DH going to convention-do you go too?

[cnids00]

My DH is going to the Microsoft convention in Orlando June 10-13, I would love to go but don't know if I can go (take time off from work). DH says he has a room that work provides, so can I just tag along or meet him there for a couple of days? How do you do it if you go with your spouse while they are working? He will get a guestpass for Universal (not MK as was rumored)

Any tips any of you can give me would be so appreciated, this is the first time he's going for work and I can't stand him going to Orlando without me It's our funplace and haven

If anyone has gone with before, please let me know how you do it and make it work, do you go to the parks while spouse is at the convention and then meet up somewhere? I'd be by myself as DD would be staying at home, don't know yet which hotel he'll be staying at etc. It just got approved today.

I so want to go too!

 

[Neesy228]

I've gone with my DH before. It was fantastic! It's an inexpensive way to go and we always have a great time. I don't typically go for the entire time he's gone (usually a week), but I will go toward the end of his stay for two/three nights. One day he is usually doing work-related things, so I just sleep in (glorious) and plan something to do that I know he hates -- like shopping! Then when he's done for the day we have a peaceful, relaxed dinner...and either plan some time alone or go out and do something we don't get to do. Sometimes we pay an extra night for the hotel out of pocket, to extend our trip a day when he won't be working.

If you have days to yourself, go to DTD or the Boardwalk and explore. If you're in Orlando itself, there is SOooooooo much to do/see. When he's done for the day, plan on some places you've always wanted to try (or investigate and find some places you've "always" wanted to try!) BUT, my advise to you is simple: GO AND HAVE A BLAST!!

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

I have gone with before - what fun! Don't forget that often times you can get reduced priced tickets because of the convention - the tickets are for after 4 pm. When I tagged along I sat by the pool or went to shopping. Enjoy if you can make it work!

 

[Miz Diz]

My dh just went to the Star East conference in Orlando and the kids and I went along. On Sat and Sun, we all got to go to the parks together. I took the kids to MK and DHS while he was at the conference for 2 days.

 

[momto2girls]

I've gone to Orlando twice when my husband had conventions. I figured that we had a free room at a Disney resort (once at the Yacht Club and once at the Grand Floridian), so why not. My DH's days were filled with convention stuff so I took my kids to the parks by myself during the day. We had a lot of fun and I would definitely do it again!

 

[cnids00]

Your replies just make me want to go even more I know his days will be long (7am-6pm) but I imagine myself by the pool or sleeping in like one of you said, then going to Universal (we've never been there together before and once at WDW, we never want to leave!)

I have enough frequent flier miles to get a free flight too, oh those butterflies are definately roaming now!!!

 

[carj]

We are going in June because my husband will be at a conference. Two of his days are 8am-9pm and the other 2 days are 8am-5pm. We are taking the kids and he will join us when he can. (We arrive the day before the conference and leave 3 days after it ends so we can have some fun days together!)

 

[crisi]

He will get to go to the attendee party, he'll have to pay for you. It will be pretty expensive (wine and beer are included) - last year I think it was $85 for any guests. (I've done TechEd for the past three years).

I don't travel with my husband when he does conferences, and I wouldn't let him travel with me. Long days, followed by long evenings of email, catching up with work, and reading conference materials. For my husband, he has dinner every night with vendors as well. So it isn't an 8 - 6 thing - for both of us its really an 8am to 10pm thing. And I don't get a lot of enjoyment out of touring Disney without my husband (or anywhere else he's gone). I will join him after or before for the weekend.

 

[swillis]

I'm in Crisi's camp. Both my husband and myself travel to different conferences a few times a year, in fact he is in Orlando now for one, and I fly out on Wednesday to attend my own.
We both had a free night on Thursday so we are going to meet up and go to the Magic Kingdom together

But generally, if I want to join my hubby or vice versa, then we will usually fly out the day before the conference ends and then spend a few days together on a little mini vacation.

I say go if you can, as long as you completely understand that he is there for work first, and you may get ditched at the last minute if something comes up. Have fun!!

 

[coconutisland9@yahoo]

I go quite often with my husband. I enjoy the opportunity to lounge around at a great spot at a cheap price (free hotel room, hubby's flight is free, and hubby's food is free!).

Being a mom I look forward to the opportunity to lounge around and relax.

If you really want to save a little more you can order something both of you can share for dinner (i.e., pizza, appetizer sampler, or meals that tend to be a large portion).

I say go for it!!!!!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My husband is going to Tech Ed that week too. Unfortunately, airfare was about $450, so I am staying home (unless I can find something cheap for last minute flights). I was planning to go to the parks without him during the day and maybe do something with him at night (if time allows). From the looks of the schedule, the days/evenings will be pretty full. If you are happy to entertain yourself at Disney during the day, go for it!

 

[Barb D]

I took my mom and kids with me when I went to a convention in Orlando a few years ago. My mom did stuff with the kids while I was at the convention, and we did stuff together in the evenings.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

DH hasn't been able to get a conference in Orlando, but I've tagged along to Las Vegas once, and will be doing so again in October.

Last time he flew out on Saturday, I left on Tuesday. The conference ended late Thursday, so work paid for Thursday night since there were no decent flights home. We paid OOP for one night (friday) and came home Saturday. I slept in Wednesday, ordered room service breakfast and took a 2 hour bath. just because I could. Thursday during the day I did some shopping and relaxed.

This time, it works better for me to join him at the beginning of the trip. The conference starts Sunday afternoon, but because of flight times (the joys of living in a smaller market) he has to fly in Saturday. Oh darn, a free day in Vegas! We are traveling out together early Saturday, and I am coming home Wednesday, he gets home around midnight on Friday, which is Halloween. I have to pay for my plane ticket ($250) and food.

I'm still pushing for Orlando, we'll see what happens in future years!

 

[crisi]

The other thing to be aware of, if your husband hasn't been part of the "convention crowd" .....

Spouses at conventions can (depending on the company) be a little like taking sick days. Both are "perfectly ok" but get a reputation for taking your spouse or all your sick days and it can mean never seeing another promotion again. Businesses tend to be a little concerned about sending someone off to a vacation desitination for a conference anyway - are they really going to sessions, or are they sitting at a slot machine in Vegas, hitting the slopes outside Denver, or touring Disney in Orlando? Add in family, and the suspicion that your attendee is not where s/he is supposed to be increases. At some companies, they really do trust their employees (and your husband should take the initiative to show how much he learned at the conference - I always do a summary powerpoint of all the sessions I went to to share with my team). Other companies will say its ok, but it isn't - even if your behavior with your spouse there doesn't change. A few have outright policies against it. If your husband isn't tuned into the politics - and cares about his career (some people are fine never getting promoted) - he should do a little poking before he commits to having you go.

 

[momto2girls]

I posted previously but I wanted to add some comments based on other replies to this thread. As I said, I have gone to two conferences with my husband. His company had no problem with it at all. And I don't work so there wasn't an issue with me taking off of work. Also, I have two children so it was a lot of fun taking them to the parks and spending the days with them. My husband was required to spend a lot of time with his co-workers and wasn't even available to eat with us some nights. But I didn't care. I knew it going in and I had my girls. We had a great "girls vacation". DH was able to join us for dinner one night and we all went to a park together at the end of the convention. We were also invited to join the company at MGM (they rented it out one evening for the convention), but the girls and I opted to do something else instead.

If I didn't have my kids or if I worked myself (as in when I was employed prior to having children), I might not have gone. It would depend on if I felt that there was enough that I would want to do by myself to be worth the trip. I wouldn't want my husband to be distracted because he's thinking that I'm bored and lonely. So, it would really depend on if I had enough to occupy my time or not.

 

[LSU]

Your replies just make me want to go even more I know his days will be long (7am-6pm) but I imagine myself by the pool or sleeping in like one of you said, then going to Universal (we've never been there together before and once at WDW, we never want to leave!)

I have enough frequent flier miles to get a free flight too, oh those butterflies are definately roaming now!!!

WHAT are you waiting for????

 

[cnids00]

Well I'm waiting to make the right decision AA doesn't have any good options for flying (I guess because a LOT of people are flying there at that time because of Tech Ed), I just transferred to a new store and don't know my schedule, I just started last night, I work 10pm-7am and our upcoming vacation IS to Orlando, which isn't far away. I'm just weighing the pros and cons. My husband is dedicated to this convention as this is the first time he's been approved to go, I will have the time with him that he has off and maybe the last day if we add on a day. I love being on my own in the day time, I wouldn't do the parks by myself, downtown Disney would be it for me, I was more interested in going to Universal. His company is ok with it, it would cost $110 for me to be added on. The thing is we would be together when he's off, we'd be able to sleep in the same bed at the same time And it would be a mini-vacation. Though I haven't made up my mind yet on what to do. For sure he wouldn't be sick and not go to this convention, he's hardcore work and loves to be able to go. For me it's a chance to get away for a couple of days with "whatever time I'll be with hubby", again, I'm still pondering if I want to spend the money as our upcoming trip isn't far away.

Thank you all for sharing on how you do it

He just found out he's booked at the Renaissance "something" by Seaworld and we've had tickets to there for 2 years and never used them, once we get to WDW we don't want to leave, so this might be an opportunity to use up these tickets!