2002 Congress information and highlights: Saturday, April 20, to Thursday, April 25, 2002 - Congress Highlights

AORN Journal, Jan, 2002

The 49th annual AORN Congress, themed "Circles of Care," will be held Sunday, April 21, to Thursday, April 25, 2002. Following are important highlights about Congress, which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Calif.

ANAHEIM

Located in southern California and known for its many theme parks, historic and cultural facilities, incredible weather, and great beaches, Anaheim offers visitors fun, excitement, and diversity. The city was made world famous when Walt Disney built his dream theme park there in 1955. Disney's newest theme park--Disney's California Adventure[TM]--opened in early 2001 and celebrates the pioneering spirit of California.

The newly expanded and redesigned Anaheim Convention Center now has 1.6 million sq ft of space. You will notice a big difference from the last AORN Congress held there in 1997. The center includes a soaring glass tower that reaches 180 ft above the area's landscape and features a sweeping wave-shaped glass wall that spans the length of the building. This innovative and inviting environment allows meeting attendees to enjoy the California sunshine even when they are inside.

Palm trees and greenery fill the dramatic boulevards in the 1,100-acre Anaheim resort district, which formerly was the city of Anaheim. Most of the hotels in Anaheim have undergone major renovations and offer new amenities. Excitement awaits visitors to Anahei--including major sporting events and many entertainment and recreation opportunities. This truly is a new Anaheim!

NURSES/EXHIBITORS EVENING

Disney's California Adventure[TM] will be open exclusively to Congress attendees and their guests on Tuesday evening, April 23, from 7:30 PM to midnight. Due to the generous contribution of the Exhibitors' Advisory Committee (EAC), tickets are only $20 per person. Tickets will be sold at the Disney ticket counter located in the convention center from Saturday, April 20, to Tuesday, April 23.

A ticket and badge is required for entry. If family members and/or friends plan to attend and are not registered for Congress, a badge will be supplied for them when tickets are purchased. The badge is good for this event only. Shuttle buses will provide transportation from 6 PM to 1 AM from all official AORN hotels. The Nurses/Exhibitors evening at Disney's California Adventure[TM] is underwritten partially by all 2002 Congress exhibitors and administered by the EAC.

Disney's California Adventure[TM] opened in 2001, and it celebrates the fun, diversity, and pioneering spirit of California. Inside, guests will experience the glamour of movie magic in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot, the romance of Napa Valley, the legendary surfside boardwalks and excitement of a seaside resort in Paradise Pier, pristine forests, and other famous locales that celebrate the wonders of the Golden State.

Adjacent to Disney's California Adventure[TM] is Downtown Disney, a vibrant new dining, shopping, and entertainment district. It features trend-setting restaurants, such as Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, and the Rainforest Cafe; live entertainment at the House of Blues, Y Arriba! Y Arriba!, and ESPN Zone; and an AMC Theatre multiplex cinema.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Don't forget to schedule sightseeing into your busy agenda during Congress week. AORN, in conjunction with Whirl-A-Round Tours, has selected custom tours and events for your entertainment. The tour program was developed to enhance your free time before and after Congress, as well as to provide options for evening entertainment during Congress.

Tours will be offered from Friday, April 19, to Saturday, April 27. Make sure all arrangements for post-Congress tours (ie, April 26 and 27) are completed before 5 PM on Wednesday, April 24. Whirl-A-Round will accept preregistration for tours through April 10. Tickets purchased on-site will incur an additional fee of $3 per ticket.

Following is a brief listing of the tours provided. For more information, click on the "Anaheim Tours" button on the AORN web site at http://www.aorn .org/congress. Contact Whirl-A-Round directly by mail at Whirl-A-Round, 2900 Bristol St, Suite J-108, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by telephone at (714) 751-3555; by sending a fax to (714) 751-3888; or by sending an e-mail to wirlrnd@exo.com.

Desert dreams--$79 per person (includes spa experience). Come join the "beautiful people" in the land where California's elite play--Palm Springs!

The treasures of the coast--$62 per person (includes lunch in Laguna Beach). Discover California's beach communities and enjoy lunch in a restaurant overlooking the Pacific ocean.

Catalina getaway--$98 per person. Spend a day on one of southern California's best-kept secrets--Catalina Island. Travel across the channel on a high-speed catamaran.

The art of the matter--$30 per person. Head to Santa Monica, the Greenwich Village of the West Coast. Enjoy lunch on your own, then move on to the J. Paul Getty Center, which features pre-twentieth century paintings, drawings, sculptures, and decorative art.