Walt Disney World and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida celebrated the 50 Central Florida students chosen as the first Disney Dreamers in a new era of Disney Dreamers Academy. The students gathered at the Boys & Girls Club Walt Disney World Clubhouse yesterday evening for a kickoff celebration. They are part of the first class of 200 Disney Dreamers selected by Boys & Girls Clubs in Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston. Here’s the latest.
Celebration Held for Orlando Class of Disney Dreamers
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What happened at the kickoff celebration for the 50 Central Florida Disney Dreamers.
- How the 200-student class and four-city pilot are set up.
- What the multi-year Disney Dreamers experience includes.
The kickoff celebration marked the start of the Disney Dreamers journey for the first 50 Central Florida students. Disney magic set the tone for the evening. Leaders from Disney, Boys & Girls Clubs, and community partners joined the students for interactive activities inspired by the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Activities included making their own Mickey Mouse ears, Star Wars droid racing, and more. Students also met Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Mirabel, and Tiana during character meet-and-greets. Those moments introduced the students to the possibilities that await them as Disney Dreamers, according to Disney.
Disney Dreamers Academy began in 2008, and Disney says more than 1,800 students have taken part since then. Alumni have gone on to become entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, health care professionals, and community leaders, Disney says. Many have returned to mentor future Dreamers. In the past, Walt Disney World selected 100 high school students from across the country each year. The new pilot shifts the focus to middle school Club members for a longer journey in the expanded program.
How the Disney Dreamers Academy Pilot Works
Participating Boys & Girls Clubs selected the students in the first class. They drew on the connections they have with the young people and families they serve. The pilot reaches middle school Club members in four metropolitan areas. Disney says it chose Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston based on its existing presence and relationships with families and organizations in each community.
Tajiana Ancora-Brown is Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World. Ancora-Brown said the program has a 19-year legacy of “empowering and inspiring students.” As the program enters its 20th year, the new collaboration will let Disney reach more students year-round, Ancora-Brown said. The activities will introduce students to beloved characters, Cast Members, and career opportunities, with the emphasis on “learning about themselves,” Ancora-Brown said.
Jamie Merrill is President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Merrill said the organization exists to “reach students where they are, and connect them to the dreams they never even thought possible.” Disney is a longtime partner that helps mentor students and provide magical experiences they would not otherwise have, Merrill said.
Programming begins in January 2027 as a multi-year experience. Disney Dreamers will take part in mentorship, career exploration, leadership development, and immersive experiences in their local communities and at Walt Disney World Resort. Walt Disney World will invest across participating Boys & Girls Clubs during the first two years, which span the current school year and the 2027-28 school year. Disney has not said how much.
What Disney Dreamers Will Experience
Students will take part in a mix of virtual and in-person experiences, Disney says. Disney designed the programming to support their personal and academic growth. It has four parts:
- Year-round programming: Hands-on experiences, workshops, and interactive programming led by Disney Cast Members and experts, covering subjects from engineering to animal sciences.
- Mentorship: Connections with Disney Cast Members and fellow Dreamers, including professionals whose backgrounds and experiences may reflect the students’ own.
- Continued support: Activities that build confidence and leadership skills while strengthening ties to mentors, peers, and local communities.
- Disney experiences: Programming inside local Boys & Girls Clubs, plus visits to Walt Disney World.
Disney will share more details about the next chapter of Disney Dreamers Academy in the coming months. The company has not announced dates for kickoff events in Miami, Atlanta, or Houston.
Timing on growing the pilot beyond those four metropolitan areas remains unknown. We will keep covering Disney Dreamers Academy as the program approaches its 20th anniversary.
Story So Far
- January 17, 2008: The first Disney Dreamers Academy event brought high school students to Walt Disney World, as listed in our 50 Years of Walt Disney World Milestones.
- September 29, 2026: Disney announced the Boys & Girls Clubs pilot that replaces the national class, with 200 students and programming starting in January 2027.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!