walt disney world Archives - Rolling Out

Comedian, TV host and radio personality Steve Harvey partnered with Disney and Essence magazine for the Disney Dreamers Academy, which selects 100 high school students ages 13-19 to participate in a life-changing weekend of activities. The academy has been impacting the lives of kids since 2008. “I had a kid that was a gangbanger that came…

Garcelle Beauvais was most recently seen as the host of the syndicated daytime talk show “Hollywood Today Live.” Beauvais is well known to TV viewers for her roles in “Franklin & Bash,” “NYPD Blue” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” Beauvais also brings experience from the fashion world to her hosting duties, having started her career…

An undercover child sex sting operation by multiple law enforcement agencies in Florida has resulted in the arrest of 18 men. The sting was called Operation April’s Fools and it took place between March 29 and April 4 in Polks County, Florida. Among those arrested were a Walt Disney World security guard and a janitor at…

High school students determined to realize their dreams will have an opportunity to develop their vision further if chosen to attend the upcoming Disney Dreamers Academy. The four-day workshop, March 3-6 in 2016, will be hosted by television and radio personality Steve Harvey and Essence Communications at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The 100…

Commencement day for the graduates of Disney Dreamers Academy was full of laughter, tears of joy and excitement as 100 Dreamers were armed with knowledge that to take back to their communities. Steve Harvey, Essence magazine’s Michelle Ebanks and a host of special guests gave the students an experience they will never forget. The Dreamers…

Gospel singer and radio host Yolanda Adams sang “I Believe I Can Fly” at Disney Dreamers Academy 2015 commencement day in Orlando, Florida. The students and the parents were touched by the choice of songs and more importantly by the singer. Adams gave everyone chills as her voice reverberated throughout the building. The lyrics spoke volumes to the…

Princeton Parker recites the Dreamers pledge as Yolanda Adams sings ‘Saving Your Best’ at Disney Dreamers Academy 2015. Video by Joi Pearson Photography

Yolanda Adams spoke with the media at the Disney Dreamers Academy press conference in Orlando, Florida. Video by Joi Pearson Photography

Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence magazine in Orlando, Florida, kicked off day three with Brandi and Karli Harvey going over pointers and tips on image awareness. Dr. Alex Ellis met with the Disney Dreamer men and conducted a grooming class titled “Tied to Greatness” in which he helped the young men with tying…

The second day of Disney Dreamers Academy was filled with seminars, classes called “Deep Dives” at Disney University, and interactive activities with other Dreamers and celebrities. “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” broadcast live from the ESPN Club at Disney’s Broadwalk Resort. The Dreamers’ parents were in attendance and Harvey spoke to them candidly about not…

Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker wowed the audience and his fellow panelists (Steve Harvey, Mikki Taylor, Traci Powell and Yolanda Adams) with his words and his confidence. A Disney Dreamers Academy graduate and college student who’s graduating in May, Parker discusses his belief in a higher being and confidence. Video by Joi Pearson Photography

Yolanda Adams spoke at the press conference for the eighth annual Disney Dreamers Academy Day at Epcot in Orlando, Florida. She was queried about what Disney is looking for in a Dreamer. “We are looking for honesty, a true story that can propel the person to another level of existence because that is what we…

Talk-show host, comedian, author and media mogul Steve Harvey discusses how important dreaming really is at the Disney Dreamers Academy kickoff ceremony. In a panel discussion at the conference at Epcot in Orlando, Florida, he gets real. Check out the video. Video by Joi Pearson Photography

Past Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker discusses life after Disney Dreamers Academy during the media press conference at Epcot in Orlando, Florida. Check out the video to see how amazing life has been for him since he graduated. Video by Joi Pearson Photography

The eighth annual Disney Dreamers Academy kicked off with a special parade in Magic Kingdom featuring the Dreamer class of 2015, Steve Harvey, ESSENCE magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Mikki Taylor and more. #DDA2015 Video by Disney

Steve Harvey spoke candidly at the eighth annual Disney Dreamers Academy press conference about perseverance. “You get a story and you tell it. You fail well, like Mikki Taylor said; you overcome obstacles like Yolanda Adams said, you understand your place and you keep going,” he said. For more awesome words or wisdom and inspiration,…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and for many, it just doesn’t feel quite like Christmas unless there’s snow. The world’s best imagineers at Disney deliver a white Christmas with a twist. Disney’s 31st annual Christmas Day TV special, “Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration,” features some of our favorite entertainers including Trey Songz…

Florida officials are searching for Sean Petrozzino, 30, a quadruple amputee who is linked to a double murder. At 16, Petrozzino lost his arms and legs to bacterial meningitis. But, he’s a person of interest in the death of his parents, Nancy Petrozzino, 64, a schoolteacher; and Michael Petrozzino, 63, a Walt Disney World cast…