Disney Dance Nationals

[bean]

Any DISers with competition dancers? We just found out that our Nationals will be the week of July5th-12th 2014 at the Gaylord. Just curious if anyone has done this Nationals (Dance Masters) or has had a convention of any type at the Gaylord. We'll be staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek but I've heard that every time you go through the gates of The Gaylord you pay a hefty parking fee? True? We're AP holders so we'll be able to go to the parks when DD is not dancing but I'm thinking we'll be a little bummed that our park days are going to be crazy this trip. I'm seriously thinking of adding on a few days at Shades of Green to the end of our trip to just have dance free days.

 

[4kids4karen]

Any DISers with competition dancers? We just found out that our Nationals will be the week of July5th-12th 2014 at the Gaylord. Just curious if anyone has done this Nationals (Dance Masters) or has had a convention of any type at the Gaylord. We'll be staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek but I've heard that every time you go through the gates of The Gaylord you pay a hefty parking fee? True? We're AP holders so we'll be able to go to the parks when DD is not dancing but I'm thinking we'll be a little bummed that our park days are going to be crazy this trip. I'm seriously thinking of adding on a few days at Shades of Green to the end of our trip to just have dance free days.

A few things.

First, you mentioned SoG... are you military? We can stay at Gaylord cheaper than SoG (because it's based on rank). Typically, we get a room at Gaylord for $89 a night (that probably doesn't include the resort and parking fee... DH pays LOL). My kids love Gaylord, SoG is just basic to them.

Next, my daughter is a competitive cheerleader. Usually when we travel out of state (not sure where you are at) they block book a hotel and it is mandatory the entire team stays at the same hotel. The gym gets a discount for booking 150+ rooms, coordinates a practice area in the hotel (conference type room, ballroom, etc.). Before you book, just check to see if your studio is going to block book. For our gym, even families who have hotel points with other places, etc. must stay at the hotel the gym chooses... or at least the girl does.

Yes, my daughter has competed at the Gaylord. I was in Korea that year (I am active duty) so DH was there with her, not me. But we have attended evens at Gaylord and Gaylord does everything top-notch. What the competition will be like is up to the event host renting out the space.

There is a parking for resort guest and a parking for non-resort guest. When we have attended events such as ICE, yes there is a parking fee. I think they also validate parking if you eat at one of their restaurants but we have never at in a restaurant unless we were hotel guest.

Yes, I will say when we go for cheerleading competitions we have early mornings getting ready. A two day competition we may be able to do something in the late afternoon/evening. For us, awards is usually on day two and we stay for all of our teams so we are usually there until the late evening not leaving time for a park. I am not sure how the dance competitions are set up.

 

[bean]

Thanks! Yes, my Dad is retired military so we stay at SOG a lot. I like it for the convenience but for a long stay I think we'll need a kitchen. No special rates available for any of the days we're staying that compare at all to the prices we can get at SOG or Bonnet Creek. My Dad and DH are planning on going home after the competition but I think my Mom and I will just stay on with the kids at SOG to have some free days. I think this is a huge competition so my daughter may only have one dance a day for 5 days Which could mean we'd get little or no WDW time on those days. Thanks for the info about the Gaylord's military rates though! It looks like a gorgeous resort...I'm just unhappy about paying $18 a day or so to park!

 

[cheer25mom]

A few things.

First, you mentioned SoG... are you military? We can stay at Gaylord cheaper than SoG (because it's based on rank). Typically, we get a room at Gaylord for $89 a night (that probably doesn't include the resort and parking fee... DH pays LOL). My kids love Gaylord, SoG is just basic to them.

Next, my daughter is a competitive cheerleader. Usually when we travel out of state (not sure where you are at) they block book a hotel and it is mandatory the entire team stays at the same hotel. The gym gets a discount for booking 150+ rooms, coordinates a practice area in the hotel (conference type room, ballroom, etc.). Before you book, just check to see if your studio is going to block book. For our gym, even families who have hotel points with other places, etc. must stay at the hotel the gym chooses... or at least the girl does.

Yes, my daughter has competed at the Gaylord. I was in Korea that year (I am active duty) so DH was there with her, not me. But we have attended evens at Gaylord and Gaylord does everything top-notch. What the competition will be like is up to the event host renting out the space.

There is a parking for resort guest and a parking for non-resort guest. When we have attended events such as ICE, yes there is a parking fee. I think they also validate parking if you eat at one of their restaurants but we have never at in a restaurant unless we were hotel guest.

Yes, I will say when we go for cheerleading competitions we have early mornings getting ready. A two day competition we may be able to do something in the late afternoon/evening. For us, awards is usually on day two and we stay for all of our teams so we are usually there until the late evening not leaving time for a park. I am not sure how the dance competitions are set up.

My DD does competitivie cheer, and my sister was a competition dancer and for us they are set up very differently. We actually seem to have more free time with cheer, because she has been a mini and going early in the day. For dance we are tpically there all day between preforming and master classes. We made the jump to youth cheer this year so that may change. Nither place ever gets a room block, or makes a hotel mandatory so we usually just book on our own.

 

[4kids4karen]

My DD does competitivie cheer, and my sister was a competition dancer and for us they are set up very differently. We actually seem to have more free time with cheer, because she has been a mini and going early in the day. For dance we are tpically there all day between preforming and master classes. We made the jump to youth cheer this year so that may change. Nither place ever gets a room block, or makes a hotel mandatory so we usually just book on our own.

The block booking just depends on the gym. Our gym only does it for out of state competitions. We are a Florida gym, so any Florida competitions we get our own hotels.

My daughter has cheered since she was 3 and is now 10, so we were glad when she moved to an older team with not so early show times. Although we typically still have to be there by 9, it's better than our old 7 am (or earlier depending on the coach) show time. Our gym has a rule about supporting other teams which is why we are usually there before the first team goes on and stay until the last team performs (and all awards). Our owner and coaches believe that our girls perform better when they have the support of the other teams in the crowd. With cheer gyms things can be different depending on the gym owner's perspective. Our former gym only mandated we stay for one other team and told us which team it was (the one scheduled just before or after our team).