Apply for your family to attend Bert's Big Adventure 2023

Are you interested in applying for your family?

Here are a few things you should know before you begin the process!

  1. Please make sure your family meets the qualifications before moving forward. Qualifications can be seen below.
  2. Families do not need to be nominated to apply!
  3. The selection process is not based on votes; we only accept one nomination/application per child.
  4. There are multiple steps to the application. Please read the instructions carefully.

Bert’s Big Adventure qualifications include the following:

  • The nominated child must be between the ages of 5 and 12 years old or will be at the time of the trip
  • The nominated child has never been to Walt Disney World®
  • The nominated child has been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness or is physically challenged
  • Family does not have the financial means available to afford a trip to Walt Disney World® without the help of Bert’s Big Adventure
  • The nominated child and family must live in the radio listening area of The Bert Show (does not include listening to podcast or online broadcasts)

*Inclusion is limited to family members that have maintained legal residence within the same household as the nominated child for the six consecutive months preceding the time of application or nomination to Bert’s Big Adventure

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FAQs

What age range do you accept?

To qualify for Bert’s Big Adventure, children must be between the ages of 5 and 12, live in “The Bert Show” radio listening area, prove financial need and have never been to Walt Disney World®.

What cities are you accepting applications from for the upcoming trip?

Click here to see the cities that Bert’s Big Adventure is currently accepting applications from for the upcoming trip.

Can I nominate someone as a surprise?

Yes, you can nominate someone as a surprise and even remain anonymous if you would like! However, you cannot fill out the application for that family. The application requires a lot of personal information and we need specific information regarding the family unit.

How many nominations are needed for the families to get selected?

Only one nomination is needed! The selection process is not based on votes or the number of nominations. Once a family is nominated, we reach out to the family and let them know how they can apply.

What are the dates of the 2026 trip?

The Bert’s Big Adventure Trip to Walt Disney World in 2025 will be February 18-23, 2026.

What if my family does not meet the qualifications for Bert’s Big Adventure?

We truly regret that we cannot accommodate your family. We wish we could take everyone! However, there are many wonderful organizations that offer assistance with wish trips, as well as local organizations that provide recreational programs and events for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and their families.

What is the income requirement cutoff?

The income information is only a small part of the application process, and there is not a set cutoff amount. The selection committee considers ALL parts of an application when making a decision.

Who qualifies as a family member if my family is selected for the Bert’s Big Adventure Trip?

If selected to attend the Bert’s Big Adventure Trip to Walt Disney World, family members eligible to attend Bert’s Big Adventure are limited to family members of the child that maintained legal residence in the same location as the child in the six months prior to the time of application or nomination to Bert’s Big Adventure.

When will we be notified if we are selected for the Bert’s Big Adventure Trip to Walt Disney World?

Everyone that has submitted an application will be notified no later than January 1, 2026.

My child has been to Walt Disney World through another wish-granting organization. Does he/she still qualify for Bert’s Big Adventure?

If a child has already been to Walt Disney World or a Disney Cruise through another wish-granting organization, then they do NOT qualify for Bert’s Big Adventure. Bert’s Big Adventure runs all applicant names through the Give Kids The World Village database to verify prior wish trips.

How do I apply for the other programs besides the Disney trip?

Currently, to participate in our programs, you have to have been selected to go to Walt Disney World with Bert’s Big Adventure.

I am applying for multiple special needs children within the same family for Bert’s Big Adventure. Do I need to submit an application for each child?

If you are applying for more than one child in the same household, you will need to complete a separate online application for each child.

How are families selected?

Interested families must first fill out an application to be considered. We receive hundreds of applications each year so the review process is pretty extensive. As we are a small organization, we are limited in the number of families that we can take each year to Walt Disney World. For that reason, our selection committee – which is made up of doctors and nurses throughout the community – painstakingly struggles over each application.

However, while it’s an EXTREMELY difficult decision for the committee, the families that are selected typically have some of the most difficult day-to-day struggles and the longest battles, while still maintaining the most positive attitudes!