the kiddos were surprised by their besties – Mickey and Minnie! After dinner, we had a dessert party behind VIP ropes in France while enjoying an epic fireworks display. What’s better than Mickie Rice Krispie Treats and dirt cups under the stars?!
We concluded a truly fantastic day with an after-hours ride of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! The kiddos felt as if they had been shrunk down to Chef Remy’s size for a 4D culinary adventure! IT. WAS. EPIC.
A HUGE thank you to so many of our amazing vendors and sponsors for making this day so special for everyone! Hilton Atlanta Airport hotel, Holland Musico at Balloonacy, Carter’s Charitable Foundation, Jumptastic, Zaxby’s, Cindy Powers, and many more!
And a special thank you to Endeavor Air for sponsoring our chartered flight to Walt Disney World! Endeavor Air went 36,000 feet and beyond to make this day memorable for our families!
Last but never least, thanks to our photographers, including Cassandra Young Photography, Monarch Studio, Sarah Esther Photography and Amanda W. Coker. Thank you to Salt Run Creative and Aslyn Baringer Productions for capturing these magical moments on video!
Make sure to follow all of the magical moments with the hashtag #BBA2023, #BBAturns20, and #MagicalMoments, or on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
Remember, we couldn’t do all of this without you! We’re asking our supporters to give just $5 or more! Every dollar you donate to Bert’s Big Adventure between now and February 28th will be matched by Zaxby’s. $5 from you + $5 from Zaxby’s can make a monumental difference in the lives of these very deserving children. Truly, it’s BOGO good karma! If extra credit is your thing, please consider donating $20 for 20 years. Please donate today.
Tomorrow – more magic awaits…
