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TNT Lessons Learned for AAU Nationals

Venue Tips and Tricks:
The Orange County Convention Center is HUGE...beyond HUGE.
Some insiders tips:
  • Know your Court number BEFORE your arrive and use the entrance closest to your court.  You could need an extra 30-45 minutes walking if you enter the wrong entrance
  • Use an Uber when at all possible and direct them to the proper entrance.
  • The BEST parking lot is the Watson Parking Lot as seen on the map below.  It is BY FAR the closest to the courts and by far the easiest to get in and out of.
  • If you must park in the general lots, plan on adding up to an hour to your trip.  DROP off the players before you sit in the lines to park.
    • The OCCC is FREEZING!  Do not expect the Florida heat to carry over into the venue.  Bring a sweater.


    Courts 19 and above will be located at the Convention Center in the North and South Halls. Entrances and ticket sales will be located on both the North and South Concourses. A special daily parking rate of $10 per day will be available during the event. This does include re-entry on the same day. You must save your receipt for re-entry. Take advantage of Shuttle Service from the Destination.


    AM Wave Tips
  • Self parking is worst in the AM wave.  Consider sending players and 1 parent via Uber and Parents carpooling together.
  • Plan on letting the girls have fun together in the pool after play is completed for the day.  
  • Don't get into a late bedtime routine as 4 days of playing catches up.



PM Tips

  • The PM wave may not get you back to the hotel until close to 10pm.
  • The hotel pool has a much earlier close time than desired, but the lobby is spacious and open all night.
  • The food court in the hotel is a great way to eat after playing without having to stop at a local restaurant.
    • Don't try to squeeze in an early morning visit to the parks

Dining Tips

Take advantage of the food court in the hotel as much as possible.  

  • City Walk has a free shuttle from Endless Summer and has plenty of dining options.  Call for reservations for large groups.  Good choices from previous years include:
    • Red Oven Pizza Bakery
    • Margaritaville

  • There are other dining options close to the hotel if you tire of the choices in the food court.
  • The rules state No Outside Food, but we have not encountered bag checks for food similar to Spooky Nook.  Small coolers are generally permitted.  Packing food for the players is a good idea.
  • The food in the OCCC is adequate (not terribly healthy)  and not a long line.

General Tips
  • View the trip to Nationals as a Celebration of your daughter and their team.  
  • Activate Vacation Mode for the entire trip.
  • Please be considerate of others that have entered vacation mode and focus on the positives.
  • Please observe the 24 hour cool down period before approaching a coach about volleyball decisions.
  • Encourage your daughter to spend down time with the team.  Girls will remember the fun they had and forget the record on the court.
  • The OCCC is FREEZING!  Do not expect the Florida heat to carry over into the venue.  Bring a sweater.
  • Coaches are instructed to play the same way they approached multi-day events all season.  Players will not sit the bench all day during pool play (first 3 days).  On the final day, if the team is in medal contention, the coach may choose to eliminate normal substitutions.
  • Take advantage of walking to other courts to see what Open teams look like.  
  • Parents are encouraged to be LOUD and supportive of the team.  There will be parents on opposing teams that will be louder than you!  Cheer! Cheer! Cheer! for the team.  
  • Have your daughters say Thank You to the coaches.  Coaches are typically leaving their family behind to coach.

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