Diary of a Future President

Diary of a Future President

show

TV-PG, 2020

WISE
76%

WISE Score

100

Avg. Tomatometer

A 12-year-old Cuban-American girl chronicles her middle school years while dreaming of the Oval Office—wholesome, aspirational, very Disney+.

IMDb6.7
RT Critics100%
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
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Screenwise Verdict

This is solid, wholesome tween programming that does what it sets out to do—give middle schoolers a relatable protagonist who's navigating friendship drama, family expectations, and big dreams. The Cuban-American representation is genuinely good and feels natural rather than performative.

That said, let's be real: this is pretty standard Disney+ fare. It's pleasant, safe, and mildly enriching, but it's not going to blow anyone's mind. The 100% critics score is likely more about "finally, decent tween representation" than "this is exceptional television." The 6.7 IMDb rating is probably more accurate to its actual entertainment value.

The bigger issue is that it already feels a bit dated despite being only five years old. The traditional sitcom format with tidy 30-minute episodes and predictable story arcs isn't really what tweens are seeking out in 2025. They're watching YouTube, TikTok, and more serialized streaming content. So while this checks all the right boxes for intentional parents, getting your kid to actually choose this over other options might be the real challenge.

If your tween is into it, great—it's genuinely fine content. But don't expect them to be clamoring for it.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-13, right in that sweet spot of kids navigating or about to navigate middle school social dynamics. Older teens will find it too young and predictable, while younger kids might not connect with the middle school specific struggles.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
82

Models positive family dynamics with a Cuban-American household, shows a young girl navigating middle school challenges with resilience and ambition. The diary format creates introspection and emotional processing. The show centers cooperation and kindness while dealing with realistic tween struggles without being preachy. Pacing is age-appropriate for the target demographic.

Imaginative
68

The premise of narrating from the future president's childhood diary is clever and aspirational, encouraging kids to think about their own futures. However, it's fundamentally a grounded middle school story rather than something that pushes creative boundaries. It invites reflection and goal-setting but doesn't offer much in terms of world-building, fantasy, or hands-on creative expression.

Safe
92

Disney+ platform with kids mode available, Common Sense Media rates it for age 10. No violence, gore, sexual content, or scary elements. Middle school drama includes typical social conflicts, crushes, and family tensions but nothing traumatic or triggering. The show handles cultural identity and ambition in age-appropriate ways. Very predictable and safe territory for tweens.

Enriching
75

Offers genuine representation of a Cuban-American family and celebrates cultural identity. Shows a girl with political ambition in a landscape where that's still notable. Models problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and balancing personal goals with relationships. The diary framing encourages self-reflection. However, it's not particularly deep or challenging—it's a Disney+ tween show that prioritizes entertainment and relatability over profound insight.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Genuinely good representation of Cuban-American family life and culture without making it the entire plot
  • Shows a girl with serious ambitions beyond typical tween concerns—she wants to be president and the show takes that seriously
  • Handles middle school social dynamics (friendship drama, crushes, family expectations) in realistic, age-appropriate ways
  • The diary format is a nice touch that models self-reflection and processing emotions through writing
  • 100% on Rotten Tomatoes suggests critics found it refreshing in the tween TV landscape
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What to Watch For

  • It's a Disney+ tween sitcom, so expect some predictable plots and tidy resolutions—not exactly prestige TV
  • Middle school social drama includes exclusion, friendship conflicts, and romantic crushes that might hit close to home for sensitive kids
  • The show was cancelled after two seasons, so no satisfying series conclusion if your kid gets invested
  • Despite the 2020 release, the format already feels a bit dated—the multi-cam sitcom style is not what tweens are gravitating toward anymore

Conversation Starters

  • "Elena keeps a diary to process her feelings—do you think writing things down helps you figure stuff out?"
  • "What would you want to accomplish if you knew you'd be president someday? What would you change?"
  • "How does Elena's family handle disagreements differently than ours? What do you think works better?"
  • "Elena deals with feeling different because of her culture and ambitions—have you ever felt like you didn't fit in? How did you handle it?"
Stills
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