If you ever needed proof that dreams aren’t just bedtime stories, Disney just gave you a front-row seat. The Disney Dreamers Academy isn’t just about mentorship—it’s about an outpouring. Of love. Of opportunity. Of straight-up commitment to these young minds ready to shake things up.
For nearly two decades, this program has been planting seeds in students from all walks of life, watering them with access, mentorship and resources. Since 2008, over 1,700 students have walked through this experience and came out as visionaries, disruptors, and pioneers in their fields. And now, another class is stepping up to the plate, ready to claim what’s theirs.
From the moment the participants touched down in Orlando, Florida, Disney made it clear—this was more than a weekend trip. This was a launchpad. A blueprint for Black and brown brilliance. Whether they’re here to build the next big thing in tech, report the stories that need to be told, or create the kind of representation they never had, these students aren’t waiting for permission.
Because if there’s one thing Disney Dreamers Academy teaches, it’s that the world doesn’t just hand you a seat at the table. You take it.
Colin Sprouse embodies what it means to be a Disney Dreamer, and this year, he’s taking home the title of Dreamer of the Year. As a student leader, athlete and community role model, the Little Rock, Arkansas native has spent his high school years balancing excellence in academics, sports and service—leading as Student Body President, captaining his football team, and inspiring others through faith and mentorship. With a heart for leadership and a vision for the future, Spouse represents the very essence of a dreamer turning ambition into action.
The Dreamers Speak: When Vision Meets Opportunity
For Kylie Fuller, this program isn’t just a moment—it’s momentum. “Being at Disney Dreamers Academy has shown me that I can pursue journalism while still following my other passions,” Fuller said. “One day, I want to be on Good Morning America—and this experience is helping me see all the possibilities to make that happen.”
Tiyanna Shaheed-Merriweather came into this experience with options on the table—own a cosmetology business or become a pediatrician. Two completely different lanes, but the Academy didn’t force her to choose. It showed her she could do both. “Being here has boosted my confidence and helped me speak up more. I’ve met so many inspiring people, and I’m hoping this experience will give me more clarity on which path to take. Either way, I know I can do anything I set my mind to,” she said.
And then there’s Sydney Gilmore, whose dreams came full circle. “Watching Disney Channel as a kid—seeing Skai Jackson on Jessie, Coco Jones and Tyler James Williams in Let It Shine—that was my representation,” Gilmore reflected. “It made me say, ‘Yeah, I want to do that.’ Now, being part of Disney Dreamers Academy, I want to be that same representation for another little Black girl who sees me and realizes she can chase her dreams too.”
Tyler James Williams, one of the speakers who walked into the Academy with wisdom in his pocket, put it best:
“The world often assumes young people don’t know themselves as well as they think they do. But when you know who you are, what you love, and what kind of person you want to be, you might feel like you have to prove it,” Williams shared in an encouraging speech. “The best way to do that? Keep showing up. Keep bringing who you are. Keep doing what you love. The world will open up for you.”
The Magic & The Mission
This isn’t just about dreams—it’s about action. That’s why Disney isn’t just throwing motivational speeches at these students. They’re putting them in rooms with top-tier executives, creatives and innovators who have been exactly where they are. They’re giving them the blueprint to build, the keys to unlock doors, and the push to step into spaces they once thought were out of reach.
Each year, thousands of students apply for this moment, pouring their aspirations into essays, hoping to be among the chosen 100. Those who make it? They get an all-expenses-paid experience that doesn’t just take them to Disney World—it takes them to the next level.
This year’s Dreamers aren’t just here to take notes. They’re here to take up space. And when they leave, they won’t just be stepping back into the world as high school students. They’ll be stepping in as the future. Because the future isn’t just bright. It’s limitless.
