“Dreamflight has given our child an experience we will cherish forever. Seeing the joy, confidence and excitement it brought to them was truly priceless, and knowing they were so well cared for every step of the journey meant the world to us as parents.”
Each October, 192 children from across the UK come together for an adventure they’ll never forget.
They fly to Florida on a privately chartered aircraft and spend 10 days exploring the theme parks of Orlando. Every part of the experience is carefully planned around the children – from a welcome weekend in London and police escorts to fast-tracked theme park rides, nightly entertainment and round-the-clock medical care.
But Dreamflight is about much more than a trip to Florida. A child discovers they can do things they once thought out of reach. They find independence. They make friends who understand. They are seen for who they are – capable, curious, and full of joy.
Traveling without parents means that many children experience independence for the very first time. An incredible team of highly skilled volunteers – including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists – provide care, encouragement and fun, as well as a safe space for children to be themselves.
Nominate a child for Orlando
Nominations can be made by medical professionals for children and young people between the age of 8 – 14 who are living with the impact of a significant health condition or disability. If you are a medical (paediatric) or educational professional and have a child in your care that would benefit from joining us in Orlando, please think about submitting a nomination. Click here for more information on how to nominate a child for Dreamflight.
Our next Orlando trip is taking place in October 2026.
What happens on an Orlando trip
The adventure begins before we even leave the UK. Children come together in London for a big welcome party. Star Wars characters wave them into the hotel, they get involved with games and crafts, meet police dogs and horses, fly an RAF simulator plane, and eat dinner with their new friends.
On Sunday, we travel together to the hangar at Heathrow, where our privately hired British Airways aircraft is waiting for us. There’s no busy airport terminal or long check-in – we go straight to the aircraft and get ready for take-off.
One in Orlando, we spend our days exploring the theme parks – from the magic of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to the calm of Discovery Cove. We swim in the hotel pool, eat breakfast and dinner in a private ballroom, and even spend an afternoon at an American shopping mall. We stay with our groups for the whole trip, which helps volunteers build strong relationships with the children in their care, and the children are able to form bonds and make friends.
On our final day, we have a blast Main Event, an entertainment centre with bowling, laser tag and arcade games. Finally, we board our very special aircraft and make the journey back to the UK, with our new friends and memories.
The impact of a Dreamflight trip to Orlando
Some experiences don’t just make memories. They change the way you see the world. The way you see yourself, see others, and see what might be possible. A Dreamflight trip to Orlando is about so much more than the destination – it gives children something that last far longer than the 10 days they are away.
“She was so excited before she travelled and the trip lived up to her hopes and a whole lot more. She has made lifelong friends and been able to share her own experiences over the past few years since her diagnosis of a brain tumour with others on their own journeys.”
Increased confidence and resilience
Our brilliant volunteers make anything possible. With their skills and experience, they’re able to safely encourage children to stretch their limits and try new things. A flight, a big rollercoaster, a swim in the pool, or even a night away from their family for the very first time. Many parents and carers say their child returned with more confidence.
Independence
Due to their health conditions, many of our children have spent more time with their parents and families than a young person typically would. It often means regular hospital visits and treatments, and less time at school. Whilst on a Dreamflight trip, children are encouraged, when appropriate and if they want to, to take more responsibility for there own care. We’ve been told that, following the trip, children have chosen to dress themselves, make their own food, or administer their own medication based on the skills they have developed and the confidence they built on Dreamflight.
Friendships with people who understand
Split into 12 regional groups, children spend the full 10 days with their group peers and guides. Although medical conditions generally aren’t discussed, the children form bonds through their shared experiences, and often come home with lasting friendships.
“He said it was so nice to talk to other children with similar experiences of long hospital stays, missing out on so much and physical disabilities and that though each child is different he felt seen, heard and understood.”
Ruthie’s story
Following a trip to Orlando in 2016, Ruthie went on to achieve a first-class honours degree in law.
Read Ruthie’s story“I wouldn’t have felt confident enough to take those steps if I hadn’t gone on Dreamflight. It’s a bit crazy to say, because I feel like if I say that to someone who hasn’t experienced Dreamflight, they’re like, ‘it’s just a trip to Florida’, but it’s so much more than that.”