If you've been to Disney World before, it might not look the same. Be sure to read these important messages from Disney. Note that Disney's guidelines and protocols change, so please keep up to date.
Thanks to our FFL Orlando 2022 Sponsors!
Registering for the Conference
Every conference participant needs to register for the conference
Registration is $210 per person for ages 6 and older, $60 per person for ages 0-5.
We will host on-site registration, based on space availability, on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration costs will increase to $300 for ages 6+ and $100 for 5 and under at 12:00am on July 1, 2022.
*Registering for the hotel only registers you for a hotel room and registering for the conference only registers you for the conference itself.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations prior to June 1, 2022 will be refunded minus a $25 per person processing fee. After June 1, 2022, no refunds are available.
Transportation From MCO to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Round-trip transportation from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is available to book through Mears Connect at $32 per adult and $27 per child. We encourage you to book your airport transportation, after your flight details have been arranged, at www.mearsconnect.com. Please know that Mears Connect is the replacement service for Disney's Magical Express, which ended on December 31, 2021.
Read reports from Orlando 2021 and Orlando 2019 to see what the in-person conference is all about
Our Excursion Guides will help you get the most out of your FFL Adventure.
Device Trials and Screenings
Diabetes care device companies offering trials are shown below. These opportunities are by appointment only. Appointments will fill up quickly, so please sign up as soon as you can. Saline pump trials require a prescription for "Saline Pump Trial" from your diabetes care team. Be sure to bring that with you.
Omnipod
Wednesday and Thursday in Toluca A
Sign up online at cwd.is/PodTrial
Tandem
Wednesday through Friday in Toluca B
Sign up online at cwd.is/tslimTrial
Medtronic InPen
Wednesday through Friday in Sonora B
Sign up online at cwd.is/InPenDemo
TrialNet Screening
A TrialNet team will be on site performing screenings beginning on Tuesday and continuing through Friday in Coronado Q. Family members who do not have type 1 diabetes can be screened for risk factors and can participate in important clinical trials. For more information about this important study, visit the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet web site.
Should I Attend?
"At this conference, dreams come true. It’s where, for one week out of the year, diabetes kids are the cool kids." - Alice Morgan
" Sometimes, when days are kind of rough, I’ll put on a green bracelet to remind myself that I am not alone. "
Is this just for children and their families?
In 2021, even with reduced capacity due to COVID, over 950 people came from 41 states (plus DC and PR) and two other countries, including 299 first-timers.
Half of the people with diabetes were adults
Friends for Life® began when our amazing Laura Billetdeaux asked CWD families if they wanted to vacation together. That annual gathering turned into the conference it is today, and includes T1 adults, grandparents teens, tweens and toddlers, and siblings of people with diabetes.
Families & Individuals
with type 1 diabetes including toddlers, tweens, teens and young adults, as well as siblings
Adult Living with T1D
their partners and spouses, and their children and friends
Siblings and Children
who, even though they don't have diabetes, they still live with diabetes
Grandparents and Other Caregivers
who are supporting their family members with type 1 diabetes
Health Care Professionals
who work with people living with type 1 diabetes (CEUs are not offered)
"So many green bracelets symbolized those of us living with diabetes. Our loved ones wore orange. And everywhere I turned I didn’t feel the need to explain when I started to beep." - Cara Richardson
Conference Schedule at a Glance
Monday 7/4
MONDAY, JULY 4 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Move-in day for Registration. Lots of families will be on site already. Wear an old Friends for Life t-shirt and find some FFL families at the Big Dig pool or enjoy a theme park! Retinal screening day for staff with T1.
Tuesday 7/5
TUESDAY, JULY 5 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Registration is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, so pick up your name badge, conference t-shirt, and green/orange bracelets nice and early! TrialNet screening begins. Pump Trials begin. It's very easy to find other FFLs – look for the bracelets and conference tees! Discussion groups and informal social get togethers will be held to help people meet each other. Enjoy the resort or a theme park with friends. For Youth Program Staff, training is from noon to 5 p.m. Staff dinner and team-building event in the evening at Splitsville.
Wednesday 7/6
WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
First Timers Orientation begins at 9 a.m. (this is for adults; children are invited to participate in their age group activities down the hall). Focus groups, discussion groups, and presentations will be held all day. Drop-In Youth Program activities for elementary age kids (6-8) and tweens (9-12) are offered in Fiesta 5 and Fiesta 6. Kiddie Kove for little ones ages 0-5 is in Monterrey. The Teen program is a full day of activities in Coronado L. Retinal Screening begins for conference attendees. TrialNet Screenings continue. Pump Trials continue. The Exhibit Hall opens at 6:00 p.m., in conjunction with a Grand Opening Reception.
Thursday 7/7
THURSDAY, JULY 7 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sessions for adults and children begin at 9:00 am and run all day. Carb counted Opening Keynote Breakfast and lunch buffet will keep you well fed. Screenings and Pump Trials continue. The Exhibit Hall is open from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The Family and Friends Banquet begins at 6:30 with an FFL Safari theme.
Friday 7/8
FRIDAY, JULY 8 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sessions for adults and children all day. Teens head to Animal Kingdom for breakfast and a day in the park. Screenings continue. Pump Trials continue. The Exhibit Hall is open from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Family Movie Night begins at 7:00 pm. Adult social event begins at 8:00 pm. Dessert and Posters with the Faculty runs from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Saturday 7/9
SATURDAY, JULY 9 - 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Inaugural Children with Diabetes – Friends for Life Golf Outing. Enjoy a day at the resort or a theme park with your new Fiffles. Family Carnival Night: Veracruz Porte-Cochere and Veracruz ABC, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Join us for old-style carnival games, music, and delicious carnival snacks!
Sunday, 7/10
SUNDAY, JULY 10 - 8:00AM - 10:00AM
Join us for the Farewell Breakfast with character meet-n-greets as we wind down Friends for Life Orlando 2022.
Can you show what life with diabetes is really like in 60 seconds or less?
Share a glimpse in your diabetes life - highlight the funny, the serious, the insightful, the inspiring …
whatever feels right. Use your cell phone, movie camera, or iPad to record. You’re the director!
Videos are due by July 1, 2022
Wednesday's Focus Groups and Sessions
Wednesday is a special day at Friends for Life Orlando. You get a chance to participate in focus groups, where you can help shape the future of diabetes care products and services, as well as attend special product theaters and symposia. While many focus groups are open to anyone, the focus groups below require pre-registration. Be sure to sign up early - many fill up.
Dexcom Focus Groups
11:00 am and 1:30 pm in Fiesta 2
Dexcom would like to learn from you and your child about the ways you track meals and activities. Do you log meals? Events? Times of exercise? How does this help you manage diabetes? What is most important about tracking meals and activities today and in the future? Join us for an engaging discussion!
Omnipod Focus Groups
11:00 am and 1:30 pm in Coronado M
Help us better understand your unique needs as parents and/or caregivers of children living with diabetes and what you – and they – are looking for to simplify life with diabetes. Participants do not need to be current Omnipod® users.
Tandem Diabetes Care Focus Groups
Real Life Prep: College, Work, and Independence with Diabetes
1:30 pm in Yucatan
This session is for parents, caregivers, teenagers, 20-somethings and anyone else interested in the exciting transition from home to independence with diabetes. We will inform attendees about available resources, share how to get involved with a campus-based CDN Chapter and provide an open discussion around topics related to college, work, living away from home, and relationships.
Diabeloop Focus Group: Putting People First
9:00 am in Coronado EF
The Diabeloop team is looking for people aged 18 and older with diabetes that are using a CGM and MDI to participate in a focus group. We want to better understand your needs and what is most important to you in future insulin delivery systems.
Please complete this registration form if you are interested in participating. We will select qualified applicants on a first-come first-served basis. Participants will be compensated with a $50 Amazon gift card upon full completion of the meeting.
embecta Focus Groups
Provention Bio Focus Group: T1D TRIVIA: IT’S GAME ON!
3:30 pm in Coronado EF
What’s more fun than a little friendly competition? Now’s your chance to put your T1D knowledge to the test, learn something new, and win a prize. T1D trivia topics will include:
- Debunking common T1D myths and misconceptions
- T1D stats and facts
- Information around early screening for T1D
University of Florida Diabetes Institute Reception
3:30 pm in Durango
Five distinguished University of Florida faculty will share their journey to the field of type 1 diabetes research, scientific contributions to the field, as well as exciting projects in the pipeline. Space is limited -- register now.
