As Disney Dreamers Academy approaches its 20th anniversary, Walt Disney World is making some significant changes to the long-running youth development program.
Disney has announced a new collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs that will expand Disney Dreamers Academy into a year-round, multi-year program, allowing Disney to begin working with students at a younger age and remain connected with them over time.
The first class under the new format will include 200 middle school students selected through participating Boys & Girls Clubs in the Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston metropolitan areas. The students will be announced this month, with programming beginning in January 2027.
That’s a notable shift from the program we’ve known since Disney Dreamers Academy launched in 2008. Traditionally, Walt Disney World has selected 100 high school students from across the country each year for an immersive experience at the resort.
Under the new program, students will get to participate in both virtual and in-person activities throughout the year. They will be introduced to potential careers ranging from engineering to animal sciences, while mentorship, leadership development, and academic support will continue throughout the program.
Students will also have opportunities to participate in Disney experiences at their local Boys & Girls Clubs and visit Walt Disney World as part of the program.
Disney says the goal is to reach students earlier, expose them to career possibilities they may not have considered, and build relationships that continue as they grow.
Walt Disney World will invest in the participating Boys & Girls Clubs during the program’s first two years, covering the current school year and the 2027-28 school year.
Since its debut in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has reached more than 1,800 students from across the United States. Disney says additional details about the next phase of the program will be announced in the coming months.
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