Drum Major Mickey Mouse leads a jubilant parade at Magic Kingdom Park, accompanied by 100 students who are part of the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentorship event hosted annually by Walt Disney World Resort to foster the dreams of 100 Black students and teens from underrepresented communities around the country. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
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(Mark Ashman, photographer)
100 High School Students Take Part in Disney Dreamers Academy Parade at Disney World
A hundred high school students from across the nation embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with a vibrant parade through Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. This extraordinary moment marked the start of the 17th annual Disney Dreamers Academy, a transformative mentorship program designed to empower and inspire Black students and teens from underrepresented communities.
The parade burst with excitement as the Dreamers were joined by actress Dara Reneé of ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and the upcoming ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’. Reneé, the program’s “Dreambassador,” serves as a mentor and role model for the students. Beloved Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Princess Tiana added to the magical atmosphere.
(Mark Ashman, photographer)
A Program that Inspires
Disney Dreamers Academy is a five-day immersive experience focused on career exploration and personal development. Hand-picked from thousands of applicants, these exceptional students enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World. Thanks to the support of sponsors like AT&T, Sprite, and Delta Airlines, the program offers workshops, leadership seminars, and inspiring presentations from celebrities, community leaders, educators, and Disney executives. This year’s celebrity lineup includes Daymond John (‘ABC’s Shark Tank’), actor Lance Gross, and reality TV star Sanya Richards-Ross (‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’).
Disney Dreamer Academy students march down Main Street U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom Park in a celebratory parade to kick off the five-day mentoring event at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mark Ashman, photographer)Disney Dreamer Academy students march down Main Street U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom Park in a celebratory parade to kick off the five-day mentoring event at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mark Ashman, photographer)Actress and performer Dara Reneé, Disney executive Tracy Powell and Disney’s Princess Tiana ride in the grand marshal vehicle alongside aspiring engineering student Sophia Halm, one of the 100 teens participating in Disney Dreamers Academy 2024 at Walt Disney World Resort on April 4, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Mark Ashman, photographer)Broadway singer and actress Kissy Simmons performs ‘Shadowland’ from the hit Broadway musical, ‘The Lion King,’ at the 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy welcome celebration at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista Fla., on April 4, 2024. (Mark Ashman, photographer)Students look on with excitement during the welcome celebration at Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday April 4, 2024. The Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentorship event hosted annually by Walt Disney World Resort to foster the dreams of 100 Black students and teens from underrepresented communities around the country. (Mark Ashman, photographer)
Dreams Take Flight
The Disney Dreamers Academy is more than just a parade – it’s a springboard for young people to explore their potential and chase their dreams. If you know a high school student who could benefit from this incredible opportunity, be sure to keep an eye out for the next round of applications!
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