UCF Family Events

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Central Florida
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As we parents all get into the entire UCF experience, I thought it would be helpful to put up some family information, starting with Orientation.

ORIENTATION
Freshman Orientation is required for all entering students. It’s a two-day event and it’s mandatory.

What parents should know is that there is also a parallel orientation for PARENTS. It’s completely different from what the students get, and you are not traveling around campus with them. Their orientation is THEIR orientation, and this one is just for PARENTS.

You sign up as part of the student’s orientation signup, and the cost to parents is nominal.

A limited number of entering students can stay in the dorms for orientation, but parents must make their own lodging arrangements in nearby hotels.

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Yep, UCF plays football – and in fact, they play it quite well! Here is the schedule for 2020

https://www.wesh.com/article/ucf-2020-football-schedule/30984927

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FAMILY WEEKEND
On the football schedule, you will notice that October 2, 2020 is Family Weekend. In addition to normal football activities, there are all sorts of FAMILY things planned.

On the UCF website, just search for Family Weekend.

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LIGHT UP UCF

If you don’t chill enough in the new Lazy River at the football stadium (https://www.wesh.com/article/ucf-lazy-river-outside-football-stadium/29148048), you should probably ice skate.

Yes, I said ice skate – not only IN the Sunshine State, but on campus at UCF The big winter funfest “Light Up UCF” runs from November 22, 2020 to January 5, 2021 and features rides, movies, and skating on REAL ice.

https://mycentralfloridafamily.com/light-up-ucf-orlando-2020/

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Please feel free to add to this thread for the benefit of other families.

Thanks.

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Thank you for all the information you are sharing. My daughter is an out-of-state student, and not only do we not know anyone going to UCF, we don’t know anyone who ever has! All of this is so helpful.

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Just some extra info- the side of the Black and Gold Cabanas gets the sun! UCF doesn’t get control over their schedule, so if the game starts anytime during the day be prepared! Even the 3:30 pm starts can be brutal if you are on that side of the stadium. You have to buy a ticket for your student if you want them to sit with you and there is a cutoff on getting tickets through the parents weekend link. Ticket prices get jacked up for that weekend. This year we just picked another weekend with a home game, we are doing the same for next year.

Also, book a hotel for parents weekend and move in (probably starting 8/21). For OOS UCF does not have class on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, book your flight early for that, we did wait until after orientation so we knew her schedule and were lucky that she could fly at less crowded times, so it was cheaper.

We only went to parents weekend the first year and didn’t go to the other events- we went to Disney. We also didn’t go to orientation- since they charge extra for it and we had D21 in tow we spent time going to the parks. We had been to Open House and had done another tour, so didn’t feel the need. Honestly most of my friends who went to parent’s orientation had a “How to let go” session- um, if you want us to let go, stop inviting us to stuff like Orientation!!! We are bad parents :wink:

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Yeah, I was kinda leaning that way too. I’m looking at the Florida A&M game – their marching band is worth the price of the ticket!

I can’t find my darn receipt, but the parent cost was really nominal – I want to say +/-$30 each

I won’t mention any names, but ONE of our daughter’s parents desperately needs “How to let go!” She’s probably hopeless, but we’ll try it!

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We were in the minority for not going to orientation- according to our kid! As an OOS parent, if I am that close to Disney, there is no competition- Disney wins! I really want to go to the home opener against UNC- D18 has a lot of friends there, it is her one chance for bragging rights! Also, a guaranteed night game.

We picked our game poorly last year- it ended up being a noon game- it was 94 degrees. There is not enough sunblock for that!

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What’s the deal with game times? Are they locked into a TV contract or something?

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@JimDadinmia
thanks for all your info. I have 2 kids admitted to UCF for the summer.

I see online the orientation is 1 or 2 days. My kids are telling me they only need to go to the 2nd day when classes are selected, etc.
What are your thoughts on this?

thanks !

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I think the kids are incorrect.

If you have any doubts, call the orientation office and ask them, but I’m pretty sure it’s two days mandatory.

You know all they have to do for summer is take ONE online course…right? They don’t have to physically attend UCF until Fall.

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Actually, your kids are RIGHT. I thought the Knightro (1 day) orientation was only for transfer students, but I was WRONG.

Link: https://orientation.ucf.edu/about/costs-and-options/

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@JimDadinmia your info has been so great for new parents! And yes, one online course. I have a son and a daughter - both freshman. They plan to live in off campus housing (separately) with roommates. I wanted them to live on campus at either Towers or Northview, but they already have friends living off campus housing and they love it.