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A Magical Day Out is an experience provided by Merlin’s Magic Wand, the official children’s charity of Merlin Entertainments. Through the generous support of Merlin Entertainments, we offer single-day admission tickets to eligible children and their immediate family to enjoy one Merlin attraction of their choice.

This opportunity allows families to spend meaningful time together, have fun, and create magical memories that will last forever.

Immediate family refers to the child’s parents, or legal guardians, official care team/support person and siblings. We may request additional information if eligibility is unclear, to ensure support is directed to families who need it most.

A time-sensitive application refers to applications for children who have a life-limiting condition with a prognosis of 12 months or less. Or children who have an imminent loss of function. These applications are prioritized due to the urgency of the circumstances, ensuring the child can experience a Magical Day Out as soon as possible.

Please note:

• Applications for reasons such as birthdays or anniversaries are not considered time sensitive.
• If an application is marked as time-sensitive but does not meet the criteria, it will be canceled.

For Parents or Guardians:

If you’re a parent or guardian, please ask one of the following professionals or organizations to apply on your behalf:

• Your child’s special education (SPED) school
• A healthcare provider
• A local child services agency
• A registered charity or support group relevant to your child’s needs

Applications must be submitted by an organization that can confirm the child’s eligibility.

For Organizations:

Organizations applying must provide direct support to children who meet our eligibility criteria and focus on children aged 2 to 18 years. This includes:

• Special education schools
• Medical departments
• Children’s services
• Registered nonprofits or community groups

If we are unable to confirm that your organization exclusively supports eligible children, we reserve the right to cancel your application.

Time Sensitive Applications:

We accept applications for children with a terminal diagnosis (with a prognosis of 12 months or less), or imminent loss of function on a time sensitive basis. Contact the team directly to find out more on how we can support you to create magic on these urgent requests MMW.charity@merlinsmagicwand.org

To apply, organizations must provide the following:

• Two organization-affiliated email addresses (no personal domains such as @gmail, @yahoo, etc.)

One must belong to the person submitting the application

• The second must be for a senior staff member (e.g., CEO or department lead)
• The organization’s official website
• Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Federal Tax ID

In some cases, we may request additional documentation to support the application. This could include:

• Doctor’s notes or diagnostic reports
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) or relevant care plans
• Letters from child services or local authorities

Additional Guidance by Organization Type:

• Schools: We accept applications from special education schools or schools focused on social, emotional, or mental health needs (SPED/SEMH). Mainstream schools with a special education program are not eligible.
• Local Authorities: The department directly supporting the child must submit the application (e.g., Child Protective Services).
• Hospitals or Medical Practices: Applications must come from the specific department working with the child (e.g., Pediatric Oncology), not from general administration.
• Community Centers / Support Groups: The main contact listed on the organization’s website must submit the

We often get asked if we can donate attraction tickets to individuals or non profits who are fundraising. Please Note: we are gifted Magical Day Out tickets by Merlin Entertainments and we are unable to use these tickets for anything other than our beneficiaries. Merlin's Magic Wand gift codes and tickets must not be sold, transferred, or used for competitions, giveaways, prizes, or fundraising purposes.

We are unable to donate Merlin's Magic Wand merchandise or any donated merchandise from the Merlin Attractions for fundraising events or campaigns. 

While we work with Merlin Attractions to make our three Magical Programs happen, we cannot support any external fundraising ideas or initiatives that you wish to create at a Merlin Attraction.  

We welcome ideas for fundraising, however, cannot plan events at or in attractions.