Disney For A Conference

[RachelEllen]

I'd love some advice on park hours and ticket types.

For the first time, I'm attending a conference at Disney. I'm going with my SO, so I'd love to spend some time with him at the parks. The conference is in early February. They say they offer 'conference tickets' I'm not sure what the advantage of those is going to be over regular tickets. (I can't get specifics on these tickets until I register. But it sounds like there are half day tickets available. But I'm not sure for how much.)

It looks like I will be at the conference from 9 until noon and from 2-4. Are the parks open late enough that going to one after 4pm makes sense? I'd imagine we'd enjoy Epcot the most. Any suggestions on the best sort of ticket media for this sort of trip?

 

[rlovew]

Epcot is open until 9pm nightly so you can do a lot in the 4-5 hours you will be there, plus dinners there are great. The other parks you would have to look at, there wouldn't be any point in going to AK unless it was for evening EMH because it usually closes at 5 that time of year.

If you are staying at a Disney hotel you would be able to use the EMH and that keeps parks open 3 hours after closing time.

Conference tickets are normally at a discount (the conference is buying in bulk). You can decide on the tickets and look at how the compare to the other prices once you have them.

Another fun activity for later in the evening is Disney Quest (although sometimes I need eqarplugs). It is open from 11am-about midnight.

 

[RachelEllen]

Thanks! I hadn't thought about Disney Quest. That is a great idea.

Does anyone know the best ticket I could get, outside of my conference tickets, for one afternoon at Epcot and one visit to Disney Quest? I'm guessing a one day/one park admission and a separate admission for Disney Quest. We don't want to count on returning anytime in the near future.

 

[CarolA]

For an afternoon only I would wait on the conference. That is the only place to get the after 3 pm tickets which are good for one park for one evening which would fit your needs perfectly.

 

[awatt]

Having done a few conferences there, I know the ticket price for the evenings is a savings. Just don't know what the current price is. Your meeting planner should be able to get you that info.

 

[Tiffer]

Where do you guys work that you get conferences at WDW??? Where do I submit my resume?

 

[RachelEllen]

I think you'll enjoy your vacation better. I have to pay for the conference. Plus, I have to spend have the day in class when I could be in the parks

Only real plus is that I don't have to use vacation time!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

This is one reason to keep extra tickets on hand. The conference tickets are a good deal if you only need a one day after 3pm ticket. When DH went on business, we paid oop to stay over the weekend after the conference was over, so it worked well that we had a few days on old tickets lying around.

Even one afternoon might be enough to get the Disney bug though....you might just want to return!

 

[Tiffer]

I think you'll enjoy your vacation better. I have to pay for the conference. Plus, I have to spend have the day in class when I could be in the parks

Only real plus is that I don't have to use vacation time!

Oh, I'm sure you are right. BUT you get a write off as a business expense too! So at least there is something. Alot of businesses pay for their employees to go to confrences...sorry you have to pay.

 

[ssleblanc]

I got excited when I got information about the conference rate tickets, until I went to buy them. But I'm going for an extra 3 days/2 nights to make this into a family vacation as well. The conference tickets are only a deal if you would be buying single or two day tickets. Otherwise, the multi-day passes are much better.

My conference is 11-5 one day (I'm doing MK EMH that night), and the second day is 3-8 pm (so the 1/2 day "after 2 pm ticket" they offered would do me no good, we are going to AK for EMH that morning at 8, and I'm leaving to go back to CSR after we have lunch).

I found that for my use, the conference tickets were not worth it, but if it is just one day, I think the discount was about 15% (maybe 10 or 20, I can't remember now) and it would be worth it.

And yes - I feel very lucky, my airfare, 3 out of 5 nights hotel, 3 days of food, and conference/etc is all paid for by my company. I'm just paying for my kids airfare, 2 nights hotel, 2 days food (for me) and the food for my kids. And of course park tickets and souveniers.