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AWEsome Retreat hosts intense educational conferences with a focus on the travel and theme park writer and content creation niche. Amusement park Writers and creators Education that elevates not only our attendees, but the entire travel niche.


AWEsome Retreat 2024

Let Your AWEsome Shine!
February 7-9, 2024

Sheraton Garden Grove
12221 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA 92840



ABOUT AWEsome RETREAT 2024

Since 2019, AWEsome Retreat has brought together some of the top Travel and Theme Park writers and content creators to learn, grow and collaborate while also providing unique experiences during the event.

Our 2024 event will be held at the Sheraton Garden Grove. The hotel is located under 2 miles from the Disneyland Resort and is part of the greater Anaheim Resort Area.

Since the beginning, our event is proud to have Get Away Today as our title sponsor helping us bring unique experiences and partnerships to the event.

Our 2024 event will kick off on February 7, 2024 with an Alumni only activity, followed by an optional welcome activity for all guests.

February 8, 2024 is a full day of intense, focused educational sessions from industry leaders and creators. An optional evening activity may be added at a later date.

February 9, 2024 will offer a farewell activity and an exclusive chance to chat one-on-one with our Title Sponsor - Get Away Today

This event is sure to be AWEsome so do not delay in buying your ticket!



Livestream includes live access to view and participate in the educational sessions on February 8, 2024.. Educational sessions will be available for replay for 30 days following the event.

2024 Speakers

Session Topic: Networking

Jessica Sanders is a recognized authority on all things Disneyland Resort, driven by a passion to help park visitors create unforgettable experiences. As the woman behind "The Happiest Blog on Earth," she's been instrumental in offering guests invaluable insights, dynamic planning strategies, and the latest theme park information.

Networking isn't just a key aspect of Jessica's journey—it's an essential part of elevating "The Happiest Blog on Earth." By cultivating meaningful relationships, she has not only provided readers with timely updates but also secured numerous opportunities for media appearances. Jessica's expert opinions have graced the pages of prestigious publications such as Yahoo! News, InStyle, The Washington Post, and many others.

When it comes to working a room, those who have observed Jessica in action will tell you it's truly something extraordinary. Her networking talent is a skill she attributes to her father's exemplary interactions with strangers, colleagues, and friends. Jessica's innate ability to engage in genuine and meaningful conversations with people has earned her the admiration of her peers.


At AWEsome Retreat she will unveil her insights and provide guidance on cultivating your own networking expertise.

Session Topic: Newsletters & Email Marketing

Lesli Peterson has been blogging for 14 years, with a hyperlocal site that has generated ions of dollars, and she has made it her mission to spill the beans on that success. 

Lesli helps bloggers turn their modest website into thriving online enterprises with SEO, email marketing, and a little tough-love encouragement to always move forward, consistently and with a plan.


At AWEsome Retreat Lesli will pull back the curtain and share how and why every creator should be building their email lists.

Session Topic: Community over Follower Count

Amiyrah Martin has mastered using true authenticity in the influencer space to create community and achieve a steady income.
An innovator and leader in the online hosting and community-building industry, she is always ahead of trends and paving the way for those entering the field.

Amiyrah hosts the first official Disney Parks podcast, the planDisney Podcast. As part of her duties, she interviews Disney Parks guests doing extraordinary things, as well as Disney executives and Cast Members.

She earned spots in national commercial campaigns with Kohl’s, Target, Lucasfilm, Pfizer, and Disney Parks through her authenticity of sharing her day-to-day life and covering trending topics online. She's also been featured in articles on USA Today, CNN, Yahoo Parents, and segments on The Dr. Oz Show, The FabLife with Tyra Banks, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Session Topic: Selling & Marketing Digital Products

Marcie Cheung has been blogging for 8 years and runs several travel sites including Marcie in Mommyland, Hawaii Travel with Kids, and Hawaii Travel Spot.


Her mission is to help other families navigate traveling with children through useful tips, money-saving tricks, and beautiful photography highlighting top kid-friendly destinations. Her content focuses a lot on Disney, Hawaii, and Europe vacations.

While she mainly earns revenue from ads and affiliates, she started selling digital products 4 years ago and it has been a total game-changer for her business.

Panel Topic: Pitching & Negotiating with Travel Partners

Cris Stone was born, raised, and currently lives in Alaska (by way of

Los Angeles and San Antonio) with her husband, daughter, son, and two cats.

She has degrees in Web Design and e-Commerce plus taught blogging classes for various Adult Community Education programs for five years.

Cris owns two blogs, Kiss My Tulle and From Moose To Mouse. 

She also works as a digital marketing specialist for Ovibos Consulting, a boutique digital marketing company specializing in Alaska tourism.

She’s a big fan of french fries, 80's One-Hit Wonders, and any show involving serial killers.

Panel Topic: Pitching & Negotiating with Travel Partners

Keryn is a digital publisher, freelance writer and travel expert living in Long Beach, CA. She founded Walking On Media, LLC in 2011, which has launched such websites and publications as TwistTravelMag.com (formerly WalkingOnTravels.com), Twist Travel Magazine, DCTravelMag.com and PCHTravelMag.com. Thanks to her publications, Keryn has been asked to do Travel TV segments for Good Morning Washington and Good Day DC in Washington, DC, as well as freelance writing for national publications like Thrillist.com, Travel Age West, ParentMap magazine, and many more publications and outlets looking for well-researched, informative and fun content for their own platforms.
She is also an influencer marketing consultant, working with destinations and brands to create an authentic message that resonates with travelers, particularly millennial and Gen X travelers.


Keryn loves to do public speaking and share her knowledge of the influencer marketing world, having worked on both the publishing/influencer side of the aisle, as well as the marketing agency side of things. She isn’t afraid to get into the nitty gritty of negotiating contracts, rates, and deliverables, as well as how to navigate working with brands and influencers, so that both sides understand how to more effectively work together towards a successful campaign.


Session Topic: The Business of Content Creation

Jana Seitzer is owner/editor of Whisky + Sunshine, an entertainment and travel blog. A savvy strategist and clever marketing communicator, Jana has extensive marketing, design, and public relations experience. 

She founded her first company in 1998 and offers nearly 20 years of award-winning experience in corporate communications, print/digital design, and social media strategy. Jana partners as a brand ambassador with companies to promote their products on her site and sells her own designs on Etsy. 

Jana frequently speaks at conferences on the business of blogging, including affiliate marketing as a revenue source.

Panel Topic: Content Creation and Storytelling

Meet Vee Antonucci, a Southern California native whose passion for Disney and Star Wars transformed her from a Disneyland enthusiast to a dynamic content creator on Instagram. 

Her journey began from her father’s guided tours of the parks as a child to documenting park visits as an adult which blossomed into a vital creative outlet during the pandemic. 

Vee's content not only reflects her love for all things Disney and Star Wars, especially Kylo Ren, but also showcases the power of community building in the digital age.

Prepare to be inspired by her unique blend of storytelling and digital savvy!

Panel Topic: Content Creation and Storytelling

Ryan Sung was born and raised in Southern California. He is a digital creator on Instagram as RyantheSidekick with 10 years of experience.

With a passion for curating immersive content, Ryan is a prominent voice in the realm of Disney lifestyle, merchandise, theme parks, and travel. Ryan cultivates a dedicated community fascinated by his unique perspective. With a keen eye for storytelling, he seamlessly weaves together the magic of theme parks, the thrill of travel, and the excitement of new merchandise into engaging and relatable content.

Ryan's journey into content creation started as a creative outlet and a way to connect with fellow Disney pin traders. What began as a personal quest to collect every Aladdin and Mulan pin, evolved into a mission to share the enchantment with others, inspiring a global audience to embrace the magic in their everyday lives.

Growing up in a Disney-centric family, Ryan treasured having an annual pass, transforming Disneyland into his second home. Ryan's love for Epcot and Figment was ignited at a young age during those annual summer pilgrimages to Walt Disney World. Ryan continues to chase the Disney magic wherever he goes.

Among Ryan's dreams is a special mission to complete his collection of Disney Castles; Hong Kong Disneyland holds the key to his final castle conquest!


Panel Topic: Content Creation and Storytelling

A Southern California native deeply immersed in Disney magic, Kristen is a proud mama of four and the head of "The Happiest Club on Earth." With over two decades of expertise in crafting authentic experiences, she's the host of "The Mousetalgia FastPass" podcast and a master at seamlessly integrating brands into enchanting adventures. Join her as she shares insights on working with brands to captivate and leave a lasting impression while building your own brand and audience.


Brand Rep Tickets

& Attendee Sponsorships

In 2024 we are excited to offer Brand Rep tickets. These tickets are a great way for Brands to either attend an event themselves and mingle with attendees OR a great way for creators to work with brands to sponsor their attendance.

This ticket is not available to travel agencies or authorized theme park ticket sellers.

Brand Reps attending for their own brand receive a full event ticket. These reps are allowed to talk and mingle with attendees on behalf of their brand, including trading business cards and having small items (pens, notepads, candy) to hand out to attendees one on one. Networking occurs in a casual atmosphere and the companies are NOT sponsors of the conference. If a brand rep finds they are unable to attend after purchasing, they may contact the event organizers to have their promotional material destributed in another way.

For Creators having their attendance sponsored by a brand you will need to purchase this ticket. We suggest working with a brand you have a relationship with to sponsor your trip.

During the event, you will be able to collect and distribute business cards on behalf of the brand, as well as distribute small promotional items to attendees in a casual networking atmosphere. You will not be able to promise them emails of attendees as those are reserved for our event sponsors, and attendees opt in to that sharing. The only form of collecting emails would be via business cards.

We suggest the following sponsorship fee when representing a brand to cover your travel, lodging, brand rep ticket and other expenses:

$1000 - ticket only

$2000 - ticket and lodging

$3000 - ticket, lodging, airfare

Please note that your sponsorship will be a contract between creator and the brand. AWEsome Retreat will not be a party in the contract and does not promise brands sending creators any deliverables.

Please note that Travel Agencies, Ticket Resellers, and Individual Travel Agents are not permitted to be sponsors or attend as brand reps.

Any attendee found to be sponsored by a brand, and not attending under a brand rep ticket will be denied entry or asked to leave the event. No refunds will be given.

SPONSORED BY

Title Sponsor Since 2019


PREVIOUS EVENT SPONSORS INCLUDE:

  • Mediavine
  • Visit Buena Park
  • FuelRod
  • Pirates Dinner Adventure
  • Medieval Times
  • City Stroller Rentals
  • Howard Johnson Anaheim
  • Scentsy