Ms. Quinney

Ms. Quinney's Wildest Dream
When elementary school physical education teacher Ms. Quinney wrote to The Oprah Winfrey Show with her wildest dream, we knew we couldn't do it alone. So we turned to a mouse for help.

Most of Ms. Quinney's students at Crockett Elementary don't get the chance to experience life outside of their inner city neighborhood in Houston. She wanted to give her students an opportunity to be childlike. "Just one day away to do something that they really, really like would help them to forget about all the sadness that's going on in their little lives," she says. "They're worried about problems that grown-ups have and kids shouldn't have to go through that. They should enjoy being young and carefree, but they're not."

"The thing I've always wanted to do most was take my students to Disneyland," Ms. Quinney says.

This was one request we'd have to be Goofy to refuse!
Ms. Quinney, Oprah and Crockett Elementary students

Ms. Quinney and the first graders waited all summer for their big day. Most had never been out of their own Houston neighborhood much less on a jet to California, and all 85 hit the ground ready for some fun.

"This is the best thing that could have ever happened for the kids and for me," Ms. Quinney says. "All I ever want for those kids is to be happy and you've made that come true for them."

The day began with a trip to Sleeping Beauty's castle and a visit from Mickey himself. Then the kids and Oprah took both King Arthur's carousel and the teacup ride out for a spin. Next up was a flight with Dumbo, a mission "to infinity and beyond" at Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and the Parade of Dreams. Everyone was there—Beauty and the Beast, Jiminy Cricket…even the Seven Dwarves!

The wildest dream ended with a spectacular fireworks display. It was a fairy-tale ending to a storybook day.
Ms. Quinney

Did Ms. Quinney's students have a fun time? What first grader wouldn't? Let a few of them tell it.
  • "Today's the most fun I ever had in my entire life."
  • "I want to stay here forever."
  • "I feel like a princess today."

"It's something I will never forget as long as I live," Ms. Quinney tells Oprah. I appreciate everything that you've done for these kids."
James Denton on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

James Denton Dream
It all started with an innocent remark about his wildest dream. James Denton, Mike from Desperate Housewives mentioned that he's always wanted to take batting practice with a Major League Baseball team . The rest was pure Oprah!

First we tricked James into thinking he was going to marshal a parade, only to surprise him with news that he was going to work out with the 2004 World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox.

Then, after a full day of meeting the team and running the bases, we had another surprise coming down the pipe for TV's favorite plumber. We arranged for James to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game!
James Denton threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park.

After spring training, James was ready to go pro…at least for one day.

Just standing on the field at Fenway Park, legendary home of the Boston Red Sox, "makes you feel like a little kid again," James says. "You get those same kind of butterflies and those same kind of goosebumps."

He even got good advice from 2004 World Series MVP Curt Schilling: "Go warm up."

Despite feeling nervous before the pitch, James delivered a strike. Right over home plate!