Welcome to Villains at Play - Where Mischief Meets Meaning
Where there’s play, there’s power - and sometimes, a little mischief too.
This year, Play Therapy: Disney Bound invites you to step into the shadows and explore the villains who challenge, provoke, and ultimately transform us. Set against the enchanted backdrop of Disneyland® Resort, this conference is more than just a training - it’s a deep dive into the complex narratives that live within our clients… and ourselves.
Through experiential workshops, creative interventions, and immersive learning, we’ll explore what it means to work with the misunderstood, the masked, and the parts of ourselves that are often cast as the “bad guy.” From legacy burdens and unexamined cultural assumptions, to redemption arcs and inner critics, we’ll use play therapy to reframe the villain - not as the enemy, but as the key to healing.
Reconnect with your inner child, reignite your clinical creativity, and embrace the full range of stories that make play therapy so powerful. Between days of training, you’ll experience the magic of the parks, the joy of community, and the thrill of seeing your favorite characters - heroes and villains alike - come to life.
Join us for an unforgettable adventure where clinical insight meets creative magic… and where even the villains get to play.
"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
🔮 25 CEs of Training: Gain up to 25 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®.
🎢 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket: Explore both Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park with a 2-day Park Hopper ticket.
🧪 Entrance to the Oogie Boogie Bash (new this year!): A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure Park.
🌮 Kick-Off Dinner: Begin with a fabulous welcome dinner to meet fellow attendees and presenters, and fun networking opportunities throughout our week together.
🥐 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, both training days and in park-learning experiences 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 & Speakers
Act I – Welcome to the Shadows: Connection, curiosity, and the courage to play.
Sunday, September 6th
Arrival Day!
5:30 - 8:30pm
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 -Every Villain Has an Origin Story: A Playful Exploration of the Shadows Within with Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S.
Following our workshop you are welcome to explore Downtown Disney® or enjoy the hotel's amenities!
Monday, September 7th
Training Day!
9am - 1pm
Be the Villain They Need: Finding Your Professional Identity through Child-Centered Play Therapy with Madi Duran, LCSW
Breakfast (8-8:45am), lunch (12-1pm) and afternoon snacks provided. Optional evening gathering.
2pm - 6pm
Villains in Plain Sight: Cultural Shadows in Family Play Therapy with Liliana Baylon, LMFT-S, RPT-S
Act II – Into the Lair: Deep dives into theory, identity, and shadow themes.
Tuesday, September 8th &
Wednesday, September 9th
Park Days!
Tuesday you can rope drop at Disneyland® Park starting with at 8:00 and on Wednesday you can rope drop at Disney California Adventure®! Your Park Hopper ticket will allow you to explore the other park beginning at 11:00 am.
You will also have the opportunity to take part in immersive, small group workshops in the parks with NanDee Walker, LCPS-NCC, RPT and Melissa Wintershied, LPC-S, RPT-S (see below)! Seats will be available first registered, first reserved!
Tuesday
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8 - 11:30am: Location - Galaxy's Edge. Don't be Tempted to the Dark Side of Ethics for Play Therapists
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1 - 4:30pm: Location - Tomorrowland. Drowning in Empathy: Ethical Considerations for Play Therapists
Wednesday
Thursday, September 10th
Training & Oogie Boogie bash Day!!
9am - 1pm
From Lair to Secure Base: Play Therapy for Healing Attachment and Transforming Adaptive Strategies Across the Lifespan with Jackie Flynn, EdS, LMHC-S, RPT-S™
Breakfast (8-8:45am) provided.
3pm - 11pm
Descend into the Disneyland® Park anytime from 3pm and then join us to party at the Oogie Boogie Bash where the magic starts at 6:00 pm until the clock chimes 11:00 pm.
Act III – Redemption & Integration: Reflection, renewal, and play-based transformation
Friday, September 11th
Training Day!
9am - 1pm
From Villain to Guide: Rewriting Inner Narratives Using Archetypal Symbolism with Catherine Denham, LCSW, RPT-S, and Alisha Denham, LCSW, RPT-S
Breakfast (8-8:45am), lunch (1-2pm) and afternoon snacks provided. Optional evening gathering.
2pm - 6pm
From Villain to Visionary: Integrating the Shadows Through Play
with Maria Laquerre-Diego, LMFT, RPT-S.
Saturday, September 12th
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!
*Presenters and topics may be subject to change
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 6 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.
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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@anewhopeacademy.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 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 afternoon snacks will be provided to fuel you during your training days, offering a wonderful opportunity 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 gain up to 25 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; and A New Hope Academy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7816. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. A New Hope Academy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 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 family or friends? 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! If you would like any friends or family to come to the Oogie Boogie Bash, do let us know asap and by June 1 at the latest so we can help you secure tickets (they sell fast!).
What happens on the park days? We will have optional in-park workshops that you can sign up for an immersive learning experience! Otherwise you are free to enjoy the park! We will have a group chat, should you like to find a buddy or two to ride rides with or meet up for lunch. So whether you are a rope drop or a close-the-park fan, you can create the day that is right for you!
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: $4500
Double occupancy: $3500
🎟️ Local Conference Attendance Rates:
Without Accommodation: $2700
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Ideal for those within traveling distance who do not need accommodation, but do need tickets into the parks.
Without Park Tickets or Accommodation: $2500
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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
