ORLANDO, Fla—On Thursday, the Walt Disney World Resort welcomed the 100 teens selected to participate in the 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy.
As the Dreamers Academy enters its 18th year, organizers said the event aims to empower youth to make their dreams come true, setting the stage for the weekend’s activities.
Upon arrival, the teens attended a welcome rally at Disney’s Contemporary Resort to kick things off. Mickey Mouse and an HBCU-style marching band welcomed the teens and their families, and “DREAMbassador” actor Tyler James Williams laid out what to expect for the weekend.
During as “Empowerment Session,” the teens heard from speakers including former Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker, Disney Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad, EPCOT them park Vice President Kartika Davis and Vice President, Commercial Strategy for Walt Disney World Resorts, Sivonne Davis. There was also a step show performance by Divine Nine Black fraternities and sororities and a performance by rock group Infinity Song.
Cyril Josh Barker photos
Disney Dreamer Michai Taggart from Jamaica, Queens 
Princess Tiana 
(L-R) Disney Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad, Tyler James Williams, former Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker 
Kartika Rodriguez, EPCOT Vice President 
Corey Savage, Disney World Manager, Outreach and Engagement, with Divine Nine members 
Tyler James Williams Credit: Cyril Josh Barker photo 
Former Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker 
Infinity Song 
Lisa Nichols 
Students from New Jersey and New York are all smiles on the first day of the Disney Dreamers Academy 2025 at Walt Disney World Resort. These students are among the 100 Disney Dreamers who participated in a festive parade at Magic Kingdom Park on March 27, 2025. (Mark Ashman, photographer) 
“I hope [the students] get what they need to continue the journey,” Williams told the AmNews. “What happens a lot of times to people is that they hit a roadblock early on that tells them that they can’t do something and they believe that. I hope we can dismantle all of those.”
Comedian and radio personality Rickey Smiley also spoke to the students. In an interview with the AmNews, he’s back at the Disney Dreamers Academy to have an impact on young people.
RELATED: NY/NJ students selected for Disney Dreamers Academy, Tyler James Williams serving as ‘DREAMbassador’
“I hope they get some unbelievable opportunities, unbelievable networking and meeting other kids from across the country,” he said. “A lot of times, you know where you’ve been but you don’t know where you’re going and you don’t know who you’re going to need. To have all of these young people with so much brilliance and so much talent here is absolutely unbelievable.”
Video by Cyril Josh Barker
The teens’ parents and guardians participated in an empowerment program where they provided insight into raising a Dreamer featuring motivational speaker Lisa Nichols.
In the afternoon, the Dreamers participated in a parade on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom theme park as grand marshals. The students marched in the parade alongside Wiliams and Disney characters Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Princess Tiana.
This year’s group traveled from 25 states for the all-expenses-paid trip to Disney World. Over the next few days, the teens are participating in hands-on workshops in fields they selected. Experts, motivational speakers and celebrities will serve as their mentors and instructors.
During the welcoming rally on Thursday, Smith-Conrad said she wants the students to get everything out of the opportunity for being chosen to participate in the Dreamers Academy.
“They were the 100 students selected to be here of out of the thousands of applicants,” she told the AmNews. I want them to hone in on their power, network with each other, learn from each other and have fun making magic, making memories. Then afterwards, they can go out there and live those dreams they came here with.”
On Friday, the Dreamers are learning about careers with speakers from various industries, including health, entertainment and science and technology. They are also participating in roundtable discussions about various careers across Walt Disney World and the Walt Disney Company.
Disclosure: The Walt Disney Company paid for the travel and accommodations for several media outlets, including the AmNews, to cover the Disney Dreamers Academy. Disney did not review or approve any of our coverage.