Gardner group convention?

[JDY]

I read in another post that a VERY LARGE group called the Gardner group holds a convention at WDW in October. Does anyone know anything about this? Who are they? When they might be there? etc.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227741

 

[allicat]

Since I will be at Disney to celebrate my sisters wedding in Oct., I was curious what this convention might be. I think its the "Gartner Group" which is a technology firm and they have some sort of expo at the Dolphin. At least, they did last year in mid Oct., according to what I found in my search.
Dont worry about conventions- the World is big enough so that you will barely notice these people unless they are wearing t shirts with slogans on them.
I remember one year I was down there and I kept seeing people wearing red Pampered Chef t shirts everywhere I went!

 

[regnurs]

Just found them online. They will be in Orlando the 6th-11th.

 

[BlueFairy]

The computer expo is correct. They were at the Swan or Dolphin in 10/2000 while we were at WDW for our honeymoon. Lots of ties and such swarming everywhere. Cell phones gallore, too. They closed a public area of the hotel for a party. We weren't staying at that hotel. We were in WDW for a week and didn't notice them at all except in the BW/S-D/YC/BC areas. I think they were too busy doing business to have any fun at the parks!

 

[PamOKW]

Conventions are very big business for Disney and the primary business for the Swan/Dolphin. They are always there. They are easier to identify when there are large groups instead of lots of smaller ones. Don't worry about them. They help keep the rates down for everyone else.

 

[las3888]

I have accompanied my DH on several trips to the Gartner Group conventions at the Dolphin...it is pretty amazing how they feed so many people in one huge tent, house everybody, have seminars. It is a big to-do!

If you are going to be there, you will mostly like be impacted only if you are staying in the Boardwalk area, especially at the Swan/Dolphin. If you don't have a reservation and want to stay at any boardwalk hotel during that time...GOOD LUCK. We made ressies for the conventions almost a year in advance to get in.

If you already have a ressie, I wouldn't worry too much. Lots of techie people walking around with cell phones etc. but no big deal. If anything, it will make you feel glad that you are there on vacation and not "working".

 

[EjandMD]

That convention is a nightmare avoid it if you can! Room rates go up, they have parties everywhere and even my friends who work there HATE that time of year. It is the biggest convention that Disney hosts and also the biggest pain.

Good Luck