Mickey University: How Your Children Can Attend School Inside Walt Disney World’s Parks

A Central Florida mother has found a one-of-a-kind way to blend homeschooling with family fun, using all four Disney World theme parks to bring lessons to life.

Making Education Magical

The unique approach has quickly become the centerpiece of her children’s education. Jordan Ashley told WESH 2 in an exclusive interview, “We don’t always homeschool at Disney World every single day. That’s not the only place we learn.” For Ashley, a former Disney cast member, turning the parks into a classroom was a natural step.

“As Disney locals here in Mickey’s backyard,” Ashley explained, “it just was inevitable for us to start learning in the parks, whether we were in Toy Story Land, we saw all the letters and wanted to practice our letter recognition.” She added that her husband, also a former Disney employee, fully supports the method: “He used to work for Disney as well, and so he is supportive and on board, especially since he sees the results.

Ashley has crafted lessons across all four parks. At Animal Kingdom, the family engages directly with zookeepers. “That has been a fun and engaging way to incorporate animal science for me,” she said. Trips to EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion allow her daughters to explore international cultures. “We go and learn about countries that we will be visiting in the future,” she noted.

@mostmagicalhomeschool

✨ Why I Started Sharing Our Journey ✨ I’m Jordan Ashley, a Disney-loving former education Cast Member turned Disney homeschool mom, and we’re learning in the most magical way possible. From hands-on lessons at the kitchen table to educational adventures in the parks, I’m here to help you bring more joy, creativity, and confidence into your family’s learning journey. Whether you’re an intentional mom, a homeschool parent, a creative teacher, or a Disney-loving family just trying to make the most of everyday moments…this space is for you. 💫 We believe learning should be fun, memorable, and meaningful. Let’s turn the world (and the parks!) into our classroom, together. 💛 🪄 Follow for tips, resources, and pixie-dusted support 📚 Free printables, unit studies, and more coming soon 👩‍👧‍👦 Because you don’t have to do this alone. #HomeschoolMom #CreativeTeaching #DisneyHomeschool #DisneyFamily #HomeschoolIdeas #LearningThroughPlay #DisneyAtHome #StoryBasedLearning #EducationalFun #MomLife #MagicalLearning #UnitStudies #HomeschoolCommunity #MostMagicalHomeschool

♬ Married Life (From “Up”) – Gina Luciani

A New Kind of Classroom

At Hollywood Studios, storytelling and creative writing are emphasized. “We use it as inspiration, and we dive deeper into stories that they’ve already developed there,” Ashley shared. Meanwhile, at Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland inspires lessons in invention. “We brainstormed our own inventions, and we drew it, we wrote about it,” she explained.

Math is primarily taught at home, but the parks still provide opportunities for hands-on activities. “Oh, good question,” Ashley said. “So most of our math is actually done at home in our traditional core curriculum. However, we have a ton of math activities that we incorporate at the parks as well.”

Ashley’s creative approach is part of a growing trend among Florida parents choosing homeschooling, especially following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was no opportunity to send her anywhere,” she said, highlighting the practical and imaginative benefits of learning at the “most magical place on earth.”