The 16th Annual Disney Dreamers Academy Concludes with Celebrities and Surprises
The Disney Dreamers Academy is a four-day mentorship program focused on broadening career awareness and creating opportunities for black students and teens from underrepresented communities across the U.S.
Photo: Disney
Recently, one hundred high school students from across the nation successfully completed the program.
Their success was celebrated with a one-of-a-king Disney event that included celebrity sightings and fun surprises.
Guest Appearance
Photo Credit: Variety
The moving commencement ceremony at Walt Disney World featured an inspirational speech by Grammy-nominated singer and actor Halle Bailey.
Bailey plays Ariel in the upcoming re-imagined version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. She is also the Celebrity Ambassador for the 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy.
“You are a living being with not just the ability to dream, but the abilities to make your dreams a reality,” said Bailey.
“And no one taught you to dream. There is no book for that. You dream simply because you are meant to, and what is meant for you is already yours.”
Photo: Disney
Bailey shared that as a young girl growing up, she would imagine being a mermaid with her siblings. They memorized the movie and the songs, never imagining the impact it would have on her future career.
“When I see little Black and brown girls and boys—and, indeed, everyone—so excited for our live-action adaptation, I cry every time, because I think back about those two little girls swimming in the pool in Atlanta, Georgia, and starting to believe in something big.”
Walt Disney World Celebrates
Cinderella Castle
The 2023 attendees were specially chosen out of a pool of thousands of applicants. These talented dreamers headed to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for their amazing mentorship opportunity.
The unique program includes an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World, empowering sessions from special guests and celebrities, performances from Disney Live Entertainment, and a final special event ceremony.
Specials and Surprises
Photo: Disney
In addition to the awesome special event, the Dreamers Academy also featured unique experiences and special surprises including:
- Taking part in the Magic Kingdom Parade with Bailey
- Riding new attraction TRON Lightcycle / Run
- A surprise celebrity-visit from Grammy Award-winning artist H.E.R.
- Two aspiring filmmakers were surprised with an invitation to join Bailey on the red carpet premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- A student interested in broadcast career was surprised by ABC’s Good Morning America, and will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the show
Congrats Disney Dreamers
Photo: Disney
Congratulations to all of the outstanding teens and Disney Dreamers who successfully completed the The 16th Annual Disney Dreamers Academy.
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Photo: MickeyBlog
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