Anyone ever attended a conference at WDW?

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I just learned that one of the sites for the Children's Pastor Convention this January (open to anyone involved in children's ministry) is Orlando - $105/night per room at CS, meetings at CR. One of the pre-conference seminars is 90 min. with a couple Imagineers, then touring 4 of the resorts ("Reimagining Children's Ministry)! How cool is that!

I'm the director of children's ministry at our church, so my room & conference fees are paid for by the church - I'd like to find a roommate so I can split the room cost and take advantage of a couple days at the reduced rate before and after the conference.

So here's my question - we'll have 3 to 4 hours of "team" time in the afternoons, and I won't have anyone from my church with me to "build team" with in that time slot. I'd love to get a few hours in the parks...is it worth it? I mean, we'll be at the CR right up to lunch time. I wouldn't have to be back until 4 pm, so technically I could just hop on the monorail and hang out in MK for a few hours. But cost wise, is it really worth it? I'm on a ministry salary here (aka working 50 hours a week but paid for 25 hours... )

Anyone else done a conference/convention at WDW and have any insight to give? Thanks!!

 

[bicker]

That's really a personal decision. Most of the times I was at WDW for a conference, I also had a seasonal or annual pass, so it wasn't an issue for me. Now, that I've been to WDW so often, I wouldn't spend $50 for a few hours, unless I had the children with me.

 

[safetymom]

Before I lived here I came for a conference. I scheduled a day before the conference started to see what I wanted to see at WDW. Once the conference started I didn't feel it was worth it to use a day off my ticket to head to the parks.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I was at a 3 day conference in Orlando and I stretched it out passed the weekend to go to WDW. I also had an annual pass, so it was an easy decision.

In your case, why not hang at DTD, do the shops, Disney Quest and some of the great restaurants. Or spend a relaxing day at AKL and have lunch! If it's at the end of the day, have dinner at Ohana's or CA Grill and see Wishes!

 

[LisaRay]

When my DH went to a conference at disney they sold special tickets at a little bit of a reduced rate. You may want to pick and choose which days you will be more busy then the others to pick which days you enter a park and then as others said just do nonpark things on the other days.

 

[extreme8]

I was at the CR for a conference a while back. At that time they offered a special 1 day hopper and a half-day, one park ticket for anyone attending a conference at any resort.
This was a special phone number as those particular tickets aren't available to the general public.

 

[twojo21]

i went on a conference at wdw a few years back & bought the conference tickets which were discounted with our group, for me it was worth it, we only had meetings 3 days in the morning the afternoons were free for me to enjoy & the other 4 days of my trip i was able to enjoy disney as a regular tourist.