Polk County Public Schools, Students
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Team Registration — Convention Center Registration Desk
Team registration begins at 9:00 AM. Coaches report to the registration desk to pick up their team registration materials while the students visit the sponsor displays in the West Rotunda. Hotel check-in takes place at the front desk of the Contemporary Hotel (A-frame building).
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Demonstration Competitions — TBA
This activity is provided for students to experience the tournament format. Another goal of this activity is for participants to become acquainted. Therefore, “teams” for this activity should be comprised of one team member each from four different states/territories. Coaches are requested to have team members bring items such as state or school buttons or pins, pencils, pens, etc. to exchange with others on this evening. Students may stay as long as they wish until 8:00 PM and may change between the two set competitions rooms. A reception is served during this time.
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Coaches Challenge — TBA
Coaches are invited to participate in this activity in which the “tables are turned.” This has become a real highlight of the tournament with coaches earning bragging rights for a year!
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM Staff Meeting — Fantasia Ballroom H
The Tournament Director meets with the judges and other staff members in the Fantasia H Ballroom to discuss the rules and procedures.
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM Orientation and Rules Meeting — Fantasia Ballroom H
At the start of this activity sponsor representatives are invited to give a short welcome to the teams. A review of the rules and procedures follows. However, all coaches are expected to review the rules with their team members PRIOR to this time.
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Luncheon — Fantasia Ballroom J
Panasonic’s representative will address the entire group during the luncheon to officially welcome the teams. Meals in the Convention Center are ticketed. These tickets are in the team registration packet and are collected at the entrance in Fantasia Ballroom J by Disney staff. Non-registrants may not attend.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM ROUND 1 Competitions
Half of the teams are selected randomly to compete during Round 1 and are divided among four (4) competition rooms. Typically these rooms are Fantasia EF, Fantasia KL, Fantasia MN and Fantasia PQ. The one team with the highest score earns a berth in the semifinal round scheduled on Tuesday at 9:00 AM. The other teams compete in either Round 3 or Round 4 depending upon a blind draw.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM ROUND 2 Competitions
Same as Round 1 featuring the other half of the teams.
7:00 PM - 10:30 PM Theme Park Visit with Dinner
With each paid registration comes a 3-day Park Hopper® pass to the four (4) Disney theme parks. Participants are free to explore the four parks. Gift cards are included with each paid registration and can be used to purchase food items. This activity allows the participants to “blow off steam” after the day’s competitions.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Brunch—Fantasia Ballroom J
Participants get to sleep in a bit. Those teams that do not have to compete until the semifinal round have this day to “play in the parks.”
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ROUND 3 Competitions
The teams that did not finish in first place in their individual competition rooms on Sunday are randomly placed in either Round 3 or 4. Each round has three (3) competition rooms, and the one team with the highest score from each room earns a berth in the semifinal round. The other teams are eliminated from further competition.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM ROUND 4 Competitions
Again, three (3) competition rooms—the one team with the highest score in each room earns a berth in the semifinal round. The other teams are eliminated from further competition.
2:30 PM - Park Close Theme Park Visit with Dinner
Dinner and fun in the parks with the park passes and gift cards.
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Breakfast—Fantasia Ballroom J
Some teams skip this, sleep in, and go play in the parks until time to dress for the banquet. The competing teams “fuel up” for the day’s rounds.
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Semifinals
There are three (3) rooms of competition, and the two (2) teams with the highest scores in each earn a slot in the national championship. The other teams are eliminated from further competition.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Luncheon — Fantasia Ballroom J
The six (6) teams competing for the National Championship crown "fuel up!"
All teams, of course, have meal tickets for this.
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM National Championship
The six (6) teams from the semifinal round compete for the Championship in Fantasia Ballroom H.
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM Awards Banque t —Fantasia Ballrooms G,H,J
All teams are recognized at this function and are, therefore, expected to attend. The cost of the banquet is included in the cost of the registration.
Each state team is given a table number assignment, and all teams stand when recognized to receive participation certificates presented by sponsor representatives. First-, second- and third-place team members and coaches receive scholarships and rings. The All America Team is named, and the banquet concludes with a multimedia presentation of pictures taken throughout the tournament.