A Central Florida mother has found an inventive way to combine homeschooling with theme park magic, using all four Disney World parks as a classroom for her daughters.
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.” But for the former Disney cast member, the parks have become a natural extension of her family’s educational journey.
The Most Magical Lessons
“As Disney locals here in Mickey's backyard,” Ashley said, “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, is fully supportive. “He used to work for Disney as well, and so he is supportive and on board, especially since he sees the results.
Ashley’s creative curriculum spans all four parks in unique ways. At Animal Kingdom, the family engages with zookeepers. “That has been a fun and engaging way to incorporate animal science for me,” she explained. Visits to EPCOT’s American Adventure Pavilion give her daughters a chance to explore international cultures. “We go and learn about countries that we will be visiting in the future,” she said.
@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
At Hollywood Studios, storytelling and creative writing take center stage. “We use it as inspiration, and we dive deeper into stories that they've already developed there,” Ashley noted. Meanwhile, at Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland has sparked lessons in invention. “We brainstormed our own inventions, and we drew it, we wrote about it,” she explained.
What We Learned
While math lessons are mostly completed at home through their traditional core curriculum, Ashley said that the family also incorporates math into their park visits. “Oh, good question,” she 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 approach reflects a growing trend among Florida parents who have chosen homeschooling, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional education. “There was no opportunity to send her anywhere,” she said, emphasizing the practical and imaginative benefits of learning at the “most magical place on earth.”
