Give Kids The World: Disney Magic and Accessible Design

One of the most memorable and fantastical buildings at the Give Kids The World Village is the Castle of Miracles with its signature carrousel designed to look like a mushroom. It is at the heart of the GKTW Village and contains, amongst many attractions, a spa, an enchanted forest, a wishing well, and the world’s first-ever wheelchair-accessible carousel with 22 hand-carved animals. Two of these animals, a snail and a turtle, are specifically designed to accommodate wheelchairs so all children can delight in the classic charm of the merry-go-round.

To create this iconic and dreamlike castle structure, Ben designed a steel-­framed rectilinear structure with a slab-on-grade foundation and stucco-covered masonry exterior walls. He then incorporated materials like molded fiberglass to create free-form, multicolored shapes. Everything was designed over-scale or out of proportion and animated or cartoon-like to evoke a sense of wonder and awe.

He also collaborated with an Orlando company specializing in themed entertainment design to incorporate all the different attractions that can be found at this venue. This 10,000-square-feet structure creates a whimsical atmosphere and features a wide array of sensory experiences through different moving parts both inside and outside, light displays, and sound effects.

The Castle of Miracles and Enchanted Carousel is an entirely accessible building and was designed to be a place where dreams can come true. It is a testament to the design ability of visionary architect Ben Butera and Disney creators to spark children’s imagination though creative design and architecture.

This interactive gaming venue and accessible train station was also designed with the goal of making children’s eyes light up with joy. It is a space where they can enjoy train-themed attractions and games like billiards, bowling, and basketball. Visitors can play at the arcade inside or take a train ride to other ADA accessible attractions.

As the architect of record for Give Kids The World, Ben Butera designed multiple duplexes that serve as accessible accommodation for guests. The design and construction of phase I was done early in the project. As GKTW grew over the years, the need for additional lodging to welcome an increasing number of visitors emerged.

In response to this need for expanded capacity, more accommodation was designed and built through phases II and III to make dreams come true for even more children, always taking into consideration their accessibility needs. During these phases, Ben held multiple roles and responsibilities to ensure the success of the project, from acting as lead architect and welcoming other talented architects on various projects to the Village to supervising construction.

Banyan Park Villas consists of 3 three-story 24-unit apartment buildings offering wheelchair accessible guest accommodations and fun amenities, like a basketball court. While the building exterior is themed with bright colors, the interior offers a warm, calm, and welcoming environment to make guests feel at home. 

Each GKTW accessible villa offers spacious rooms with raised beds to fit a Hoyer lift to  safely transfer a child from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair, chair to toilet, or into a bathtub. They also include smooth floor transitions and a large front porch for safe wheelchair mobility. The bathrooms include an accessible toilet and vanity sink, a large soaker tub with grab bars, and a roll-in shower. In addition, Ben designed an eating facility and accessible playground in the villas.

Towne Hall is a 53,000 square-foot, two-story building that was designed by an Orlando architectural firm and whose exterior Ben Butera was tasked with refreshing for a fairytale-like feel. The building is meant to look like it is covered in swirly lollipops and colorful candy for a treat-inspired design. Inside are different dining options, entertainment venues, and the Village’s administration offices.

Within Towne Hall is the famous Give Kids The World Gingerbread House, where families can dine and celebrate birthdays as well as other special events. Originally donated by Perkins, the initial design had a simple gable roof and looked like a regular commercial building with some Victorian brackets. Ben Butera used EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) with decorative shapes and versatile foam sculptures to add character to the restaurant. By making the roof mirror cake frosting and the beam at the entrance simulate a vanilla wafer cookie, he was able to turn an ordinary structure into a one-of-a-kind storybook-like design.

Ben Butera also designed the Give Kids The World nondenominational chapel, which has four beautiful large stained glass windows that represent each of the seasons. This peaceful venue provides visitors with a quiet space for prayer, contemplation and/or meditation.

The Happy Harbor Fishing Pond provides all the necessary equipment to allow visitors to cast a line and spend time “catch and release” fishing. Ben Butera designed the fishing gazebo with accessibility in mind by including a special railing to allow wheelchairs to easily access it and get close to the water, providing a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy together and make lasting memories.

One of the duplexes that Ben designed as part of GKTW’s accessible accommodation was later repurposed into a spa, called the Twinkle Hope’s Rockin’ Spa. It provides wish children and their siblings with fun spa services, like manicures, hand massages, face painting, makeup, temporary tattoos, and unique hair styles. 

This building also houses Olivia’s Oasis, a relaxation spa for wish parents, caregivers, and adult family members. It provides seven unique quiet spaces where they can relax and enjoy amenities like hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, chromotherapy, therapy loungers, and a hydration station.

Ben Butera collaborated with the U.S. Navy Seabees to design and build a 600-foot elevated boardwalk, called the Bob’s Sparkleberry Nature Trail. This beautiful trail allows visitors to immerse themselves in a Florida nature walk and enjoy its lush vegetation and native wetlands.