STAR Foundation announces 2026 Family meeting November 13-15, 2026
We are excited to share with you that we have secured a location for our STAR conference in Orlando!
Registration is open for STAR’s 2026 international family gathering, to be held Friday, November 13 – Sunday November 15, 2026, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista hotel. The hotel is handicapped accessible and conveniently located next to the Disney Springs area. STAR families are eligible for discounted rooms, both during the conference and 3 days before and after.
Our in-person meeting will allow families to meet together in person, hear about the latest in science, and to enjoy other updates and programming. Registration fee is $100 USD per family, which includes access to the conference, a Friday welcome event, and onsite lunches both Saturday and Sunday.
For families unable to attend in person, Sessions will be offered via Zoom (registration for online attendance is free).
Financial aid to defray the cost of travel attendance is also available.
Reachout to Agnes Jensen (ajensen@sallaresearch.org) or Jessica Foglio (jessicafoglio@sallaresearch.org) for hotel discount andfinancial aid links or with any questions. See you in November!
Location
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs Resort Area
1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard PO Box 22202
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-8406 Phone: 1-407-828-4444
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BFhKXi3Z3NEgWty29 wyndhamlakebuenavista.com
The Wyndham is conveniently located within walking distance to the “Disney Springs” shopping, restaurant and entertainment area (elevators to allow access for all are available). Please note this is a non-smoking property.
Schedule
(Eastern Standard time)
· Friday, Nov 13: Welcome Event 5:00 – 7:00 PM
· Saturday, Nov 14: Conference 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
· Sunday, Nov 15: Conference9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
All conference events will be held onsite within the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and all meeting space and guest room areas are accessible their guests with disabilities.
Accommodations
The Wyndham property has two hotels within one location, which offers us different levels of accommodation and negotiated rates for families to choose from! You must use the links below or ask for the STAR Foundation group to receive these rates. Reservations made under this block may be cancelled without penalty for up to 3 days before event (although STAR foundation has guaranteed the hotel a minimum number of rooms!)
Wyndham: (Central hotel tower) Rooms rate of $177.75/night which includes resort fee and taxes: STAR Foundation Conference WyndhamLake Buena Vista Booking Link
Wyndham Garden: (Connected to main hotel tower, located on each side) Room rates of $137.75/night which includes resort fee and taxes. There are numerous mobility accessible room types available at this rate. We suggest requesting a Ground Floor room if possible as it will connect you directly with the pool area for ease of movement. STAR Foundation Conference Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Booking Link
Note: for families extending their stay, these room rates are valid up to 3 days before and 3 days after the conference, rates are valid until October 12, 2026.
Registration
A one-time registration fee of $100 will is requested for each family to support conference programming.
Please use this link to register and to give us a head count of how many adults and children will be traveling as part of your party: STAR Conference Registration Link
Scholarships: Meeting costs to include conference sessions, the welcome event and lunch daily will be covered by the STAR Foundation with funds from the Chan Zuckerburg Initiative grant. With additional fundraising, we will make every effort to provide scholarships for accommodation. If you are interested in fundraising to help defray your travel costs, please contact us for materials to use for local fundraising.
Travel
Traveling by air? The Orlando International Airport is conveniently located approximately 25 minutes from the Wyndham. Shuttles, rental cars and ride share are available from the airport to the hotel. (Check back for additional information on local, accessible transportation options) https://flymco.com/
Arriving early? The STAR Foundation team will be onsiteThursday November 12th to help get you settled!
Questions?
Please reach out to Agnes.
