“Shark Tank” Investor Daymond John Surprises Young Entrepreneur During Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World

ABC’s Shark Tank investor and successful businessman Daymond John left an aspiring young entrepreneur speechless when he surprised the student Saturday during the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World.

What’s Happening:

  • Te’Lario Watkins II, 16, from Blacklick, OH, thought he was in the middle of a media interview Saturday morning during Disney Dreamers Academy when John made a surprise appearance and delivered the personal invitation to visit the ABC show set in Los Angeles.
  • For Watkins, it was a magical dream come true moment. Since he was 7 years old, Watkins has run his own small business, Tiger Mushroom Farms, which cultivates gourmet mushrooms and sells dry mushroom products. Additionally, he is the founder of a non-profit called the Garden Club Project, which addresses food insecurities in his community.

  • John is one of several celebrities taking part in Disney Dreamers Academy, the Walt Disney World mentoring program that runs through Sunday.
  • Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross, Hollywood veteran actor Lance Gross, Disney actress Dara Renee and other TV and movie stars are serving as mentors and speakers.

  • On Thursday, Disney Dreamers Academy participants and 2024 DREAMbassador Dara Reneé appeared in a cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom.
  • This is the 17th year of Disney Dreamers Academy, a five-day event designed to broaden career awareness and create opportunities for 100 Black high school students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.
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Luke Manning
Luke is a fan of all things theme parks and self-proclaimed #1 fan of Joffrey’s Coffee, who lives in Kissimmee, FL