"One of the most magical times for people with diabetes happens every year in July, with the annual Friends For Life Conference hosted at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida."
Roaming with Dinosaurs, Advancing with Science: Friends for Life 2024 – A Prehistoric Expedition to Diabetes Innovation. Join us from July 9–14 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, where past and future collide. Pack your gear for an adventure through time, uncovering ancient relics and cutting-edge diabetes technology. Walk with dinosaurs, stride towards progress, and forge unbreakable bonds on this extraordinary journey.
Have Questions? We Have Answers!
Do you have questions about the conference? Visit our Friends for Life Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. Click the button below!
Pre-Expedition Checklists
Check out our pre-expedition checklists so you'll make the most of your FFL experience.
Unearth the Excitement
Check out the recordings of our Unearthing the Excitement informational videos.
Have a Look Back at FFL Orlando 2023!
FFL Orlando 2023 was out of this world! Journey back in our recap video.
Registration
Registration cost: $300 ($350 after June 7)
Every conference participant needs to register for the conference. Registration is $300 per person. Registration will increase to $350 per person on June 7, 2024.
Note: You must register for the conference and book your hotel room. Registration for the conference does not include your hotel room.
- All sessions and session materials for adults and children
- Kiddie Kove for children ages 0-5
- Wednesday Grand Opening of the Exhibition Hall (dessert reception)
- Thursday breakfast, lunch, and snack breaks
- Thursday Family and Friends Banquet (dinner)
- Friday lunch and snack breaks
- Friday Park Day for teens
- Saturday social events
- Sunday Farewell Breakfast
- All of the various social events
- One t-shirt per registered person
Cancellations prior to June 7, 2024 will be refunded minus a $25 per person processing fee.
After June 7, 2024, no refunds are available.
Reserving Your Hotel
FFL Hotel: Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Celebrate the unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Southwest American cultures at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. This beautiful lakeside oasis offers classic influences, Disney touches and modern comforts to energize and inspire. You can read more at the official Coronado Springs Resort web site.
VERY IMPORTANT: Booking a room at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort does not mean that you are registered for the conference.
Reserve your room online at ffl.is/OrlandoHotel. You can also order discounted park tickets there.
A few things to note in regard to this online room registration process:
- Disney’s Online booking site is available for booking, modifying and canceling reservations 24/7. Should you need assistance while booking your reservation, please contact Group Reservations by calling 407-939-4686 during business hours – Monday - Friday.
- The dates offered on the site for room reservations are those dates that CWD has contracted. If you would like to book hotel nights before or after that, you will need to contact the Housing office to inquire about availability. The room rate is $195/night plus tax.
- Please put the names and ages for any children in your group under the “other information” section of the guest information landing page.
- Note that the cut off for reserving a room in the CWD room block is June 7, 2024. After that, the price of the room will go up.
If you have questions about the hotel, you can phone Disney Reservations at 407-939-4686.
Questions about conferences, exhibitions, hotels, or sponsorships? Contact the CWD team at [email protected]
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. We encourage you to book your airport transportation after your flight details have been arranged at www.mearsconnect.com.
Thanks to our 2024 Friends for Life Orlando Sponsors
FFL Scholarships
The FFL Orlando 2024 scholarship application portal has closed. Scholarship applications for FFL Orlando 2025 will be available in early 2025.
The Friends for Life Orlando scholarship program helps to make the 2024 conference an unforgettable experience for families and young adults dealing with type 1 diabetes. Our scholarship program is designed for first-time attendees who might otherwise be unable to afford to attend the conference. Two scholarships are available:
- Family Scholarship: Covers registration for a family of four and provides a hotel stay at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort from July 9 to 14, 2024.
- Young Adult Scholarship: Covers registration for one young adult, hotel accommodation at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort from July 9 to 14, 2024, and travel expenses up to $540. The Young Adult Scholarship is limited to applicants with type 1 diabetes ages 18 to 26.
We will ask applicants to provide financial documents such as paystubs and W-2 from 2023.
Mon 7/8
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 CWD staff and volunteer with type 1 diabetes.
Tue 7/9
Registration is open from 9:00 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. Volunteer and faculty dinner and team-building event in the evening -- details to be announced.
Wed 7/10
First Timers Orientation begins at 9 am (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 Coronado A-D. The Teen program is a full day of activities in Coronado L. TrialNet Screenings continue. Pump Trials continue. The Exhibit Hall opens at 7:00 pm, in conjunction with a Grand Opening Dessert Reception.
Thu 7/11
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 archeology theme.
Fri 7/12
Sessions for adults and children all day. Teens head to Typhoon Lagoon for breakfast and a day at a 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.
Sat 7/13
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 pm. Join us for old-style carnival games, music, and delicious carnival snacks!
Sun 7/14
Join us for the Farewell Breakfast with character meet-n-greets as we wind down Friends for Life Orlando 2024 and look forward to Friends for Life Orlando 2025.
Why We Wear Green + Orange Bracelets
The bracelets? They were a mix of necessity and practicality, sprinkled with some pretty significant magic. Attendees who wear green bracelets are living with type 1 diabetes, everyone else—their parent, guardian, spouse, significant other, friend, etc.—wear orange bracelets. But the “magic” is what these green and orange bracelets have come to mean. The magic has been added by this green and orange – and sometimes yellow – amazing international tribe, tens of thousands of people strong, over a span of twenty years.
Families & People with T1D
including toddlers, tweens, teens and young adults, as well as siblings
Adult 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 & 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)
Friends for Life Orlando is a community who truly gets it. It’s a place where you can drop your guard, share your stories, and feel completely understood without judgment. It means a lot to be around folks who truly understand and support each other.
–Jordan, Significant Other to a T1D
