November 2024 was the date that changed the Disney Aspire program significantly. College students felt the impact most; high school completion students were largely unaffected. Disney added a $5,250 annual funding cap, removed master's degrees and certain trades certificates for new enrollment, and kept high school completion, English language learning, and undergraduate degrees — the latter now under the cap.
The $5,250 figure is not arbitrary. The IRS Section 127 limit sets $5,250 as the maximum an employer can contribute toward an employee's education per year without it counting as taxable income, and Disney aligned the benefit with that threshold. Any funding above $5,250 in a calendar year is reported on the employee's W-2 as taxable income. The good news for high school students: an accredited online high school diploma program typically costs well under that cap, so in practice it is unlikely to affect you at the high school completion level. Still, verify your specific program's cost and billing with Guild before enrolling — do not assume cap-exempt status based on this article alone.
If you are eligible and a diploma is the right credential for your goals, here is exactly how the process works.
Confirm your eligibility. Log into the Guild portal and verify that your specific role qualifies and that you have crossed the initial employment window. The portal shows what you qualify for based on your actual role and start date — no guessing.
Log in through Guild. Access the benefit directly at the official Guild portal rather than clicking the first search result.
Select the high school completion program. Browse the catalog and select the accredited online high school diploma program. Confirm the current provider in the catalog before enrolling, as provider relationships can change.
Enroll. Tuition is paid directly to the school, with no out-of-pocket tuition cost to you. Submit books and required fees separately for reimbursement through the Guild portal.
Complete coursework and graduate. The program runs over several months through self-managed online coursework. On completion, you receive an accredited high school diploma — and many completions also include a career certificate.
One note for prospective cast members: this benefit is only available to current eligible cast members, and the eligibility clock starts at hire. You cannot access it before crossing that threshold.
Disney Aspire is a benefit for current eligible Disney hourly employees only. If you do not work for Disney, the GED is your most direct path to a high school credential — accessible to anyone, with no employer sponsorship, on your own schedule. The GED is four subject tests through GED Testing Service: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. You register at ged.com, study on your own schedule, and test when you are ready, tackling one subject at a time.
And the GED is a well-worn path. According to GED Testing Service, hundreds of thousands of people take GED tests every year, and the average GED graduate is around 25 — proof that adults at every life stage sit these tests and pass them. The credential exists specifically for the roughly one in five U.S. adults who, per the National Center for Education Statistics, have not completed high school. It is not a consolation prize — it is a recognized, federally and state-acknowledged credential.
Cost varies by state, but in most states the full set of four subjects runs about $144 to $200, with some states (such as New York) offering it free. For the full state-by-state picture, see our how much does the GED cost guide.
Your score opens more than the credential itself. A passing score is 145 per subject; 165 or above earns College Ready status (many colleges waive developmental coursework), and 175 or above earns College Ready Plus Credit, which can translate to actual college credit at participating institutions. Our GED passing score guide explains the tiers in detail. Beyond college, a GED opens federal student aid eligibility — including Pell Grants of up to $7,395 per year for qualifying students — plus trade and vocational programs and healthcare entry roles such as nursing assistant positions. The GED is not a consolation credential — it is a real qualification with real outcomes.
And if you do work for a large employer, ask HR before paying out of pocket. Many companies sponsor the GED directly through GEDWorks — Amazon Career Choice is one example that fully funds the GED for eligible hourly workers. Some employers offer it and employees never think to ask.
Studying alone is possible, but structured, subject-by-subject preparation is faster. Twigera is built specifically for adults who need to pass the GED efficiently — every lesson, practice question, and tool is designed around one outcome: passing all four subject tests. Most GED students are working adults, parents, and people returning to education after years away, so the lessons are short, focused, and built for studying around a full life rather than a full-time classroom.
For cast members whose specific goal requires the GED credential rather than the diploma path, that closes the gap on your timeline. Start with a free GED diagnostic to see exactly which subjects need the most work before you commit your study time.
Disney Aspire is still a strong benefit. High school completion survived the November 2024 cuts, tuition is still paid up front, and eligible cast members can access it after the initial employment window. But what it funds is a diploma, not the GED test. If you are an eligible cast member and a diploma meets your goal, use the benefit. If you need the GED specifically — or you do not work for Disney — the GED path is open to anyone, at about $144 to $200 depending on your state.
