UCA NATIONALS LETTER

Dear Coaches, Team Members and Family: Are you getting excited yet? I hope you and your team are ready to experience the Championship of a lifetime. I would like to once again congratulate you and your team on qualifying for the 2013 National High School Cheerleading Championship. We have some exciting new additions to this year's Championship and we assure you that you will have a magical experience! Enclosed in this packet is VERY IMPORTANT information for you to go over with your team members and family traveling to Orlando with you. We suggest giving a copy of this letter to every participant to share with their parents even if they have been to our Championship in the past. DISNEY'S MAGICAL EXPRESS If your team or anyone traveling with your team needs transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport, you should have already made your reservation through Disney's Magical Express (DME). An email was sent to you on January 9th giving you official notification that it was time to book your reservations. To better understand the DME procedures go to uca.varsity.com. If you will go to our National Championship page on uca.varsity.com there is a link for "Disney Travel Tips" Not only can you learn about the Disney's Magical Express but you can also view short clips on some very informative "tips" to enhance your Championship experience. 1. Arrival into Orlando:  If your team is flying to Orlando, DME cast members will greet you on the "B" side of baggage claim to direct you to the Disney's Magical Express counter located on the 1st floor of "B" side. If your team is driving to Orlando, please follow the signs to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resorts Once you are on property you will register in the "Group Registration Tent " located in the Aruba parking lot.  2. Registration: When you arrive at the "Group Registration Tent" you will register with the Disney Staff first to receive your room keys. Next you will register with the UCA staff. You will receive all tickets, meal vouchers, schedules and name tags from the Championship registration as well as other per-tinent information concerning the championship. * If you arrive at the hotel later than these hours you will register with Disney in the "Custom House Front Desk" to receive your room keys and then register with UCA the next morning to receive tickets, meal vouchers, etc. Registration times are listed below: Wednesday, February 6 - 10am - 10:00pm Thursday, February 7- 8:00 am - Midnight Friday , February 8 - 8:00 am - Midnight *If you arrive at the hotel after midnight on Friday night, you will register with the UCA staff Saturday morning at 7:00 am in room 5432 (Aruba). 2. Hotel Assignment and Address:  The hotel you have been assigned to is: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort 900 Cayman Way Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 (407) 934-3400 4. Missing Forms:  Tickets, nametags, etc. will not be given out at registration until all forms are received (rules and regulations, music form, team roster or medical release forms). 5. UCA Championship Office: The designated office for the Championship is room 5432 in Aruba. Office hours during the event are: Wednesday, February 6 - 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Thursday, February 7 - 8:00 am - Midnight Friday, February 8 - 8:00 am - Midnight Saturday, February 9 - 7:00 am - Midnight Sunday, February 10 - 7:00 am - Midnight Monday, February 11 - 7:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 12 - 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 6. Order of Competition and Schedule of Events: You may view the order of competition and the event schedule on uca.varsity.com. Once you go touca.varsity.com you will see a link under the "Headlines" on the left hand side of the page that will take you to the event schedule and the order of competition. 7. Competition Venues: This year we will be utilizing FOUR competition venues: the Indiana Jones Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios™, The Varsity Arena, the J Center and the HP Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex. The Varsity Arena is a new structure that Disney has added for the NHSCC. It is located in the Hess Fields right in front of the J Center and the HP Fieldhouse at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Admission into ESPN Wide World of Sports® is included only for those on the NHSCC travel package and anyone purchasing Disney tickets from the NHSCC. Only those NOT purchasing tickets from the NHSCC will be charged an admission of $25.00 per day into ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex. Once you have entered into the Complex you may go into The Varsity Arena, the J Center AND/OR the HP Field House. These tickets are available only at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® ticket booths and will be on sale the day of our events. 8. Preliminaries and Semi-Finals: There will be preliminary, semi-final and final competition rounds in the following divisions: Small Varsity Divisions I and II and Medium Varsity Divisions I and II. The top two teams in each preliminary round ("A" and "B") will automatically advance to the finals in their respective divisions. A minimum of 50% of the category will advance into semi-finals. PLEASE NOTE: You may notice that all competitions that only have one round prior to the finals for that category are classified as a semi-final competition. A minimum of 50% of the category will advance from the Semi-Final to the Finals. 9. Music : All music must be on a CD. The NHSCC recommends you bring several copies of your CD in case the WDW sound systems have trouble reading your CD. We will not be able to utilize ipods or computers for this year's Championship. 10. UCA Night at Magic Kingdom: (Only for those purchasing the NHSCC Championship Travel Package). The Magic Kingdom will extend its hours on Friday evening for the NHSCC from 10:00 pm - 12:00 am. Only those with a AQUA wristband will be allowed to ride select attractions during this time frame. 11. Celebration Party: Sunday evening we have planned a Celebration Party at Disney's Hollywood Studios™. The park will be closed to the public. The following Attractions will be open from 10:00 pm - 1:30 pm • Hollywood Tower of Terror • Aerosmith's Rock-n-Rollercoaster • Toy Story Midway Mania • Star Tours There will also be a DJ for dancing at the Indiana Jones Theater™ Epic Stunt Spectacular Theater 10:00 pm - 2:00 am. (The DJ plays thirty minutes longer than the attractions are open) Dress is casual. The cost of the Celebration Party is included in the NHSCC travel package. For those teams or family members who didn't purchase the travel package, admission into the Celebration Party is $35.00. Extra tickets (wristbands) are limited and will be for sale only during the registration times listed on the previous page. TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED FOR THOSE PURCHASING EXTRA TICKETS. Walt Disney World buses DO NOT shuttle to Disney's Hollywood Studios™ this evening due to the park being closed to the public. Those purchasing extra wristbands must provide their OWN TRANSPORTATION.  PLEASE NOTE: Each group of minors attending the Celebration Party must be accompanied by an adult chaperone (21 years or older) in order to be allowed into the Party. 12. Mandatory Advisors/Coaches Meeting: Please choose one mandatory meeting that will be held in the "Coaches Tent" in front of Celebrity Hall. The meeting times to choose from are listed below.  Thursday, February 7 6:00pm 8:00 pm 10:00 pm Friday, February 8 9:00 am 12:00 noon 3:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00pm Saturday, February 9 7:00 am 13. Photography and Video Policy: Because we take the safety and security of our participants seriously, our policy is to protect your privacy and that of all participants. Audience use of telephoto lenses and video cameras, including video capable digital cameras/camera phones will not be allowed. Unauthorized users of such equipment will be escorted from our event. Only official press from newspapers, magazines, etc. will be allowed to shoot pictures during our event with professional equipment. All press requests will be taken seriously and a contract must be signed prior to clearance being given. We hope that you understand the seriousness of this issue and give us your full support. For press clearance, please email Sheila Noone at snoone@varsityspirit.com. 14. Universal Event Photography: Each team will have the opportunity to have their picture taken prior to their rehearsal. Order forms are available on uca.varsity.com if you would like to purchase them. You may make as many copies as needed. Please have the completed order forms with you when you have your picture taken. Here is the UEP form.  15. Live streaming on Varsity.com: Family and Friends can't be at the 2013 National High School Cheerleading Championship? Tell them to log on to Varsity.com! For just $14.99 a day your friends and family at home can watch select venues LIVE on Varsity.com! Saturday, February 9th The broadcast will include: ·       Full routines from the HP Field House starting at 8:30 AM EST ·       Full routines from the J Center starting at 9:00 AM EST ·       Full Routines from the Varsity Arena starting at 9:00 AM EST. *Live stream is unavailable from Disney's Hollywood Studios® Indiana Jones Theater - Video on-demand for these divisions will be available the same day. Sunday, January 20th The broadcast will include: ·       Full routines from the HP Field House start at 9:00 AM EST ·       Full Routines from the J Center starting at 9:00 AM EST Video on-demand competition routines for the divisions listed above will be available 48 hours following the event. Be sure to tell your friends and family back home to check out Varsity.com for more info. Please remember that the routine videos won't be online forever. The only way to capture these memories permanently is to order a souvenir DVD of your team's entire performance in the Varsity Spirit Shop at the event or buy online at shop.varsity.com. 16. Text message Alerts: We'll be sending out updates, alerts, and announcements via text message throughout the competition weekend. To sign up, text "NHSCC" to 36698. 17. Scavenger Hunt: It's a MUST!! The UCA Scavenger Hunt! - Here is how it works: ·       When you attend orientation at Celebrity Hall, the staff member will have you take out your phone and they will give your first clue. Text the answer, and you're in the game! ·       You will then receive the next clue via text message. It will always be to and from the same number - 36698. ·       The hunt will take you to the Varsity Family Zone. ·       When completing the scavenger hunt you will get to spin the wheel with a chance to win great prizes! ·       The Grand Prize is an iPad Mini! ·       The winner will be announced Friday evening via phone, so keep your phones handy. 18. Parents, Family and Friends (18 and over) : Stop by the Varsity Family zone and pick up a FAN CARD. Follow the directions on the card to find your way through the Family Zone, if you complete all the steps you will be entered to win an Apple MacBook Air from Varsity! 19. Varsity.com: You can also stay up-to-date through Varsity.com's full coverage of the National High School Cheerleading Championship. Results from all divisions will be posted as soon as they are announced, as well as behind-the-scenes pictures, and special video features. Travel safely and good luck at the Championship! Sincerely, Melanie A. Berry Event Coordinator