Getting to Orlando Conference Center from WDW?

[mm6mm6]

Omigosh, I can hardly believe it, but the business I do side work for is paying to fly me to Orlando in October for a conference. I'm not exactly sure where the conference will be in Orlando, but it's a big one.

The website is: www.theiacpconference.org but I can't seem to find the name of the actual conference center.

We will pay for my DW and DD13 to fly with me, but the company is picking up the room stay for three nights (we'll pay for the fourth) at one of the Moderate Resorts.

I'd like to stay at the CBR again, but any of the mods will be fine.

My question is, will there most likely be a bus from the conference that picks up at WDW somewhere? This particular conference has had several bus lines going from hotel to hotel the past few years in Denver, San Diego, and New Orleans. I'm guessing they'll have one that stops to pick up and drop off at DTD, the CSR (only because they're the "conference" resort with their own meeting areas), or at the Transportation Hub.

Anyone else ever stay on WDW property while in Orlando for a conference and have bus service from the conference?

Or is a cab the best way for me to get to and from the conference for two days?

We're very excited to be getting such a great deal. I feel very lucky. We have $285 on our Disney VISA card in Rewards to spend too!

 

[vicki_c]

IACP 2010 will take place at the Orange County Convention Center, 9860 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, USA, October 23-27, 2010.

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

Just came back from Orlando, doing pretty much the same thing. Unfortunately, the OCCC is about a 20 minute drive from the gate. It's just north of Sea World. Buses run to the neighboring conference center hotels but not to WDW.

Also, Disney has their own conference center (CSR) so there isn't a lot of love for OCCC.

I rented a car. Parking was $11 a day at OCCC but still worth it to me.

 

[NotUrsula]

Conventions held at the OCCC almost never run shuttles to WDW hotels; the usual shuttle routes normally only cover the part of I-Drive north of the Beachline and the Sea World area.

If your conference has a wiki, maybe you can find someone who wants to carpool from WDW; it isn't that unusual for people to combine taking kids to WDW when attending a conference anywhere in Orlando.

 

[TaraPA]

We've done several conferences onsite (CSR & Swan/Dolphin) and offsite at the OCCC. As others have said, there is no free transportation to OCCC unless it's specified in your documents, and it's not right around the corner. It's a 20-minute drive minimum with no traffic. Your best bet is to rent a car. I took a cab between OCCC & MK & it was $55 plus tip, one way! A cab would be your most convenient mode of transportation, but if cost is a factor then a rental might be your best bet.

 

[mm6mm6]

Great info everyone! Thanks! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the IACP will provide shuttle service from some main area at WDW (like the transportation center or DTD) because so many attendees will stay somewhere on property. If they don't, then it would seem like $55 for a cab each way x's 4 rides would be $220. A car rental + two days parking ($22) might be cheaper.

 

[cg1200]

I am attending a Gartner conference in June which is at a Marriott. I got a great rate at the dolphin ($150/night) so I was going to just rent a car and drive back and forth. Looks like about a 20 minute "commute" from the Dolphin to the Marriott. You're probably better off doing likewise.

BTW that OCCC is awesome. I don't think I've even been in a larger land structure. It is positively huge. It can take 15 minutes just to walk from the north side to the south.

 

[Starshine]

We're going to the Star Wars convention at OCCC in August, and the only very cheap transportation I've found is to take the Lynx bus to the Sea World area and then take the I trolley from there which seems like way too much of a pain for us. We decided to just rent a car at the Dolphin and pay the $11/day to park.

 

[mm6mm6]

We've never stayed at the Dolphin so that might be a very fun thing for us to try and then I could just rent a car....

 

[TaraPA]

Yes the OCCC is the largest CC in the US - or 2nd to Anaheim...I read that on here somewhere! They do have shuttles within the complex of the OCCC, it's that big!