ATTN Homeschoolers - Conference @ GCH in September!!

[Escape2Disney]

I hope it's okay to post this here. If not, please let me know and I'll delete the post.


The 4th Annual Not Back to School Days Rally and Conference has been scheduled for September 8-11th! There's much more to offer this year, including:

• Discounted Park Hopper Tickets (1-5 days available)
• Discounted Group Accommodations ($209/night at GCH!!)
• Scavenger Hunts (MANY different challenges available - something for everyone)
• Y.E.S. Classes (These fill up fast!)
• Teen Dance (For homeschool kids ages 13-18)
• Talent Show (VERY entertaining!!)
• Performing Arts Workshops (Taught by Disney)
• Activities For Young Children

If you're interested, please be aware that only registered attendees can take part in any of the offerings, including the discounts on park tickets and GCH room reservations. Information can be found at http://www.notbacktoschooldays.com.


Thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

Well, as long as it is clarified that ONLY registered attendees can obtain these discounts, AND as long as you are not selling tickets or hotel rooms for this conference, it is okay if you let folks know that there is a conference and how to register if they would like to attend, and what the benefits of registering will be. That part is fine. If it crosses a line here on the DIS, we will delete it.

Last year, however, there were some issues with people trying to sell off GCH rooms in their "block" to DIS-ers who were not legitimately attending the conference. Some of the DIS-ers didn't realize that they would have to register or do anything specific to prove they were attending to get the perks. Other people were trying to find clever ways to get the hotel rooms and cheaper tickets and not really have to 'attend' anything at the conference. That's not right. There is no selling on the DIS of any kind, and there's no support of obtaining cheaper tickets or hotel rooms that are not meant for the people trying to obtain them on this board - in other words, trying to bypass the system and cheat Disney or whatever. Even if Disney okays selling the rooms to third parties, we can't sell them on this board.

If I recall, last year someone must have tipped off DLR to the fact that tickets and hotel rooms were going to people who were not legitimately part of this conference, and they started calling folks who were booked at the GCH to make sure they were, indeed, attendees and to make sure they were registered, etc.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Thank you for the clarification. There are discounted rooms and tickets available to conference attendees, and there is a fee to attend the conference, but my purpose here is to get the word out to homeschool families, not to sell anything to the general public.

Have a great Monday!

 

[Sherry E]

Yeah, all of that is totally fine to let folks know about!

It got a little sketchy last year, as I said, because of the selling of hotel rooms in the blocks and the DIS-ers attempting to get the cheaper tickets or hotel rooms without being attendees, but hopefully we will be able to prevent that from happening again this year.

You have a great Monday - and a great week - too!

 

[Escape2Disney]

UPDATE:

If you're interested in attending the conference, Early Bird pricing ends April 15th.

http://www.notbacktoschooldays.com

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Is this something that usually draws a huge amount of people? We are thinking of going that week and just wondering if park attendance will be increased dramatically by this conference.

 

[EagleFlyer]

Is this something that usually draws a huge amount of people? We are thinking of going that week and just wondering if park attendance will be increased dramatically by this conference.

We were there while this conference was going on last year and the parks were pretty empty, 5 minute wait for POTC, walk on Buzz Lightyear, etc. So unless they are expecting a huge turnout this year, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

We were there while this conference was going on last year and the parks were pretty empty, 5 minute wait for POTC, walk on Buzz Lightyear, etc. So unless they are expected a huge turnout this year, I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks!

 

[Escape2Disney]

There will be a few hundred people there for the conference (based on who has registered so far). As we get closer, the number will go up. In the past, it was around 1500 (including children and adults). I don't think it'll transform a quiet off-season day into a madhouse though. Last year's event was a bit later in the month and there didn't seem to be any complaints.

The other thing to keep in mind is that many of the activities are in the GCH conference rooms. There are in-park activities scheduled, but those are in smaller groups, part of YES classes, or other controlled activities.

Hope that helps!

Is this something that usually draws a huge amount of people? We are thinking of going that week and just wondering if park attendance will be increased dramatically by this conference.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

There will be a few hundred people there for the conference (based on who has registered so far). As we get closer, the number will go up. In the past, it was around 1500 (including children and adults). I don't think it'll transform a quiet off-season day into a madhouse though. Last year's event was a bit later in the month and there didn't seem to be any complaints.

The other thing to keep in mind is that many of the activities are in the GCH conference rooms. There are in-park activities scheduled, but those are in smaller groups, part of YES classes, or other controlled activities.

Hope that helps!

Thank you!

 

[Escape2Disney]

UPDATE:

Fundraising options are now available if you plan to attend the conference. If you're interested, please send me a PM.

Thanks!