Disney Dreamers Academy builds on 20-year legacy to inspire more students to dream beyond imagination

Walt Disney World teams with Boys & Girls Clubs to bring mentorship and career exploration to middle schoolers in four major cities

Disney Dreamers Academy’s next chapter reached South Florida, specifically landed in Coconut Grove last night, Thursday, Oct. 15, with an event at the Boys & Girls Club in Coconut Grove. As the program nears its 20th anniversary, Walt Disney World Resort is rethinking how it reaches young people. A new collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs will bring mentorship, career exploration and hands-on experiences to students in their own communities, and to Walt Disney World itself.

From a Single Event to a Year-Round Experience

Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has selected 100 high school students from across the country each year. More than 1,800 young people have taken part, and alumni have gone on to become entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, health care professionals and community leaders. Many have returned as mentors to later classes.

The next phase turns that model into a year-round, multi-year program built to reach students earlier and keep them engaged over time. An initial pilot will serve middle school members of Boys & Girls Clubs in the Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Houston metropolitan areas. Disney chose those four markets because of its existing relationships with local families and organizations.

200 Dreamers, Chosen by Their Local Clubs

The first class of this new chapter will include 200 students selected by participating Boys & Girls Clubs. Names will be announced this October, and programming begins in January 2027. The pilot relies on the trust Clubs have already built with young people and their families, bringing the program into familiar community spaces while continuing its commitment to serving diverse groups of students.
“This next chapter is about meeting students where they are and helping them discover what’s possible for their future at an earlier age,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World.

What Dreamers Can Expect

Blending virtual and in-person experiences, the program will focus on four areas:

• Year-round programming: Workshops and hands-on activities led by Disney Cast Members and experts will introduce students to fields ranging from engineering to animal sciences.
• Mentorship: Students will join a community of Cast Members and fellow Dreamers, with a chance to meet professionals whose backgrounds may mirror their own.
• Confidence and leadership: Ongoing support is designed to strengthen self-assurance and leadership skills while deepening ties to mentors, peers and local communities.
• Disney experiences: Students will encounter Disney both at their local Clubs and on visits to Walt Disney World, bringing their journey full circle.

Voices Behind the Program

Sivonne Davis, Vice President of Marketing Strategy at Walt Disney World, pointed to the program’s track record. “I’ve seen firsthand the confidence, connections and opportunities Disney Dreamers Academy has provided students over the past 19 years,” she said.
Jamie Merrill, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, said the partnership will help young people look past their present circumstances. “Programs like this create the exposure and opportunities that help our young people dream beyond their circumstances and see new possibilities for their future,” he said.

Investment and What’s Next

Walt Disney World will invest across the participating Clubs over the program’s first two years, covering the current school year and the 2027-28 school year. The company has not disclosed the amount. Further details about the program’s next chapter are expected in the coming months.

About Disney Dreamers Academy: Launched in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy is a signature Walt Disney World youth development program that connects students with Disney leaders, Cast Members and industry professionals through immersive experiences, mentorship and career exploration.

About Boys & Girls Clubs: For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs has served millions of young people nationwide, offering a safe, supportive environment with programs focused on academic success, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles.