OCON 2024 – FAQ

June 13-18, 2024   |   Anaheim

FAQ

Getting the Most Out of OCON

Absolutely! Some of the content is designed for those new to Ayn Rand’s ideas.

Not at all. Every year there are dozens of first-time attendees. There are receptions and other social events where you can mingle with others. We have people from all walks of life, from students to retirees, from first-timers to people who have been to every conference for the past thirty-five years.

OCON speakers are happy to make themselves available for discussion outside their talks. But please remember that they also need time to relax! Feel free to approach speakers with questions, but please be polite and nonintrusive.

One of the best ways to interact with other attendees before the conference is to join the OCON Facebook group. Here you can chat with other attendees about their plans for the conference. You can also follow ARI on X @aynrandinst for general conference updates.

We have a YouTube playlist of videos recorded at OCON 2023 here. You can also find many of our past conference talks and courses on YouTube.

Attendance Options

The conference days have a mix of talks and panels. We may have special programming designed for students, but most programming is for all attendees. 

The week pass gives you all-inclusive access to the conference, while the weekend pass includes the opening reception on Thursday, as well as the general sessions, talks, panels, and social events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The day pass allows you to choose which day(s) you want to attend and gives you access to all the programming offered on those days. 

If you plan to leave early or arrive late to the conference, purchase a weekend pass or a day pass for the day(s) you’ll be attending. If you plan to stay for the entire conference, purchase a week pass. With the week, weekend, and day passes, you don’t have to decide ahead of time which events to attend—simply show up and take advantage of everything offered.

We also offer virtual week passes if you can’t attend in person.

Student pricing is available for full-time students of any age with a valid student ID, including current and new students enrolled as graded students in ARI’s Ayn Rand University. Attendance at student events may be required to receive the discounted student pricing. Exceptions may be granted for unique circumstances (e.g., one is returning to school after an absence but not yet a current student). Contact us if you have a question about your eligibility. Those up to the age of 12 attend free with their parents.

Scholarships for OCON 2024 are sponsored by Ayn Rand University. If you are a current ARU graded student or an ARU graduate who is still in university, or if you are a serious student of Ayn Rand’s ideas and are hoping to learn more, you are invited to apply for a scholarship.

Scholarships are only available for students attending the full conference.

Harry Binswanger is retiring from ARI’s board of directors after 38 years. To mark this very special occasion, this year’s Gala will honor Harry’s contributions to advancing our mission. We invite those who buy a full-price OCON adult week pass or adult weekend pass to attend ARI’s 2024 Gala as our guest (a $1,000 value). Purchase your adult week pass or adult weekend pass and we’ll send you an email to claim your complimentary ticket to the Gala. (Offer valid for full-price OCON 2024 adult week pass and OCON 2024 adult weekend passes only; cannot be combined with any other discounts.)

You may also purchase an individual ticket to the Gala. Head over to our Gala page to learn more and buy your ticket.

The week pass gives you the best price if you plan to attend the entire conference. You gain access to all the programming offered throughout the conference and can take advantage of any of the talks, panels, and other events offered each day. You don’t have to pay for individual talks nor do you have to decide ahead of time what you will attend. Simply show up and see what strikes your interest! The week pass includes virtual access to the conference.

The weekend pass allows you to attend OCON’s opening weekend (June 13–16, 2024). Experience some of the best of the conference at a reduced cost and commitment if you can’t make the full week of OCON. The weekend pass Includes the opening reception on Thursday, as well as the general sessions, talks, panels, and social events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (as well as access to the virtual conference).

The day pass allows you to attend events on any single day. If you cannot attend the entire conference, this is the best option for you.

The week pass includes opening and closing receptions. Meals are not included in the day pass but can be bought separately, as can any meals not included in your week pass.

We also offer virtual week passes if you can’t attend in person.

The week pass includes the opening and closing receptions; the weekend pass includes the opening reception. No meals are included in a day pass, but you can register separately for any meals you’d like to attend. The opening reception will be on June 13, and the closing reception on June 18.

Absolutely! You can leave a few days early, arrive a few days late or come only for a few days in the middle. Every year, we have many attendees who can only stay for part of the conference. The weekend and day passes make it easy to attend only part of OCON.

We are not offering the option of attending single talks or events at this year’s OCON. We recommend that you buy a day pass and hope you can take the time to attend several talks or other events on that day.

We will be livestreaming most (not all) conference events. Register for a virtual week pass to access them. Videos can be watched as events take place or in playback until July 31, 2024.

Navigating the Conference

You can take a Ride Share service, taxi, or shuttle service from the airport. The hotel is 14 miles from John Wayne Airport-Orange County, 18 miles from Long Beach Airport, and 35 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. 

The hotel offers paid parking to visitors and overnight guests. Check the Anaheim Marriott website for pricing information.

We will have signs directing you to conference events. Also, when you first check in at Attendee Services, you will receive a program that contains complete conference information, including a guide and map showing where the events are taking place.

Staff will have bright yellow ribbons attached to their nametags. Feel free to talk to any of us!

Conference and Hotel Registration

There is a discount for young adults, age 25 and under, as of June 15, 2024, and for full-time students of any age with a valid student ID. Contact us if you have a question about your student eligibility.

Additional in-person passes can be purchased online at any time until May 30, 2024. After that, you can call ARI at 800-365-6552 or register onsite in Anaheim.
You can cancel your OCON registration anytime before May 1, 2024, and receive a full refund.

Our system currently accepts only one registration at a time for week, weekend, and virtual passes. (You may choose as many day passes as you like.) Head to the registration section and choose your OCON pass type at the bottom of the page. Proceed through your registration; once you finish registration for the first individual, you’ll have the opportunity to add another.

Our host hotel for OCON 2024 is the Anaheim Marriott. Since all the conference events will be held there, it would be most convenient for you to stay there too, but there is no obligation to do so. Guest room reservations are available starting at $219 plus taxes and fees per night for June 12 to June 19. (To stay the entire conference, check in on June 13 and check out on June 19.) Reservations can be made online or by phone at 714-750-8000 (choose option 1). Reservations must be canceled at least 72 hours prior to the date of arrival to avoid being charged one night’s room and tax. Discounted rooms are available only through our Anaheim Marriott room block (see the hotel section for reservation details). The room block closes on May 22, 2024.

The Anaheim Marriott offers complimentary Wi-Fi internet access in its guest rooms.

Miscellaneous Questions

Visit the Ayn Rand Institute’s main website, AynRand.org, and explore a wealth of resources related to Ayn Rand and her philosophy, Objectivism. A selection of past conference talks and courses is available at the Ayn Rand Institute eStore, and ARI Campus has a large selection of free online courses. These courses are also available on the Ayn Rand University app, available at Apple and Android stores (Android app forthcoming).

You can inquire about roommates on the OCON Facebook group. If you need assistance, please email events@aynrand.org. 

The conference will be photographed and filmed and has a “smart” or “smart casual” dress code, which means casual but presentable and neat. The dress code for the Gala and Closing Reception is dressy. If you have questions, contact us at events@aynrand.org.

No private audio or video recording is allowed. ARI records OCON events and makes most of them available later through our different channels. However, you are encouraged to take photos and post on X! We simply ask that you respect our speakers’ wishes and refrain from using flash photography during talks.

OCON has a strict no-solicitation policy. All our attendees are there to learn and enjoy themselves and should not be approached for funding, employment, etc.

  • Cancellation requests postmarked, emailed or made online by Apri 30, 2024, will receive a full refund.
  • Starting May 2, there will be no refunds, except for students, who will receive a refund until May 30, 2024.
  • Virtual week passes can be canceled until May 30, 2024.

Everyone who registers for OCON 2024 is required to agree to these Terms and Conditions as part of the checkout process.

Please see the Terms and Conditions for ARI’s full Code of Conduct.

Updates

Still deciding? Get updates here: