Sakai Camp 2019 was held at a new location - The Holiday Inn Disney Springs. This venue is walking distance to the (literally!) hundreds of dining, shopping, and entertainment options available at Disney Springs. Also, as guests at an official Walt Disney World hotel, we enjoyed free shuttle service to the Disney parks, and other Disney perks like Extra Magic Hours and 90 day advance dining/fastpass reservations. Our conference badges even got us discounts at local merchants! Sweet!
Sadly, the weather had other ideas. It was unseasonably cold for Orlando this year (lows in the 40’s!) and it rained non-stop on Sunday, our team-building day. So, while best laid plans were set for a fun-filled day at Magic Kingdom, in the end, only a few hearty souls braved the soggy weather. Reportedly, our poncho-garbed park visitors were greeted at the gates by Disney employees saying “Welcome to the water park!” (This, of course, is second-hand information, since I myself opted out of wet shoes, clammy clothes, and drenched hair.) But hey, for those willing to stand firm against the elements, the reward was NO LINES. Not bad as rewards go.
As a drier alternative, there was a lively game of Euchre in the lobby with fellow attendees. For the uninitiated, Euchre is a card game, similar to Bridge. Apparently, Midwesterners are born knowing how to play. Laura Gekeler, the ringleader of the Euchre contingent, conducted an impromptu Euchre master class. There is talk of a tournament next year. Cards sharks take note!