When five-year-old Wish Kid Luca visited us at the Dr. J. Peter McPartlon Wishing Space, he let us know that the coolest animals are the ones with spots. Fluffy, fast, and fascinating ... he was describing a cheetah, of course! Cheetahs capture Luca’s imagination and when it came time to choose his Wish, the answer was simple: he wanted to see a cheetah up close! 

Luca and his family flew from Albany to San Diego, where Luca’s adventure was waiting. The trip began with visits to SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California Resort, where Luca had nonstop fun riding on the helicopter and jeep rides, and marveled at the orca show. 

But the heart of his Wish was at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. With VIP tours arranged just for him, Luca had the chance to explore before the crowds arrived, meeting animals up close and learning from the guides. Luca fed giraffes, pet a kangaroo, saw pandas in their viewing area, and even explored the platypus facility.  

“The Zoo itself was amazing,” Luca’s mom shared. “Both tours were fantastic and made sure we had a great time.” 

During the tours, the moment Luca had been waiting for finally came: a cheetah was brought out on a leash for a one-on-one encounter. 

“It was the highlight of the trip by far,” his mom shared. “Luca said it was his favorite part.” 

Luca’s family also had time to enjoy breathtaking views from their hotel and even a rental van that Luca couldn’t stop talking about.  

“He was especially pumped about the Honda Odyssey we were given. He was REALLY into the sliding doors,” his mom said. 

Looking back, Luca’s mom summed it up best: “This trip was perfect and seamless. We loved every minute and didn’t have to worry about anything at all for a week. Luca was so incredibly happy the entire time and hasn’t stopped talking about everything we experienced. Make-A-Wish truly brought us so much joy, and we’re so beyond thankful for this gift.”