does anyone know why MK would close at 6pm on January 23rd?

[danielephant]

Just wondering if anyone knows why MK would close early? and if they do close early do they not put on wishes?

 

[rteetz]

That's very far out. It could be one of two things.

A. Park hours haven't been finalized and will change.

B. The park is being rented out for a private event.

 

[gap2368]

I think the hours are not final right now January 14 and a few days after ( I only checked a few) has sechedule nt available

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Private event...that date lines up with one off biggest conventions at WDW annually

 

[coasternut22]

Out of curiosity, what is the convention? Also, does this have anything with the Pro Bowl?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Out of curiosity, what is the convention? Also, does this have anything with the Pro Bowl?

If I recall...there were two large business conferences - Infoseek and lotusphere...one was in October/November...the other was January

 

[TrampDog]

If I recall...there were two large business conferences - Infoseek and lotusphere...one was in October/November...the other was January

IBM Connect (Lotusphere) is Feb 19 and will be the last year for this event. It's not that big, anyway.

Infoseek was a search engine which is long gone. It was never a conference. I believe the one in October that you are thinking about is Gartner Symposium. Last year we rented out Futureworld one evening. It sucked! Hopefully, we move back to one of the other parks this year, but it has not been announced which one it will be.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

IBM Connect (Lotusphere) is Feb 19 and will be the last year for this event. It's not that big, anyway.

Infoseek was a search engine which is long gone. It was never a conference. I believe the one in October that you are thinking about is Gartner Symposium. Last year we rented out Futureworld one evening. It sucked! Hopefully, we move back to one of the other parks this year, but it has not been announced which one it will be.

Lol...I realized what Infoseek was after I posted it...had a brain scramble.

To answer the original question...big,
Bloated, overvalued American corporations have closed/rented out parks in slow periods many times before...

That happening on Jan 23 shouldn't really raise an eyebrow

 

[wilkeliza]

IBM Connect (Lotusphere) is Feb 19 and will be the last year for this event. It's not that big, anyway.

Infoseek was a search engine which is long gone. It was never a conference. I believe the one in October that you are thinking about is Gartner Symposium. Last year we rented out Futureworld one evening. It sucked! Hopefully, we move back to one of the other parks this year, but it has not been announced which one it will be.

Oh IBM they just bought the company I work for. Wonder who might get invitwd to lotus for the last year.

 

[BriarRabbit]

Just curious but I wonder what the cost is for renting a park for an evening?

 

[TrampDog]

Just curious but I wonder what the cost is for renting a park for an evening?

LOL. If you have to ask you can't afford it.

Let me put it this way... The cost to Attend Gartner for the week is $4000 per person and does not include lodging. There are 15,000 attendees for that event. Even if only half need lodging, Disney makes a fortune. Then there are the vendors who showcase in the ITexpo. I think it was about 200 companies or more last year. I'd say about 1/3 hold special events each night (I never have to buy food or booze) and rent out those spaces (various restaurants, areas in Epcot, etc.). More money there. We haven't had MK rented out for many years. It's been HS for past six or so and Epcot (just futureworld) last year. Typically just from 8 - 11. So, in reality its just three hours for one night. It wouldn't cost as much as you would think and they still rake in the catering money at that event (open bar, buffets everywhere, etc.).

 

[wilkeliza]

LOL. If you have to ask you can't afford it.

Let me put it this way... The cost to Attend Gartner for the week is $4000 per person and does not include lodging. There are 15,000 attendees for that event. Even if only half need lodging, Disney makes a fortune. Then there are the vendors who showcase in the ITexpo. I think it was about 200 companies or more last year. I'd say about 1/3 hold special events each night (I never have to buy food or booze) and rent out those spaces (various restaurants, areas in Epcot, etc.). More money there. We haven't had MK rented out for many years. It's been HS for past six or so and Epcot (just futureworld) last year. Typically just from 8 - 11. So, in reality its just three hours for one night. It wouldn't cost as much as you would think and they still rake in the catering money at that event (open bar, buffets everywhere, etc.).

With Gartner you pay Gartner that amount though right? I work for a similar company and what we charge people coming to our events is nothing close to what it actually cost us. Also almost everyone on the show floor pays a fee to us and again it is above and beyond what the venue cost to host. I imaigne Gartner makes bank on the conference they host every year.

 

[TrampDog]

With Gartner you pay Gartner that amount though right? I work for a similar company and what we charge people coming to our events is nothing close to what it actually cost us. Also almost everyone on the show floor pays a fee to us and again it is above and beyond what the venue cost to host. I imaigne Gartner makes bank on the conference they host every year.

There are three plans with Gartner. Companies who contract their service ($40,000 a year and up) get a certain amount of passes to the conference. Certain companies are targeted each year to become clients of Gartner and get entry for free (around 5-10% of attendees). The rest (about 40%) pay the individual registration ($4000). Expo vendors do pay to "sponsor" their areas and some events.

Gartner is a HUGE production. From the 10,000 seat auditorium with a stage and lighting to match any big arena rock concert to nearly forty sessions going on at any one time in every conference room in the epcot resort area. Three huge enclosed tent setups to serve food. An expo area with 200+ booths (not single table either). Receptions each night in the expo center. The "special" night at one of the parks. LOGISTICS beyond comprehension. It's a pretty amazing feat. While they make money, it's not their bread and butter. Client subscriptions are where they make money. A huge portion of that from the government.

I have been attending this for 20 years. It grew until 9/11 and then took up until 2009 to get back up to record attendee levels. The conference that took place two weeks after 9/11 had 2000 attendees. Those were some rough times.

Why do I know so much about the back of the house? Let's just say I have been on the inside working for some companies. Anyway, I hope this helps.

 

[wilkeliza]

There are three plans with Gartner. Companies who contract their service ($40,000 a year and up) get a certain amount of passes to the conference. Certain companies are targeted each year to become clients of Gartner and get entry for free (around 5-10% of attendees). The rest (about 40%) pay the individual registration ($4000). Expo vendors do pay to "sponsor" their areas and some events.

Gartner is a HUGE production. From the 10,000 seat auditorium with a stage and lighting to match any big arena rock concert to nearly forty sessions going on at any one time in every conference room in the epcot resort area. Three huge enclosed tent setups to serve food. An expo area with 200+ booths (not single table either). Receptions each night in the expo center. The "special" night at one of the parks. LOGISTICS beyond comprehension. It's a pretty amazing feat. While they make money, it's not their bread and butter. Client subscriptions are where they make money. A huge portion of that from the government.

I have been attending this for 20 years. It grew until 9/11 and then took up until 2009 to get back up to record attendee levels. The conference that took place two weeks after 9/11 had 2000 attendees. Those were some rough times.

Why do I know so much about the back of the house? Let's just say I have been on the inside working for some companies. Anyway, I hope this helps.

Nice to see the inside. I have a friend that works for them and gets to go every year. I'm just in the finance department for the company I work for so we never get to go to the fun conferences. I know for a wedding a ride rental is usually ends up being 5-10K or more depending on what you want and how long.

 

[danielephant]

thanks. Just trying to plan. do you think they will still do wishes if the park is rented out? Trying to decide to book ohana or chef mickeys...and would love to watch wishes even if it is from afar cause I know they pipe in the music at ohanas

 

[jpeden]

thanks. Just trying to plan. do you think they will still do wishes if the park is rented out? Trying to decide to book ohana or chef mickeys...and would love to watch wishes even if it is from afar cause I know they pipe in the music at ohanas

It will depend on if the renter has paid to have a fireworks show. Some do and some don't. I know last year the huge travel agent convention thing they had rented out MK and they had Wishes with perimeter fireworks. Of course, that's not the normal operating procedure I would assume.

 

[danielephant]

thanks Jpeden

 

[Starclassic]

It's me. I rented it out for my birthday party. Sorry for the inconvenience.


(I'm kidding of course)