Get ready to embark on an extraordinary 5-day adventure like no other!
Welcome to 'Play Therapy: Disney Bound,' where the magic of play, the limitless potential of learning, and the incredible power of connection converge within the vibrant community of play therapists. This conference isn't just an event; it's an immersive journey that will redefine the way you approach play therapy.
This conference is an invitation to rediscover your inner child & reconnect with the profound power of play. You'll dive deep into experiential play, rekindling the joy and creativity that first drew you to this field. In between our play days, you'll ascend to the next level of learning as we take you further into the universe of play therapy, from the basics to cutting-edge techniques that include virtual reality and digital play. You'll not only discover the art of healing but also delve into the heroics and complexities of human behavior.
Join us for a conference that's not only informative but also an absolute blast, all amidst the enchantment of Disneyland® Park!
"As play therapists, we often stress the importance of self-care and play, yet sometimes struggle to prioritize these elements. Many of our conferences, workshops, and associations tend to discuss these concepts without fully integrating them into our practices. Therefore, this initiative to implement training where we actively engaged in play and learning was warmly welcomed and enthusiastically embraced. Through this conference, we expanded our knowledge, formed new relationships, and strengthened existing ones."
—Liliana Baylon, LMFT-S, RPT-S, Disneyland Conference 2024 Attendee & Presenter
What's Included
🔮 19 CEs of Training: Gain 19 continuing education credits through sessions led by top experts in the field of play therapy*.
🏰 6 Nights at the Disneyland® Hotel: Enjoy a magical six-night stay surrounded by the whimsical charm of Disney®.
🎢 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket: Explore both Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park with a 3-day Park Hopper ticket.
🌮 Kick-Off Dinner & Closing Breakfast: Begin with a fabulous welcome dinner to meet fellow attendees and presenters, and wrap up with a closing breakfast on our final park day.
🥐 Meals Included: Daily breakfast, delicious lunches, and snacks are provided to keep you energized during the training days.
Please note: Travel and transportation to the venue, meals on park days, parking fees, and any additional room charges are not included.
*You must attend the kick-off dinner, the closing breakfast and both training days in their entirety for CE credit.
"I'm not officially a play therapist, but this conference totally opened my eyes to the power of play in therapy. The workshops were super insightful and respectful of all cultures. I came back with so many new ideas to try out with my clients!"
—Ariel Landrum, LMFT
Schedule
Sunday, March 16th
Sadly all good things come to an end! There is no programming on this day, so enjoy the hotel amenities until check out at 11:00. You can then explore Downtown Disney® before you have to head to the airport!
Farwell Breakfast and Final Park Day!
8am - 10am
New this year!
You will have the opportunity for immersive, small group workshops in the parks with NanDee Walker, LCPS-NCC, RPT and Melissa Wintershied, LPC-S, RPT-S! Seats are available first registered, first reserved!
Ethics in a Non-Fantasy Play Therapy Land
The Wonderful World of Play Therapy Supervision
You Don't Need the Force to be a Play Therapy Ethics Master
Monday, March 10th
5:30 - 8:30pm
Arrival Day!!
We will be gathering for our kick-off dinner at 5:30 pm where you will meet your fellow delegates and enjoy our first presentation - Embracing Your Inner Geek: Harnessing the Power of Play through Passion and Identity with Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S.
Following our workshop you are welcome to explore Downtown Disney® or enjoy the hotel's amenities!
Tuesday, March 11th
8am - 12pm
Training Day!!
Running on Empty: Building Resilience in Caregivers through Play Therapy with Jared Andes, LCSW, RPT-S
Morning snacks, lunch and afternoon snacks provided.
1pm - 5pm
Disney on the Brain: The Application of Neuroscience in Play Therapy to Foster Connection and Empahy with Lisa Androvich, LMFT, RPT
Wednesday, March 12th &
Thursday, March 13th
Park Days!!
Wednesday you can rope drop at Disney California Adventure® starting with Magic Hour at 7:30 and on Thursday you can rope drop at Disneyland® Park!
Your Park Hopper ticket will allow you to explore the other park beginning at 11:00 am.
Friday, March 14th
8am - 12pm
Training Day!!
Play Therapy with the LGBTQIA+ Community: Connection Through Disney and Pop Culture Inclusion with Jessica Cauthorne, LCSW, RPT
Morning snacks, lunch and afternoon snacks provided.
1pm - 5pm
Play Therapy and the Mighty Voice of Anger with Dana Wyss, Ph.D, LMFT, ATR-BC, RPT
Saturday, March 15th
Our final day together - let's enjoy breakfast together with one final workshop and spend the rest of the day savoring the parks one last day. Enhancing Emotional Resilience Through Cinematherapy and Disney with Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S
All times are posted in Pacific Time. See how this translates into your timezone.
"The conference was above and beyond anything I hoped it would be. It provided great information, practical tools, and new ways to approach therapy in magical ways, alongside getting to meet, connect, and grow with strangers that I now consider friends. I did not expect to leave Disney feeling so connected to those that I did not know before arriving. This isn’t just training, it is a full life experience."
— Melissa Hueste, LPC-S, RPT-S
Conference Location & Accommodation
Disneyland® Resort | Anaheim, California
Accommodation
Our complete conference package tickets include 5 enchanting nights in the Disneyland® Hotel, surrounded by the whimsical wonder of Disney®. Our block of rooms are furnished with two queen beds and we are offering the following options:
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Single Occupancy - You will be the only conference attendee in your room. You may have family or friends rooming with you but they are not attending the conference.
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Double Occupancy - You and your roommate are both attending the conference. You are both required to register individually and will be billed individually at the double occupancy rate.
The hotel has a range of facilities you will have access to including their pools and Fitness Center. Click here for more information.
Access
We are committed to making the event as accessible as possible to welcome our wonderfully diverse therapeutic community.
Do not hesitate to contact Maria at maria@anewhopetc.org if you have any access needs or queries about the conference. We can accommodate those who need ADA-accessible rooms, please just note that on your registration.
Disneyland® Resort has a range of accessibility information relating to the hotel and navigating the park, including a map of services, available here.
Catering
In addition to the delicious kick-off dinner, delightful lunches, and morning and afternoon snacks will be provided to fuel you during your training days and provide a wonderful chance to relax and network with other delegates. If you have any food allergies or dietary requirements just let us know on your registration form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
While meals on park days aren't included in the package, fear not! Click here to whet your appetite and access a map showcasing the diverse range of restaurants and food outlets within the park.
"To Infinity and Beyond was by far the best conference I have been to. It was a perfect combination of fun and educational. Making great connections, learning useful and applicable topics, and having a magical time all in one week. I can’t wait for the next Disney conference!"
—Stephanie Golden, LPC
Your Journey to the Disneyland® Resort - Anaheim, California
Chart your course to the Disneyland® Resort. Click the link below to access valuable travel information on airports, public transportation, and driving, allowing you to effortlessly plan your route and make every moment of your trip enchanting.
"I love all things Disney and I feel like Disney is very much a part of our culture and kids relate to the characters and the stories. This was a great opportunity to learn more about those themes in the playroom."
— To Infinity and Beyond Conference Attendee, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this conference for? Do I need to be a qualified play therapist? This conference is for all clinicians who want to learn about integrating these play therapy topics into their practice. This includes adult therapists who want to learn and play. New clinicians, seasoned clinicians and everyone in between.
Do the presentations only focus on subjects relevant to child work? Great question! While Play Therapy is most often seen as applied to children, it is universal in its application. Lessons learned can be applicable to teens, adults, couples and family work. Adults often lose touch with their playful side and we are hoping to change that by showing how play therapy techniques can be powerful for adults too.
Will Continuing Education Units be offered? Yes, attendees will receive 18 CEs of training. Please note that you must attend the kick-off dinner presentation and both training days in their entirety for CE credit. A New Hope Therapy Center, our sister organization and partner for trainings and workshops, is an Approved CE Provider for the Association for Play Therapy. Please check with your state licensing board regarding their acceptance of these CEs.
I live within traveling distance of Disneyland. Is there a day-rate option available? Yes! We will have two local options for you; 1) If you do not need the hotel room, but do need tickets into the parks. 2) If you don't need the hotel or the park tickets because you have a season pass. We will confirm these ticket prices soon. Please note that you will need to pay for parking as that is not included in your registration fees.
Can I bring my family? Absolutely! Please do! Our park days are yours to enjoy by yourselves, so bring those playful people in your life and explore the park together. They can even help you with our playful tasks! Registration includes a standard room of 2 queen beds - if you need something different, please reach out and I will work with our Disney connection to see what we can do!
What happens on the park days? If you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel with us, you have Magic Hour access to the park a full 30 minutes before the general public. It's your day to explore with whoever you choose and at your own pace - so if you want to be an early bird and rope drop at the park please do! If you are more of a night owl - fuel up and plan to close the park down! You will be given playful learning tasks and our staff will be on site between 9am and 1pm if you need help to complete them, but you can complete the tasks on your own if that works better for you. Let me give you a flavor of the playful tasks with one that won’t be included in the final program because of park updates - “Did you know that the Beast's library is located in California Adventure? When you find this hidden gem, Lumiere walks you through questions and tells you which Disney character you are!”
Are there chill-out places that I could access on park days if I want some reflective space away from the action? Yes! We know the parks can be A LOT - the people, the noise, the lines. We have help from a Disney insider and have a list of quieter places inside of the parks should you need. It is also just a little walk from the park to the hotel, so you can return to the quiet of your room, nap and refresh as needed and come back to the park!
Is there any way to interact with other delegates prior to the conference? Yes, our FB event page will be launched soon where you can connect with fellow participants, and engage in pre-event discussions.
"Never has there been a training that allowed me to have such fun and also learn! It was soooo amazing to be able to bring my family along. I honestly don't know if I would have otherwise ever gone to Disneyland for financial reasons, but I was able to justify to myself like, 'Hey it's okay! It's not just vacation, it's work too!"
— To Infinity and Beyond Conference Attendee, 2024
Tickets
🎟️ Full Conference Package:
Single occupancy: $4300
Double occupancy: $3300
🎟️ Local Conference Attendance Rates:
Without Accommodation: $2400
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Ideal for those within travelling distance who do not need accommodation, but do need tickets into the parks.
Without Park Tickets or Accommodation: $2200
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Ideal for those with a season pass or alternative park tickets and also do not require accommodation.
Ready to get started?
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Be sure to check the conference dates - there are no refunds once you register.
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Review our cancellation and refund policy.
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Want to bunk with a friend? Indicate your roommate on your registration form.
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Contact Maria at maria@anewhopeacademy.org with any questions!
*Payment plans are available with a non-refundable deposit of $500.
"I really truly loved everything about this conference. It was the best one I have ever been too. And I am not just saying that so you'll do it again. I learned so much and it was very healing for me.
Can't wait for next year!"
— To Infinity and Beyond Conference Attendee, 2024
