🖤 Welcome to the Lair, Villains 🖤
You’re officially part of our 2026 DisneyBound Conference, Villains at Play, and we’re so glad you’re here! This is the Villains Hub, your behind-the-scenes space before we arrive at Disney.
Check out this page for information, reminders, optional Q&A sessions, schedules and logistics, and all important information to help make the conference work for you (and any family or friends you're bringing).
Villains at Play is about reclaiming complexity, curiosity, and power through play. The conference is designed with space, breaks, and flexibility in mind. Here are a few reassurances:
-
All social events are optional.
-
You do not need to attend everything to have a full experience.
-
Disney bounding and costumes are welcome, never required.
Extra Tickets
Oogie Boogie Bash Tickets
Contact maria@anewhopeacademy.org if you would like to request additional tickets. The deadline to purchase additional Oogie Boogie Bash tickets is the end of May. After that, no additional tickets can be added.
Park Tickets
Click this link to purchase additional park tickets if loved ones are joining you (please note the ticket store will be open from Wednesday March 18).
Key ways to Connect with us
1: Join our Facebook Page
Join our event page on Facebook, a key hub for updates, reminders, and connect with fellow attendees in pre-event discussions.
2: RSVP for our Q&A midday on Feb 26!
Have any questions? RSVP to join our free live Zoom Q&A session on February 26 at 12-12:30pm (for both registrants and those considering attending) to ask anything that’s on your mind!
3: Join us for our Virtual Meet & Greet on April 29th!
We are going to be celebrating National Villain's Day on April 29th at 6pm MT by holding a Virtual Meet & Greet with our fabulous speakers!
It'll be a chance for a fun get together and an additional opportunity to ask any logistical questions.
Conference Schedule
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
-
8 - 11:30am: Location - Galaxy's Edge. Don't be Tempted to the Dark Side of Ethics for Play Therapists
-
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.
Catering & Access
Access
Disneyland® Resort has accessibility information relating to the hotel and navigating the park, including a map of services, available here.
Moreover, do not hesitate to contact Maria at maria@anewhopeacademy.org if you have any access needs or queries about the conference.
Catering
In addition to the delicious kick-off dinner, our schedule above lists when meals and snacks are provided to fuel you during your training days*.
While meals on park days aren't included in the package, fear not! Click here to whet your appetite and access a map showing the wide range of restaurants and food outlets in the park.
*If you didn't provide us with information of any food allergies or dietary requirements you have in your registration form, please contact maria@anewhopeacademy.org to let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Additional Info & FAQs
Are Continuing Education Units being offered? Yes, attendees will gain up to 25 CEs of training. Please note that you must attend the kick-off dinner presentation and 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.
What happens on the park days? You 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 schedule for details)! Seats will be available first registered, first reserved. Be on the lookout for an email from Maria to register! 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!
Where can I access useful information to help me plan my journey 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.