Conference Booking Questions

[SteveH]

So next summer, 3rd week in July there will be fairly large conference that I am some of my staff team and I will be attending. I am planning on taking about 10 staff and many will opt to bring family members either before or after the conference itself.

My questions for those that may have done a conference, did you find the conference rate hotels were higher or about normal? Did you stay at the conference hotel or move out into the other hotels? Staying on property with Disney is pretty much out of the question.

I am sure that the Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott and other immediate hotels well be part of the option, but being that I know a bit more about Disney I'm looking at other properties that would allow our team to save some $ and still be within walking distance of the convention center.

Since Star Wars opens I'm anticipating it to be NUTS and a challenge to get some rooms so I'm trying to do some advance booking before our official information comes out in November. If you've attended a larger conference around Disneyland before I'd welcome ANY thoughts and input.

Thanks for the time and thoughts.

 

[Malcon10t]

So next summer, 3rd week in July there will be fairly large conference that I am some of my staff team and I will be attending. I am planning on taking about 10 staff and many will opt to bring family members either before or after the conference itself.

My questions for those that may have done a conference, did you find the conference rate hotels were higher or about normal? Did you stay at the conference hotel or move out into the other hotels? Staying on property with Disney is pretty much out of the question.

I am sure that the Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott and other immediate hotels well be part of the option, but being that I know a bit more about Disney I'm looking at other properties that would allow our team to save some $ and still be within walking distance of the convention center.

Since Star Wars opens I'm anticipating it to be NUTS and a challenge to get some rooms so I'm trying to do some advance booking before our official information comes out in November. If you've attended a larger conference around Disneyland before I'd welcome ANY thoughts and input.

Thanks for the time and thoughts.

If your conference is at the COnvention center, they will give you information on the rates for the hotels involved in the conference. Usually, conference rates are better than normal rates. For example, I have a conference next month at the DLH and I have a conference rate of $280 for the Grand Californian.

 

[SteveH]

If your conference is at the COnvention center, they will give you information on the rates for the hotels involved in the conference. Usually, conference rates are better than normal rates. For example, I have a conference next month at the DLH and I have a conference rate of $280 for the Grand Californian.

Thanks, curious to see what the rates look like. I'd love to stay on property, but after my one night stay at the Sheraton I didn't mind the walk over at all.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Confence rates are usually 30-50% off rack rate for attendees. Many...especially around Disney will extend that rate a few days before and/or a few days after. All depends on what the meeting planners negotiated with their room blocks

Our last conference at the Grand for example ended on a Friday but they extended the rate...which was close to what was noted above...through the weekend for anyone that wanted it.

Now with that...depending on your convention hotel you may still find a cheaper rack rate at a Harbor Hotel

 

[ExcitedMama]

Last fall we tagged along with DH to a conference at the DLH. The prices were so cheap that we added on as many days as we could to get the conference rate. His last conference was at the Hyatt and it was about the same price with the conference rate. Staying at the DLH was so much better than the Hyatt! But he has only had his conferences at the hotels at not the actual conference center.

 

[SteveH]

Confence rates are usually 30-50% off rack rate for attendees.

Thanks ParkHopper1, I appreciate your comments. That helps me do some guesstimating on possible scenarios for budgeting and giving my staff some options. We generally pay for double occupancy but with many bringing their families I need to come up with some options like a Per Diem rate.

 

[SteveH]

Last fall we tagged along with DH to a conference at the DLH. The prices were so cheap that we added on as many days as we could to get the conference rate.

Thanks! That would be great. We've had conference at WDW before at both Coronado and Contemporary but they were smaller ones, this one brings in around 3,000 people so I figure they will need a large number of hotels to accommodate.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I just booked for a conference in October. They had the Hilton blocked for about 20% cheaper than the regular hotel rate. I however booked on my own at Candy Cane for $20 less a night and it includes breakfast.

 

[SteveH]

I just booked for a conference in October. They had the Hilton blocked for about 20% cheaper than the regular hotel rate. I however booked on my own at Candy Cane for $20 less a night and it includes breakfast.

I'm actually looking at Candy Cane in for this reason, the breakfast for a staff team like this adds up fast. Thanks!