Convention hotels around Disney World

Dh stayed at the Mariott World Center once and they did have special theme park rates for convention-goers.

Why wouldn't you want to stay IN the parks?

Joy (DW) also stayed at the Marriott World Center in 2001 for a business convention.

Everyone has mentioned staying in the Mariott, but no one has mentioned liking it.

I think Joy mentioned that she found it odd that they didn't offer shuttle service to WDW from the Marriott, even for a fee. I would ask her now, but she's watching LOST.

Yes, I've heard that you don't mess with people while they're watching Lost! That would be very odd to not have a shuttle that would take you to one of the biggest attractions on Earth. Maybe they wouldn't know where to drop you off?

I mean I've stayed in Hiltons that would take me to the Olive Garden, I'd think the Mariott could spring to drive some people to WDW. I have a feeling there might be some people who want to go.

I think DH was fine with it. It's one of those ginormous hotels where you need a map to find your way around. I'll have to ask him about the shuttles. That seems awfully strange that they wouldn't have them. Maybe some kind of contractual arrangement is keeping it from happening (as it could be a money maker)

Maybe conventioneers tend to have cars?

Lol, you were smart not to mess with me during LOST, you might have lost your head!

I really did enjoy the Mariott World Center. The grounds are beautiful, the pool is awesome and there are tons of bars and restaurants with very good food. I didn't actually end up getting to see much of the convention areas as our conference was scheduled to start on 9/12/01 and due to the events on 9/11, most speakers and attendees couldn't make it as their flights were cancelled.

But in 2001, we did have to take a cab to both WDW and to Islands of Adventure as some of my co-workers and I did the theme parks instead of working! We thought it was nuts, but things could've changed since then. Who knows!

That's absolutely shocking. Someone should let them know there's a very popular tourist attraction nearby!

I'm in agreement that you'd have to be slightly off center to stay OFF property when WDW is that close by.

I'd rather have to commute to the business part of the trip FROM WDW and enjoy the atmosphere of the Disney Hotels during my off time.

Of course, as a convention planner I steered THREE of them to Walt Disney World, and had a board meeting at Disneyland and another on DCL. I MAY not be the most objective person when it comes to this topic!

What would you estimate the % price difference to be?

The big convention hotels are NOT cheap. I'd bet you could stay inside WDW for less than what many of them will cost you. Maybe not at the Grand Floridian, but at a moderate at least.

Are the convention facilities priced similarly too? I can't imagine how you sell a similarly priced convention hotel over CSR. Seems like that would be a no-brainer.

I didn't really follow your question, but if you're comparing facilities inside Disney compared to those outside, I can only speculate.

All the conventions I ever worked with were held within a hotel. They were smaller, with 300-400 people and usually 150-200 hotel rooms a night. In every market I worked, which included Las Vegas, San Antonio, Reno, Orlando and others, your convention space is directly tied to the amount of money spent with the hotel, primarily in catering.

Therefore, to get your meeting space, you had to agree to book X amount of rooms, and buy X number of meals, cocktail parties, etc.

Usually the hotel will give you a really good room rate in order to get all of this tied up.

I would guess that the catering part at a Disney convention center would be higher than one outside, because Disney is usually higher in their food costs. However, having done three conventions at WDW, I found their hotel room costs to be very competitive when they are booking large groups.

Bottom line, beats the heck outta me!

Did they have a free bus to the Magic Kingdom?

bump! since bali's not paying attention!

Anyone have any opinions on which are the nicest, if you HAD to stay off property?

Many of them look nice, but I can't imagine the horror of having to leave the park while all the EMHers got to hang out and point and laugh at me.

i have known some people who stayed at the gaylord palms for work and said it wouldn't be a great place to stay for vacation.

Wait--they said it would NOT be? I've been eyeing that hotel for years, thinking if I were to ever take a trip to Orlando that was not Disney-based, that's where I would want to say. It is such a beautiful hotel, with lots of dining options. Why would it not be a good place for a vacation?

I know nothing about the Gaylord Palms, but I'm not sure how I feel about you promoting the blasphemous idea of an Orlando non-Disney vacation. Go to Universal and Sea World if you must, but ignore the Mouse at your own peril!