ONA Student Newsroom
  • These ONA attendees tested their knowledge of pop culture
    • September 30, 2019
  • ONA19 staff strives for an inclusive conference environment
    • September 29, 2019
  • Natural hair
    • September 24, 2019
  • Chloe Jones of the Arizona State University Cronkite School of Journalism accepts the The David Teeuwen Student Journalism Award/Large Newsroom for the project "A Different Border Crisis." Photo by Caitlin Lee
    Scenes from the 2019 Online Journalism Awards
    • September 14, 2019
  • Sisi Wei, Julia B. Chan and Lam Thuy Vo make a selfie in the red carpet area after their team, Journalists of Color Slack Administrators, won the ONA Community Award at the 2019 Online Journalism Awards. Photo by Daja Henry
    ProPublica, NYTimes repeat dominance at 2019 Online Journalism Awards
    • September 14, 2019
Twitter 680
Instagram 189
  • → Online News Association
  • → Official Conference Site
  • → Online Journalism Awards
680
189
ONA Student Newsroom
  • Conference
  • Hallway Track
  • Industry
  • Innovation
  • Local Spotlight
  • Awards
  • Voices
  • Uncategorized

ONA Starts with a Spark of Disney Magic

  • Christina Romualdo
  • December 24, 2015
  • 3 minute read
ONA conference attendees watch the World of Color fountain and light show hosted by Neil Patrick Harris at the Disney California Adventure Party on Wednesday, September 23, 2015.
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0

By Christina Romulado
ONA Newsroom

As ONA looks to the future of digital journalism, some attendees took a Disney style magical trip down memory lane.

Spectators are mesmerized as the Water of Color light show reaches a crescendo at the California Adventures theme park. Several busloads of journalists from #ONA15 toured the Disney theme park Wednesday evening. (Shuyao Chen/ONA Student Newsroom)
Spectators are mesmerized as the Water of Color light show reaches a crescendo at the California Adventures theme park. Several busloads of journalists from #ONA15 toured the Disney theme park Wednesday evening. (Shuyao Chen/ONA Student Newsroom)

On Wednesday night, 250 Online News Association members attended a VIP pre-conference private event at Disney’s California Adventure, in Anaheim, Calif., which is located right next door to Disneyland.

The event was sponsored and run by Disney – they organized everything from the two-hour-long bus ride through Los Angeles rush hour traffice, to Corner Bakery to-go snack boxes – while ONA provided volunteers to help with check-in and event flow.

For some, Wednesday’s event was a fun break before the start of the jam-packed conference.

“I’m running the Unconference and I’m going to be running around for the next two days. This is the only time where I get to do something for myself without worrying about it,” said Jessica Estepa, who is an editor for USA Today.

Meg Donahue, an editorial assistant for the Center for Collaborative Journalism at Mercer University wanted to come to Disney because she has never been to Disneyland.

University of North Carolina multimedia student Rocio Sevilla Dieguez, center, watches the Water of Color light show at California Adventures with UNC graduate student Kiersten Schmidt, left. The North Carolina journalism students were part of an Online News Association contingent attending a pre-conference tour of the Disney theme park. (Haiyun Jiang/ONA Student Newsroom)
University of North Carolina multimedia student Rocio Sevilla Dieguez, center, watches the Water of Color light show at California Adventures with UNC graduate student Kiersten Schmidt, left. The North Carolina journalism students were part of an Online News Association contingent attending a pre-conference tour of the Disney theme park. (Haiyun Jiang/ONA Student Newsroom)

“It seems like Disneyworld, but a bit more modern… Grizzly Park was on point,” said Donahue, who liked for its detailed description of being in a California forest.

From a World of Color
to Racing Cars

The night was jam-packed with fun events.

First, attendees joined other park guests for “World of Color: Celebrate!” a spectacular light and water show, which pays tribute to Walt Disney and his vision.

These images are projected onto water. Because Disney is magic and can do magic things. #ONADisney pic.twitter.com/6RdOG6GjjK

— Dakota Crawford (@DakotaCrawford_) September 24, 2015

Spotted, Disney cast members getting their groove on during world of color show #ONADisney #ONA15 #GetIt pic.twitter.com/AI7nqtcRQa — Jessie Gomez (@jessiereport) September 24, 2015

Wonderful World of Color tribute to Walt Disney. @Disneyland @Disney @onaconf15 #ona15 pic.twitter.com/Z4nL8icfNi

— Dr. Syb (@drsyb) September 24, 2015

I get to be a kid again disneyland. @ONAConf #ONA15 @ Disney California Adventure https://t.co/1HwXrMhulq — Monica Robinson (@monicarrobinson) September 24, 2015

From there, guests flew across the Golden State with Soarin’ Over California, a 4-D simulation that allows viewers a hang-glider’s eye-view of the state’s most picturesque landscapes.

Finally, attendees made their way to Cars Land, where they “tow-si-do’d” with the Radiator Springs crew at an after-hours shindig.

#partylikeajournalist Unlimited rides. Cars exhibit. California Adventures. Yes we will. #ONA15 #ONADisney pic.twitter.com/7zBP6H4EjU

— Curt Chandler (@webcurtpsu) September 24, 2015

When 100+ #ona15 goers have Cars Land to themselves. #onadisney https://t.co/fEssSlr9wE — Vanessa Franko (@vanessafranko) September 24, 2015

Carolina having some Cars fun. #ONA15 pic.twitter.com/7aJY0QXsSj

— Kiersten Schmidt (@SchmidtKiersten) September 24, 2015

Fun night with #TeamTegna pals at @Disneyland, thanks for the dinner and drinks in Cars Land. #ona15 pic.twitter.com/IuHp0DMbVl — KREM Nicolle (@KREMNicolle) September 24, 2015

Pulling this extravagant event off was no easy feat. Behind the scenes, the ONA15 organizing committee and Disney’s Meetings and Conventions team worked in tandem to bring the pre-conference celebration to life.

“A lot of time and preparation goes into planning a special event like the Disney California Adventure party for ONA,” Charles Stovall, Disney’s Public Relations Manager said in an email.

The parks do not close for events like these, but are held before or after regular hours.

This is not the first time ONA has held events off-site.

Last year, attendees had the opportunity to take studio tours and data-focused architectural walking tours of Chicago, according to Jessica Strelitz, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships for ONA.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Christina Romualdo

Previous Article
  • Conference

Session Assesses Impact of Autoplay, Disturbing Images

  • Kendall Trammell
  • December 24, 2015
Read More
Next Article
  • Uncategorized

What’s that box in your swag bag?

  • katmers
  • December 24, 2015
Read More
Instagram
onanewsroom
189 Followers
@amywebbfuturist shares her latest vision for the future with #ona19 and surprises the room with announcement that this is her last presentation and she’s passing the torch. (Photos by @daja.henry)
Authentic #NewOrleans #Voodoo is actually a religion that won’t be found in a Bourbon Street souvenir shop, but in spiritual temples and in Voodoo specific shops and museums around the city. (Photo by Caitlin Lee) #ONA19
The Canal Street Streetcar stops to pick up travelers on #CanalStreet on Thursday. (Photo by Caitlin Lee) #ONA19
Shadi Rahimi smiling at her daughter Safia at #ONA19. We talked to three mothers about juggling life in and out of the newsroom during a break from conference activities -- find that story on our website (link in bio)
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

ONA Student Newsroom
Daily conference coverage from ONA's student newsroom

Input your search keywords and press Enter.