LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Mar. 27, 2026)- WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and Disney star Malia Baker created uniquely Disney surprise moments for several high school students at Disney Dreamers Academy on Friday at Walt Disney World Resort.
Las Vegas Aces player A’ja Wilson surprised four Disney Dreamers — Krysten Lewis (West Monroe, LA), Domenique Sexton (Chesapeake, VA), Alani Jordan (Laurel, MD) and Shakayah Watson (Snellville, GA) — when she invited them to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure with her.
The students, all passionate about athletics, joined Wilson for the memorable ride experience on the popular attraction, sharing smiles and excitement as they journeyed down the bayou, an experience that only happens at Disney Dreamers Academy.
After the ride, the Disney Dreamers surprised Wilson in return by arranging a special meeting with Princess Tiana—one of her favorite Disney characters and the inspiration behind her custom-themed shoes.
Also on Friday, Disney star and the program’s 2026 “DREAMbassador,” Malia Baker — known for her role as Chloe Charming in “Descendants: The Rise of Red” — delivered a special surprise to Dreamer Micaela La Serna (Chapel Hill, NC).
La Serna, who is passionate about musical theater and aspires to become an actor, received a personal invitation to attend the premiere of Baker’s upcoming film, “Descendants: Wicked Wonderland,” set to debut soon on Disney+.
Now in its 19th year, Disney Dreamers Academy is a transformational mentoring program designed to inspire high school students from varying backgrounds and communities to dream big and pursue their goals.
The 100 students are selected from thousands of nationwide applicants for a once-in-a-lifetime mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort. Supported by sponsors Partners Federal Credit Union and AdventHealth, the program helps young students identify and pursue their dreams. Along with a parent or guardian, the students receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World where they take part in career-oriented workshops, leadership seminars and presentations led by celebrity guests, community leaders, educators and Disney executives.