The D2 Summit

The D2 Summit is Varsity All Star's end-of-season world championship built specifically for Division II all star cheerleading programs. Division II status is defined by gym size rather than skill: a program qualifies when it operates from a single location and has 125 or fewer athletes registered in its competitive cheer program at the time of competition. That framework gives smaller gyms a national championship stage of their own, separate from the larger programs that compete at The Summit.

The event is held each May at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex inside the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Like its sister championships, The D2 Summit is a bid-driven event: teams earn paid or at-large bids to the championship by placing well at qualifying competitions throughout the regular season, so a spot on the mat in Orlando is itself an accomplishment.

The D2 Summit has grown into one of the largest small-gym events in the sport. Recent editions have drawn well over a thousand teams and tens of thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators across a multi-day weekend, with teams competing through preliminary and final rounds for coveted medals and the title of D2 Summit champion in their division.

The D2 Summit was created by Varsity All Star and first held in 2015, following the momentum of The Summit and The Dance Summit and aligning with the USASF's Division II definition for small programs. The inaugural championship took place in Tampa, Florida, and drew roughly 495 teams.

The event quickly outgrew its original home. In 2016 it moved to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, where it has remained. Participation expanded rapidly in the years that followed, surpassing well over a thousand teams as the small-gym movement grew across the country.

The championship's stated mission has stayed consistent since its founding: to help small cheer gyms grow their programs and to spotlight the accomplishments of Division II athletes on a national stage that mirrors the prestige of Varsity's larger end-of-season events.

Expect a full Disney-scale championship weekend. Teams typically perform a preliminary routine and, if they advance, a finals routine, with placements and medals awarded by division. Because every program on the floor is Division II, the field is uniquely level: families see small gyms from across the country measured against peers of comparable size.

The atmosphere blends high-stakes competition with the celebratory feel of an end-of-season finale at Walt Disney World. Between warm-ups and performances, families can expect vendor and merchandise areas, awards ceremonies, and the broader theme-park experience surrounding the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The event streams live on Varsity TV, so relatives and gym supporters who cannot travel can follow along, with rebroadcasts typically available on a delay. Schedules run across multiple days and multiple performance areas, so confirming your team's specific day and warm-up window in advance is essential.

The D2 Summit takes place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the primary gateway and sits roughly 20 to 30 minutes by car from the resort area, depending on traffic; Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is a secondary option.

Most families stay at Walt Disney World or nearby Orlando hotels and drive or rideshare to the complex. Because the event coincides with a busy Disney travel period in May, booking flights, lodging, and ground transportation well ahead of time is strongly recommended, and parking and shuttle logistics at the complex should be confirmed through official event communications.