Staying at WDW while attending a convention?

[TTFNTigger]

Hello All!

I am hoping to attend a national convention at the Orange County Convention Center in November with a friend and we are considering staying at a WDW resort instead of at one of the convention hotels. We figure why spend the $$ on a regular hotel when we can book a fun hotel. Right now we have All Star Movies booked, but are keeping our eyes out for a better deal. We are also considering going to Mickey's Christmas Party one evening. This is our second time attending this convention in this area. The first time we stayed with family that lives just outside Orlando, so driving to and from the convention doesn't bother us but we want a closer drive. Anyone have experience with staying at WDW while attending a convention? Any cons for doing this? Any chance there will be discount tickets to WDW parks for convention attendees (not Hollywood Studios- we don't want to get in the Star Wars crowds)? Recommendations for how to get from ASMo to other Resorts if we decide to book a couple of dinner reservations? TIA!!!!!

 

[Bjkandma]

Any discount tickets that might be applicable to you through the convention, you would need to go through the convention. Disney does not sell discount tickets.

From All Star Movies you could use free Disney transportation, but it does not go resort to resort. You would board a bus at your resort, head to a theme park (or Disney Springs) and then take a bus to the resort where reservation is at.

Or, take a Minnie can service (thru Lfyt) from your resort to dining reservation resort. The price for this is a flat rate of $15 then a few of $2.75 per mile. Not cheap.

Or call and order a regular Uber or Lfyt from your resort to resort where reservation is at.

 

[buzznina]

I know conventions that are at WDW are offered discount tickets, it's part of the convention package. But once you go offsite, it would be up to the conference to buy WDW tickets to offer to their guests.
I would suggest Uber to go resort to resort.

 

[_19disnA]

It depends on the type of convention and how your company operates, every convention is not structured exactly the same. Ones I have attended usually involve some group meals and/or time at one of the Disney parks. However, every company is different and sometimes you may not know what the planned activities are until you attend. Some may be optional, while others a part of the convention.

 

[unrequited23]

Will your employer cover the cost of a WDW resort vs a convention hotel? Are there any happy hours/mixers that will offer networking opportunities that would be easier to attend staying closer to the convention center? What are the odds that a vendor will invite you out to dinner?

My DH attends a convention every year in May and it alternates between Vegas, Anaheim, Atlanta and Orlando. We've been looking for every angle to justify a trip to Disney but haven't found a compelling financial benefit, since he would be gone from 8-7pm at the minimum.

 

[Lynne M]

Any chance there will be discount tickets to WDW parks for convention attendees (not Hollywood Studios- we don't want to get in the Star Wars crowds)?

That depends on the group that's running the convention. You'd need to check with them. Some convention groups offer discounted theme park tickets to attendees, some don't.

Recommendations for how to get from ASMo to other Resorts if we decide to book a couple of dinner reservations? TIA!!!!!

I assume you're going to have a car, since the convention center is about 12-ish miles from ASMo, depending on the route you take. That would be the best way to get from resort to resort.

The only other tip I have is to leave plenty of time for travel to and from the convention center, that part of I-Drive gets really congested during rush hour. If you want to cut that trip down some, consider a hotel in the Disney Springs area. Being at ASMo has you driving all the way across WDW before you even get off property. If you want to stay with a value, Pop or AoA would make for a shorter commute.