Walt Disney World is expanding Disney Dreamers Academy into a year-round, multi-year pilot for middle school Boys & Girls Clubs members. The program will reach students in the Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and Houston metro areas.
Participating Clubs will select 200 students for the first class, which Disney will announce in October 2026. Programming begins in January 2027.
What will Disney Dreamers Academy students do?
Students will take part in virtual and in-person activities led by Disney Cast Members and experts. Hands-on workshops will introduce subjects and careers ranging from engineering to animal sciences.
They’ll also connect with Disney mentors and fellow Dreamers. The year-round program aims to help students build confidence and leadership skills while keeping those relationships going over time.
Some experiences will happen at local Boys & Girls Clubs. Students will also visit Walt Disney World as part of the pilot.
The participating Clubs already work with young people and families in these communities. Disney chose the four metro areas based on its existing presence and relationships with families and organizations there.
How does the pilot build on Disney Dreamers Academy?
Walt Disney World has selected 100 high school students nationwide each year to participate in Disney Dreamers Academy. The Boys & Girls Clubs pilot brings the experience to students at an earlier age.
Since its launch in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has reached more than 1,800 students. Alumni have pursued careers including engineering, education, health care and the arts. Some have returned to mentor later classes.
Walt Disney World will invest in participating Boys & Girls Clubs during the program’s first two years. That period spans the current school year and the 2027-28 school year; Disney hasn’t stated an investment amount.
“This next chapter is about meeting students where they are,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Walt Disney World’s director of external affairs. She said working with local Clubs will help students discover possibilities for their future at an earlier age.
Disney plans to share more details in the coming months. For now, participating Boys & Girls Clubs will choose the first group of middle school students, rather than Disney selecting its usual nationwide high school class for this pilot.
Source: Disney Experiences
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