The Disney Dreamers Academy program is changing, and parents of Black children in four cities have a new way to get involved.
For nearly 20 years, Disney Dreamers Academy has been the opportunity many parents of Black children watched for every fall: 100 high school students chosen from across the country, a trip to Walt Disney World, and a weekend of mentorship and career workshops. On September 29, 2026, Walt Disney World announced the program’s next chapter, and it works very differently.
Disney Dreamers Academy is becoming a year-round, multi-year program that starts in middle school and runs through Boys & Girls Clubs in four metro areas: Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and Houston. Students are selected by their Clubs. Here is what changed, who can take part, and exactly what to ask if you want your child considered.
What Is Changing With the Disney Dreamers Academy Program
Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has selected 100 high school students a year from across the country. The new version is built to reach students earlier and keep them connected over time, instead of centering on a single event.
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Disney developed the pilot with participating Boys & Girls Clubs and youth development experts. The company says it chose Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and Houston because of its existing presence and relationships with local families and organizations in those areas.
Disney has not said whether the national application for high school students will return. The company says additional details are coming “in the coming months,” and we will update this article when they arrive.
What Dreamers Will Do All Year
The program mixes virtual and in-person experiences, in students’ home communities and at Walt Disney World. According to Disney’s program page, Dreamers will get:
- #1 Year-round programming. Hands-on experiences, workshops and interactive sessions led by Disney Cast Members and experts, on subjects from engineering to animal sciences.
- #2 Mentorship. Connections with Disney Cast Members and fellow Dreamers, including professionals whose backgrounds may reflect their own.
- #3 Confidence and leadership. Ongoing support to build both, and to strengthen ties to mentors, peers and their communities.
- #4 Disney experiences. Activities at their local Club, plus visits to Walt Disney World.
That mentorship piece matters. For a Black child, meeting an engineer or an animal scientist who looks like them can turn a career from an idea into a plan. If your child already lights up around animals, our guide to preparing your child for veterinary school is a good next read.
The First Dreamers Have Been Named
In Orlando, Walt Disney World and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida celebrated 50 local students selected for the first Central Florida chapter, part of the 200-student inaugural class across all four cities. Each city’s kickoff featured Disney-themed activity stations and a chance to meet Disney characters.
Jamie Merrill, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, said Disney’s investment “has the power to change lives and create lasting impact in our communities.”
In metro Atlanta, WSB-TV reported the expansion but noted that the participating Clubs have not been named publicly. The same is true so far for Miami and Houston.
How to Get Your Child Considered in Orlando, Miami, Atlanta or Houston
There is no public application for the new program. Clubs choose the Dreamers, so the path runs through your local Club.
Ask your Club staff how the Disney Dreamers Academy program chooses students and when nominations open, so you can plan ahead.
#1 Find your nearest Club
Use the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Club locator to find the Clubs closest to your home or your child’s school.
#2 Ask the Club director these questions
- “Is our Club part of the Disney Dreamers Academy pilot?”
- “How are Dreamers selected, and can a parent recommend their child?”
- “Which grades are eligible?”
- “Will there be a new class for the 2027-28 school year?”
- “Is there any cost to families, including the trips to Walt Disney World?”
#3 Get your child involved at the Club now
Because Clubs pick Dreamers from their own members, a child who already shows up, joins activities and knows the staff is in the best position when the next class is chosen. Clubs offer far more than one program, too. Here is why community recreation matters to children beyond sports.
If You Live Somewhere Else
For now, the pilot is limited to four metro areas. Disney has promised more details in the coming months, so keep an eye on the Disney Dreamers Academy page.
If the Disney Dreamers Academy program is not offered near you yet, your local Boys & Girls Club may still run mentorship and career programs worth exploring.
In the meantime, Boys & Girls Clubs serve millions of young people nationwide, with programs focused on academic success, character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. It is the same network Disney chose to build on, which makes your local Club a smart place for your middle schooler to be.
Many Dreamers alumni now work in health care. If your child is curious about that path, start with our guide to raising a future nurse.
A 20-Year Legacy of Dreamers
Disney Dreamers Academy launched in 2008 and has inspired more than 1,800 students from across the country. For years, Disney ran it alongside Steve Harvey and ESSENCE, and selected students traveled to Walt Disney World with a parent or guardian on an all-expenses-paid trip.
Alumni now work as entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, health care professionals and community leaders, and many return to mentor new Dreamers.
“The impact this program has had on young people, their families and the communities around them is remarkable,” said Sivonne Davis, Vice President of Marketing Strategy at Walt Disney World.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child still apply to Disney Dreamers Academy?
No public application has been announced for the new format. Students in the pilot are selected by participating Boys & Girls Clubs.
Is Disney Dreamers Academy still for high school students?
The original program selected 100 high school students a year. The new pilot serves middle school students. Disney has not said whether it will continue a high school program.
Which cities are part of the pilot?
The Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston metro areas.
When does the new program start?
The first class of 200 students was announced in October 2026, and programming begins in January 2027.
Does it cost anything for families?
Disney has not published any costs for families. Ask your local Club director directly.
Sources
- Walt Disney World: Disney Dreamers Academy expansion announcement
- Walt Disney World: Disney Dreamers Academy program page
- Disney Blog: Walt Disney World celebrates first Central Florida Disney Dreamers
- WSB-TV: Disney Dreamers Academy expands to metro Atlanta
- ESSENCE: Disney Dreamers Academy, past program details
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Find a Club
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