how do conventions affect park crowds?

[ngvenice]

Wow, read on another thread that there are at least 2 big conventions on our dates. One offsite, one onsite. How does this affect park crowds. Any insight will help because now Im kind of really stressing.

 

[kymom99]

I wouldn't worry about it. There was a convention on our trip in 2008 and they were staying at POR. We stayed at POFQ and didn't really notice. The only reason we really knew about it was because they asked us to change from POR to FQ a month or so before our trip and said they needed the rooms for a convention. Also, we saw a couple people alone on ME with business type clothes and briefcases, etc. and figured they were business guests. You'll be fine.

 

[jillybeans]

As one who has attended numerous conferences at WDW I can assure you that we spend our days sequestered away in rooms with no windows and get maybe a break here and there or lunch to get outside and enjoy the air! Believe me - it's frustrating to sit in these conference sessions when all you want to do is go play in the parks!!!! And then there are frequently conference activities at night which means no park then either, or the other people you are with aren't park people. So I don't think you'll see much of an issue with crowds due to conventions.

What I love though, is when I'm there on vacation and I see the people there on business...... I laugh to myself thinking HA HA - you have to sit in a room all day and I'm going to the Parks!!!

Enjoy!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A few years ago I attended a convention with about 2,300 people at Coronado Springs. We used all of the CSR Convention Center. As it was a social group people did not have to go to all sessions, but most people did not go to the parks during the convention. And even if we had an "in-park" day, adding two thousand people to a Park would really not even be noticed.

And some conventions will do a buyout of a park and there will be an early closing with the park actually cleared of Guests and then the special party. Normally this will be DHS or MK.

 

[nicki.momof3]

What kind of great jobs / careers have conventions at WDW. I only get to boring, windowless, stuffy, conference room is the even more boring cities.

 

[ngvenice]

shamelessly bumping to get more insight.

thanx

 

[Smokeyspawn]

Actually makes crowds smaller. If the resorts are filled with people that are going to meetings all day then they are not filled with people who would go to parks...

 

[kapoof]

we have been there while conventions are going on. no biggie, just people in the resort walking around with name tags. some folks will not go during conventions... they don't like being on vacation with 'suits and name tags' it doesn't bother me in the least...

 

[Eeyore2003]

There are always conventions and large gatherings going on at DisneyWorld and around Orlando. We've attended conferences both in the Spring and the Fall and the biggest difference is the time of year as far as the crowd. The Spring was packed because of Spring Break going on, the Fall ones (and we've gone in both October and November) are really nice, because the parks themselves are not as crowded. I wouldn't worry about the "convention" crowd as much as the "time of year" crowd. Most of the resorts are convention centers, so they are kind of like a constant "given." You just don't hear about them specifically very often.

 

[PSUGuy]

We're frequent Swan and Dolphin guests and they often host major conventions, the result being that the WDW busses are less crowded as many/most guests are tied up all day in meetings. Also, not recommended, we've crashed a few Happy Hours put on for the conventioneers from time to time, cuts way down on our vacation bar tab.

Bill From PA

 

[dolphindan1]

And some conventions will do a buyout of a park and there will be an early closing with the park actually cleared of Guests and then the special party. Normally this will be DHS or MK.

Cheshire..is there a way to find this out in advance....The conventions the OP is talking about are the 2 during the week of Nov 14th....

I am doing DHS on friday and would hate to be there if conventions are gonna be there that evening...made that mistake with POP a couple years back...I dont wanna miss Osbourne lights either...

 

[ironz]

There are always conventions and large gatherings going on at DisneyWorld and around Orlando. We've attended conferences both in the Spring and the Fall and the biggest difference is the time of year as far as the crowd. The Spring was packed because of Spring Break going on, the Fall ones (and we've gone in both October and November) are really nice, because the parks themselves are not as crowded. I wouldn't worry about the "convention" crowd as much as the "time of year" crowd. Most of the resorts are convention centers, so they are kind of like a constant "given." You just don't hear about them specifically very often.

This has been my experience as well.
I've been to conferences in the fall...the parks aren't too crowded, just like when I visit on my own in the fall.
In the spring, I went to one that extended to President's Day. Well, the first day, it wasn't crowded, but then the crowds picked up, not because of the conference, but because people were on holiday enjoying the 3 day weekend at Disney.

I will say, the conferences I attend are usually 200 people or fewer, so really no impact. And not big enough to have our own parties in the park, etc. I don't think they often take over parks, or if so, it is usually later in the evening. I have seen where groups will reserve the Illuminations viewing areas by England and Italy from time to time. (not mine, though)

 

[Katievun]

There were conventions going on the whole time I was there and I didn't even notice.. but I do have an odd story about one group.

On one of my free days when I went to MK there were probably about 30 people from a convention in green polos walking around (no biggie) but they just happened to be on all the same rides as us (still no biggie). They were in their 30's and seriously acted like they were 12 year olds without their parents, goin through their "cool" stage. In the stretching room in the HM, they would do really loud "spooky laughs" and scream over the audio, then just laugh and playfully shush each other, so no one could hear. A few people told them to be quiet and they just kept doing it. Fortunately when we got on the ride, they were about 10-15 buggies behind us, but I could STILL hear them screaming and laughing all through the ride. Ugh!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Cheshire..is there a way to find this out in advance....The conventions the OP is talking about are the 2 during the week of Nov 14th....

I am doing DHS on friday and would hate to be there if conventions are gonna be there that evening...made that mistake with POP a couple years back...I dont wanna miss Osbourne lights either...

Park hours are always posted months in advance. These events are also planned months in advance. It is nothing to worry about.

 

[Donut23]

Disney does a very good job selling their convention inventory. Except for holiday weekends (like thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas) I bet just about any time you will find convention guests at WDW.


We just picked up a couple of extra nights before we move to BC. We choose Coronado Springs after checking their convention schedule.....ZERO for Thanksgiving weekend. We have never stayed there....were not so much interested in being there with the convention crowd. This is our trip of "new adventures".....hard to find after 20+ years of disney trips. Coronado Springs will be a first-time for us!

I cannot remember how I stumbled onto the convention booking list for Coronado Springs. I have to admit I had expected few conventions during the month of December.....we are all so distracted with the holidays....family and parties. Coronado Springs goes back into convention mode immediately after Thanksgiving weekend!

 

[sjs314]

A few years ago I attended a convention with about 2,300 people at Coronado Springs. We used all of the CSR Convention Center. As it was a social group people did not have to go to all sessions, but most people did not go to the parks during the convention. And even if we had an "in-park" day, adding two thousand people to a Park would really not even be noticed.

And some conventions will do a buyout of a park and there will be an early closing with the park actually cleared of Guests and then the special party. Normally this will be DHS or MK.

I heard that is the reason MK is closing early 6:30pm on the Tues I am in Disney in Nov, a private event for some convention. I think these private events which result in early park closings impact someone's vacation more than crowds in the day to day scheme of things at the parks

Cheshire..is there a way to find this out in advance....The conventions the OP is talking about are the 2 during the week of Nov 14th....

I am doing DHS on friday and would hate to be there if conventions are gonna be there that evening...made that mistake with POP a couple years back...I dont wanna miss Osbourne lights either...

I have the same worry about the OL after reading a TR from last year where the closed down DHS for a private party so no one was able to see the OL that night. I to am planning on seeing them on the Friday of the night I am at the World and will be leaving the next day so if I miss the OL that will be it for me.

Park hours are always posted months in advance. These events are also planned months in advance. It is nothing to worry about.

I know the early closing at MK has been on the calendar since it first came out back end of April so I hope there are no surprises coming for DHS, at one point they had changed the EMH(E) at DHS from the Monday to the Friday and then a few weeks later switched it back and has DHS closing at 7pm just like the other nights of the week. I will be checking that calendar until the day I step foot into DHS