Hotels close to convention center

[Pyxie]

Not a Disney question but sort of..

Our Disney trip next year will be combined with a convention at the Orange County Convention Center. The Disney portion of the trip will be spent onsite but I'm looking for a hotel, preferably within walking distance of the convention center, for that portion of the trip. My company will release hotel blocks later but I like to research early and see what kind of prices I can find. Any suggestions?

 

[hiroMYhero]

We had dinner at Rosen Plaza last year. It’s a really nice property and not far from the Convention Center. It’s also across the street from Pointe Orlando - restaurant and shopping area.

 

[HopperFan]

Right next door Hilton Orlando.
We loved it.
It is a "twin" to the Hilton Bonnet Creek.
Great amenities and great staff.

Our room looked out over the Convention Center
and from the end of the hall we watched the fireworks at SeaWorld.

https://www.thehiltonorlando.com/

 

[writerguyfl]

My company will release hotel blocks later but I like to research early and see what kind of prices I can find.

FYI: Some conventions do not allow "outside" hotel reservations. They include clauses in the registration materials that allow them to match names/addresses of registered attendees with existing hotel reservations. If matched, your reservation gets moved into the room block for the convention...often at a higher rate. This practice only happens at hotels that have official blocks of rooms for the convention.

Whether you consider this practice ethical depends upon who you are. But, it's done because the convention gets part of the room revenue back. That money is used to pay for the costs of running the convention (as well as profit).

It's not every convention. But, I used to work in hotels and saw it enough to mention it here just in case.

 

[Pyxie]

FYI: Some conventions do not allow "outside" hotel reservations. They include clauses in the registration materials that allow them to match names/addresses of registered attendees with existing hotel reservations. If matched, your reservation gets moved into the room block for the convention...often at a higher rate. This practice only happens at hotels that have official blocks of rooms for the convention.

Whether you consider this practice ethical depends upon who you are. But, it's done because the convention gets part of the room revenue back. That money is used to pay for the costs of running the convention (as well as profit).

It's not every convention. But, I used to work in hotels and saw it enough to mention it here just in case.

Is this an Orlando thing? Because it doesn't happen at my company's convention. I attend every year. It's a huge, 10,000 person conference and lots of people stay outside of the room block.

 

[writerguyfl]

Is this an Orlando thing? Because it doesn't happen at my company's convention. I attend every year. It's a huge, 10,000 person conference and lots of people stay outside of the room block.

It happens all over. It's not something the convention center does, it's something the convention planner sets up. I used to work in hotel reservations, which is where I learned about the practice.

It's was just a heads up that something like that is possible. If you've been attending the same event every year and not heard about problems, they the person/group/company planning that event probably isn't doing it.

I didn't mean to alarm you. But, I always think more information is better than less, which is why I posted about the possibility of it happening.

 

[Penmac]

It happens all over. It's not something the convention center does, it's something the convention planner sets up. I used to work in hotel reservations, which is where I learned about the practice.

It's was just a heads up that something like that is possible. If you've been attending the same event every year and not heard about problems, they the person/group/company planning that event probably isn't doing it.

I didn't mean to alarm you. But, I always think more information is better than less, which is why I posted about the possibility of it happening.

I am part of a group that does this. Not for every event, but some. Basically, we are contracted to stay inside the block of hotels that they have set aside for our event. You can absolutely choose to stay outside the block, but then must pay an exorbitant daily admission fee to enter the convention each day.

We stayed in the Hyatt right in the area Pyxie is asking about. It’s beautiful. Hilton is very nice, too. Have also stayed at Embassy Suites International Dr.
Not as luxurious as the other hotels but great free breakfast and more room space if you need it.

 

[4kids4karen]

Cheerleading competitions are doing this as well. They call it "Stay to Play" where you have to book through a specific company for specific hotel blocks. You have to apply for an exception (military rates, etc) for an athlete to stay outside the hotel block.

If you are curious, here is a link about Stay to Play with sports. https://www.sportsdestinations.com/Management/Hotels %26 Lodging/stay-play-5634

 

[MrKnight]

Another vote for Hilton Orlando, unlike some of the other hotels this one is actually directly attached to the convention center via a covered pedestrian bridge which is HUGE plus and IMO this is the nicest hotel on I-Drive, it has an incredible resort-style pool with a lazy river and water slide (very similar to Hilton Bonnet Creek as previously mentioned)