ESPN Debuts New Mickey & Friends Gowns for Children’s Hospitals this Halloween 

Brand-new ESPN Mickey & Friends Starlight hospital gowns and pants recently debuted at Connecticut Children’s, bringing a little extra sports spirit and pixie dust to young patients.

Disney and ESPN teamed up with Starlight Children’s Foundation and Connecticut Children’s to create a day of Halloween fun, featuring the debut of new ESPN Mickey & Friends-themed Starlight hospital gowns and pants along with a visit from Mickey Mouse, costumes, activities and special surprises for patients and families. Roughly 100 inpatient and outpatient children and their families joined the Halloween spooktacular where choice, comfort and fun were at the center of the celebration.

“A hospital stay shouldn’t take away a child’s chance to have fun, express who they are or simply be a kid. ESPN and Disney are incredibly proud to team up with Starlight and Connecticut Children’s to bring some ESPN sports spirit, some Disney magic and, hopefully, a lot of smiles to children and families here in Connecticut.” -Kevin Negandhi, ESPN SportsCenter Anchor and College Football Studio Host

Halloween Joy in the Hospital

For the day, Connecticut Children’s family resource center transformed into a Halloween wonderland. Patients picked out costumes and a Mickey Mouse plush of their very own, dove into activities, and had the opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse. For the patients who couldn’t make it out of their rooms, the magic came to them! Mickey made his way through the halls for in-room visits, making sure no child missed out on the fun.

It was during this celebration that the new ESPN Mickey & Friends gowns made their debut, giving patients something many kids never think to ask for: a say in what they wear.

A Small Choice That Means Something Bigger

Picking out a hospital gown with a favorite sport and character may seem like a small thing, but for a child navigating illness, that choice can carry real weight.

“Something as simple as choosing a hospital gown featuring familiar characters or brands can help a child feel more comfortable and regain a sense of control during hospitalization. These familiar designs can also make conversations with healthcare teams easier, helping build trust so kids feel more confident and engaged in their care.” Matt Barnhart, Senior Manager, Partnerships, Starlight Children’s Foundation

That sense of control is something Connecticut Children’s physicians see the value of firsthand.

“For children in the hospital, so much can suddenly feel outside of their control. Their illness, their treatment and their daily routine can all be determined by circumstances they didn’t choose. Giving a child the ability to choose something as simple as the gown they want to wear may seem small, but it gives them a voice and a sense of ownership at a time when that can mean a great deal. Play, choice and joy aren’t separate from caring for children. They are an important part of the healing journey.” -Rachel Stanley, MD, Physician-in-Chief, Connecticut Children’s

Letting Kids Be Kids

Moments of play and self-expression do more than pass the time between appointments, they help preserve the parts of childhood that illness can otherwise crowd out. It’s a philosophy at the heart of how Connecticut Children’s approaches care.

“Children don’t stop being children when they become patients. We’re grateful to ESPN, Disney and Starlight for understanding that and for helping us create experiences that bring joy into the hospital and give our patients opportunities to just be kids.” -Kelly Foy, Certified Child Life Specialist, Connecticut Children’s

Disney & ESPN’s Support of Pediatric Patients

This Halloween event at Connecticut Children’s is one piece of a much larger commitment from ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and ABC to support children and families facing illness. Through the Pediatric Cancer Initiative, ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and ABC are raising $10 million for pediatric cancer research through the V Foundation in the lead-up to Super Bowl LXI on ESPN, ABC and Disney+.

From bringing comfort and joy to kids in children’s hospitals to funding research that creates hope for the future, Disney is committed to supporting kids and families in ways that only Disney can.