Private company

Disney English

Logo: Disney English clasroom materials (ISBN-13:978-1-4231-2065-0, ISBN-10: 1-4231-2065-5) and the Disney English learning center facilities., Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Defunct Disney subsidiary

Disney English (Chinese: 迪士尼英语; pinyin: Díshìní Yīngyǔ) was a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide's Disney Learning division that specialized in English language training for young learners, ages 2 to 12, in China using Disney characters. Founded in 2008 in Shanghai, its classes used a curriculum put together by teaching professionals from China, Europe, and the United States. The program used the "Disney Immersive Storytelling Approach" which created an immersive environment incorporating Disney characters to make learning more fun for children.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

2008Founded1
  • Industryeducational system1
  • HeadquartersShanghai1
  • Websitewww.disneyenglish.com
  • Slogan“Inspire Your Child To Speak With The World”1

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DisneyEnglish
Photo: Runawaybrain ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Disney English (Chinese: 迪士尼英语; pinyin: Díshìní Yīngyǔ) was a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide's Disney Learning division that specialized in English language training for young learners, ages 2 to 12, in China using Disney characters. Founded in 2008 in Shanghai, its classes used a curriculum put together by teaching professionals from China, Europe, and the United States. The program used the "Disney Immersive Storytelling Approach" which created an immersive environment incorporating Disney characters to make learning more fun for children. The brand is also used in Europe and Singapore as a name for Disney's English-language learning products. The Disney English brand Icon/mark, was co-designed by Bradley Grose and Pilar Dowell, presented to and approved by Bob Iger. The Disney English Mickey “e” icon blended imagination, magical fun, and learning into one visual mark combining three core elements: Mickey Mouse, symbolizing Disney's global spirit of goodwill and creativity; Pixie dust inspired by Tinker Bell, evoking magical fun and excitement; The shape of Mickey's head integrated into the lowercase “e,” representing English in a playful, uniquely Disney style. Together, the logo captured the magical, child-friendly spirit of learning English through Disney storytelling.2

Corporate structure

Disney English is part of a group headed by The Walt Disney Company. 348 entities, 33 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 of annual reports filed with the SEC; subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Since the mid-1980s, Disney had licensed its characters out to other English-language training programs. The first center, located on Maoming Road in Shanghai, China, was opened in September 2008. By July 2010, the company had 11 schools in 2 cities, eight in Shanghai and three in Beijing. While the English language instruction market had double since 2005 to $3.1 billion, 30,000 organizations or companies offered private classes in 2010. Addition outlets for the curriculum were under consideration in 2010, distance learning program and a retail language training package.

The opening of additional learning centers coincides with the development of the Shanghai Disneyland Park. The entry into the English teaching market is expected to provide Disney with additional growth opportunities.

With the launch of Disney English, several unauthorized schools using the Disney name or characters have been closed.

In 2011, Disney English was named a finalist in two categories for the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. The categories included Life Skills and Character Education and The Arts.

On 4 June 2012, in Washington DC, Disney English was presented with a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) for Whole Curriculum Programs ELL/ESL.

In 2012, Disney English Toys debuted at the China Toy Expo in Shanghai, introducing the concept of "educational toys" to the Chinese market for the first time. At that time, the product line included more than 80 educational toys for children aged 3 to 6 years, such as alphabet learning machines, hand puppets, dominoes, and memory games. These toys were used together with Disney English's bilingual books at the time, and all of the toys were designed to help children improve their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

In its Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Report, The Walt Disney Company stated that the company owned and operated 44 learning centers in 11 cities across China.

On 22 June 2020, Disney English announced the permanent closure of all 26 training centers.

From Wikipedia’s article on Disney English, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2008Founded Founded1

Sources

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