Nationals 2010

[BHSCheer1624]

I see that the prices are out for the Dance Nationals in February.  In the past, the cheer prices have always been the same as the dance.  Does anyone know if the prices for the NHSCC will be the same as for the NDTC?  I wasn't sure since HS nationals fell over Presidents day this year if that would have an affect on the pricing.  Thanks!

[Kong]

Good question!  I'm checking into that for you and I'll post here as soon as I find out an answer.

Kong

[Kong]

I found out the following:

We should have the pricing in the next couple of weeks. President's weekend is effecting the pricing a little and that is what we are working on now....

If I get an update, I'll post it here.

Kong

[Cheer0910]

Why did UCA pick a "Holiday" weekend to hold the Cheerleading Nationals.  Families going to Nationals in the past had it bad enough - having to pay for a park ticket ($75 last year) to see their daughters perform for 2-1/2 minutes.  Now with this being a "Holiday" weekend, not only are flights super expensive but so are the hotels - Value hotel at Disney $170 a night.  What was UCA thinking??  Wonder how many girls won't have family to watch them because they can't afford it - GREAT JOB UCA.

[Kong]

I could speculate, but I'm not sure why they switched the dates.  I have an e-mail in and I'll try to get an answer for you and also get an answer to the first question.

Kong

[ACEDAD]

Why did UCA pick a "Holiday" weekend to hold the Cheerleading Nationals.  Families going to Nationals in the past had it bad enough - having to pay for a park ticket ($75 last year) to see their daughters perform for 2-1/2 minutes.  Now with this being a "Holiday" weekend, not only are flights super expensive but so are the hotels - Value hotel at Disney $170 a night.  What was UCA thinking??  Wonder how many girls won't have family to watch them because they can't afford it - GREAT JOB UCA.

Not trying to defend UCA, but many parents prefer a holiday weekend because their kids then miss less school.

[BHSCheer1624]

And many schools only permit their cheerleaders to miss a certain number of days for the Nationals trip.  Just speculating - not sure if this had anything to do with it, but I know another company that hosts a very large all-star national each year in February is doing it the first weekend in February this year, when they had always done it later in the past.  Perhaps this had something to do it with it; as I know a lot of cheerleaders cheer for both HS and all-star teams? 

[Kong]

Both are good ideas; however, the reasoning was a bit more simplistic than both of those reasons.   The reason the competition falls where it does is actually because of Leap Year.  The competition is historically the second weekend of February but because February 1st falls on a Tuesday it throws the second full weekend to the 13 and 14 which is President's Weekend. 

Additionally, the travel package pricing should be on-line in the next couple of weeks.  There will be a minimal increase in the prices from 2009.  Those who are concerned with park hopper prices and the hotel prices being expensive booking through Disney should look into purchasing their travel package through UCA.  Because of the bulk of business that UCA does with Disney, the rates are typically better than what you can do on your own. 

The above information came from Melanie Berry with some edits and comments by me.  Please keep in mind that I say this not as an employee of UCA (my time on the boards is voluntary and I get no monitary "kickback" if people book with UCA), but rather as a coach whose high school squad has gone to the NHSCC and who has had parents book both ways.  Most who went down on their own last year have shown interest in booking through UCA for this upcoming year (provided we make it back down there).  Between the use of the Disney busses on property, being close to their cheerleaders, the park hoppers, and meal vouchers, it's a good deal.

Kong

[BHSCheer1624]

I will agree with you!  Several times over the last few years, I have looked into purchasing things separately for various families coming along with our team... EVERY time it has been cheaper to do the UCA package.  The savings on the park hopper tickets alone is huge!  So if you have people travelling to see your team, I would definitely encourage them do to the package.  Let them know that even if they are arriving/departing separately from your team or are staying a shorter (or longer!) amount of days than the team, they can still use the UCA package, it is a much better deal than the Disney 'rack rates' over a Holiday weekend.   

[NHSCHEER]

Do you happen to know what minimal might be?  Are we talking $5-10 per person or more like $20-30 more per person?  I am asking because we are trying to fundraise to go and we are coming up short with the old prices.  Just trying to figure out just how much we will need.

Thanks

[Cheer0910]

So I am guessing the people responding who like it on a holiday weekend don't have to fly - have you checked out flights - they are outrageous !!!!  I can't believe they would pick this weekend especially with the economy being the way it is.  I know a lot of our parents are not going because the cost of just the flights alone for our daughters are unbelieveable.  Can't wait to see the "miniminal increase" in the hotel.  Even with all the fundraising our squad does will not nearly cover the expenses for Nationals this year.

[NHSCHEER]

I found airline tickets for us for $200 per person through Southwest Airlines.  I booked through their group sales.  I just hope that the minimal increase is just a very small amount. 

[Kong]

Update:

They're still working on the prices, but I received word that we're probably looking at a $5 - $10 increase as oppposed to a $40 - $50 increase.

Hope that was helpful, and as soon as they put up the prices and I become aware of them, I'll post the link to the information here.

Kong

[NHSCHEER]

Thanks for the response.  That makes me feel a lot better.  This will be our first trip and our girls and families are working so hard to get there.  Next step is to qualify.
 

[westlakecheerleading]

how much longer do you think it will be till the prices are posted? We're trying to fundraise for as much money as possible but being able to have some sort of idea of the amount we are looking at would be helpful.

[Kong]

I don't know, but if you want to know what last year's prices were (and then take information from above), it will get you in the neighborhood.  Don't forget, flights to Disney are not included in the price.

Here is a link with last year's prices.

Kong

[westlakecheerleading]

One other question, I know many teams do a variety of different things in regard to food/beverages for their team. I'd like some feedback in regard to what some Coaches find is the best way to go? Disney Dining Plan? Purchasing on your own? Obviously I want what is best for the girls

[BHSCheer1624]

The two meal vouchers that are included in the package helps out a lot.  On top of that, we always try and do one nice character dinner as a team (we usually are able to pay for this with our fundraising), and also if our fundraising permits we give our girls $25 Disney Dollars - these are money that you can purchase as the parks or at the Disney Store, it is just money ($1 = $1 exchange) but it has Disney Characters on it and can only be spent in Disney World/Disney Land/ Disney Store.  The goal of this is to help offset some of their meal costs as well.  While not required, most of our girls have a parent attend so that helps out with things as well.   

[coachscoops13]

If you have transportation you can also take the girls somewhere offsite.  We took our girls to the Hard Rock Cafe over at Universal last year and they had an absolute blast!  It was one of the highlights of our trip!  It is in the City Walk area so you do not have to pay to get into Universal.  Not only that, but it was during the Mardi Gras time so there were a lot of extra things going on.  We all had a great time.  We also scheduled one team meal at the Rainforest Cafe outside of Animal Kingdom.  We enjoyed that and they were very, very organized.  We called ahead and made a group reservation and everything came out super fast when we got there.  It was great.

[Kong]

NHSCC Prices are up!

Basically, the price difference is +$8 for the All-Star Resort and +$9 or +$10 for the Caribbean Beach Resort per person across the board.  Check the above link for details.

Special thanks to Melanie Berry for e-mailing me to let me know the prices were posted on Varsity.com

Kong