WHEN TO ARRIVE AT THE EVENT
Teams should arrive in the event parking lot at least one hour and a half before your scheduled pull window. If you do not know your pull time window, please reach out to your team captain. You also want to make sure that your entire team gathers in one area before presenting your group to team check in. Please remember, you have a pull window and your team can pull any time in/around that block base on arrival time. We often get ahead or behind but you will always get to pull! We appreciate your patience!
If your team does not have a scheduled pull time, please reach out to Ellen Head asap via email.
PARKING AND GETTING TO THE EVENT
The 2024 event will continue to occur in the cargo area of Dulles International Airport and all teams will enter the event in this area.
Team members should plan on driving to the airport and following the multiple signs for "Event Parking" which will take them to a FREE long term parking lot. They will then be shuttled a short distance in ADA compliant shuttles buses to the event gate.
WHERE SHOULD I MEET MY TEAM?
Teams should find a gathering spot inside the event to meet up prior to presenting themselves at team check in. Please reach out to your team captain for specific plans. Some teams have had the PLANE amazing idea of making a fun and noticeable team sign to hold up to get everyone's attention. Please note, while signs or flags are ok, balloons are not.
EVENT REGISTRATION & TEAM CHECK IN
If there are members of your team that have not yet registered, please let them know that they MUST register for your team at www.planepull.com prior to check in. Anyone that neglects to do so will be required to do so during the check in process which can delay your team’s pull.
Team check in will be located in multiple tents inside the event near the planes being pulled. Please gather as a team before presenting yourself to one of the check in tents. At team check in, each member MUST individually check in. At check-in, teams will have the opportunity to turn in all last minute donations for your team’s fundraising efforts. If your team captain did not attend early team check in, if you are receiving a box of team shirts, your team captain can pick it up here.
WHAT IF MY TEAM IS BELOW THE MINIMUM DONATION?
If your team is below the minimum donation of $2500, please fill out the form on this online portal (coming soon!) in order to secure your spot on the ropes. Teams cannot pull without supporting Special Olympics Virginia at this level.
TEAM INCENTIVE PICKUP
We encourage teams to send a representative to our partner hotel, the Westin Washington Dulles on Thursday September 12 or Friday September 13 to pick up your team incentives (if eligible) in advance as well as bracelets for expedited access into the event. Further details about team incentive pick up will be announced closer to the event.
Please note, hats and shirts are only guaranteed for teams that registered and earning them prior to them being ordered in August. We will do our best to accommodate all other hat needs via our slush
For anyone who raised $100 by September 9 and is eligible for medal, those will be mailed out post event.
Learn more about our PLANE awesome incentives!
ENTERING THE EVENT
All event Plane Pull participants are required to go through security just like all event attendees as this event is on airport property. At times, especially from 10:30 - 11:30 am, this can back up so please plan accordingly. We appreciate your patience while we work together to keep everyone safe!
Please note, the event has a stadium bag policy for all, including teams and team captains. The preference is for attendees to bring NO bags. If a bag must be brought, please use a small clutch bag only but they will be searched and will require you to go in the bag security line. Please do not bring any large bags/backpacks to carry team shirts in to the event. If you would like to distribute team shirts on site, we ask that you create a meeting spot in the event parking lot or outside the event gate well in advance of your pull window. Bags for child care or medical care purposes are also ok, but will be searched.
Please do not bring outside food or drinks, or animals unless it is a service animal to the event. In addition, no weapons of any kind are allowed unless you are an officer in uniform. All attendees will be wanded upon entering by TSA.
WHAT TO BRING/NOT BRING
What should I bring?
· Sunglasses
· Hat
· Sunscreen
· Appropriate clothing for the weather (it is a rain or shine event!)
· Work/gardening gloves for pulling the plane as we will not have ones to share.
· Money to buy lunch, snacks, and drinks from one of our onsite vendors
· Any extra cash/check donations to add to your team's total at check in
What should I not bring?
· Bags
· Animals (while it is an open space, the noise is too much for them!)
· Firearms or weapons of any type unless you are a sworn officer in uniform
· Outside food or drink. We will have drinks available for all teams post pull!
FOOD AND DRINKS
There will be a a wide variety of food options available for purchase from our many food vendors onsite. You can also choose to further support Special Olympics Virginia by purchasing lunch from our grill station.
While teams will all be offered a beverage post pull, only teams that raise $10,000 by September 9 will be able to snack away in our VIP tent!
*Please note, that food in our VIP tent is available only while supplies last as everything offered is donated items from various sponsors. We will do our best to accommodate our "Very Important Pullers" but keep in mind this may not happen.