Hello!
I am headed to Orlando for a business training trip in March, and the conference is at the Hilton Bonnet Creek. I have always been an on-property gal, and was surprised to learn it would be at HBC as years past have been at the Swan and Dolphin...however, the trip has been approved and I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD! Wahoo! That being said, though a well seasoned Disney traveler, I have ZERO experience off site. I can see how close it is to all my favorite places in the World, but can someone please help me figure out realistically how long it will take me to travel to and from my favorite places, whether or not its worth doing park hoppers since my mobility will be less convenient without access to the disney transportation, and so forth? From what I could see poking around the resorts website, buses run every half hour to MK, EP and DHS (looks like EP and DHS is probably a shared bus), and once per hour to AK. Is this the norm? I am a wee bit nervous because my dates are 3/9-3/13 which is the onslaught of the spring break travel season AND the start of the Flower and Garden festival, so I KNOW it is going to be so much more crowded than I am used to (We typically travel late Sept/Early Oct or very early Dec during the pre-christmas spike) Because I will be without my husband or kids, I know my touring will be very different, but I am really hoping for some insight from travelers who have stayed at the HBC as well as how convenient it will be to be "off site" during such a busy time....thanks in advance!
Also- as an onsite gal, I am utterly spoiled by DME....the conference includes discounts for the MEARS shuttle to the resort....would I better off with a taxi?
How fun for you!! I also have a nice benefit from the work conference I attend each year as it is in Orlando
so I understand a lot of your questions. But first let me say that while I have stayed at HBC, I have never used their transportation to the parks. I have always had a car and only driven to DTD anyway from HBC (it is really close). BUT, check out their transportation schedule at:
http://www.hiltonbonnetcreek.com/disney-transportation
I'll let others talk about the transportation experience but the distance you are from the parks is similar to Pop Century (you can see that resort from HBC) - closest to DTD, then EP/HS, then AK, then MK. I'd say the advantage you will have is KNOWING when their transportation picks up! And like you said, if you are by yourself, it is so much easier to get around since you can walk as quickly as you like and not have to keep track of others. I find that to be the biggest benefit of traveling by myself. Of course, you don't get the pleasure of your family's company but luckily at Disney, you can make instant friends if you want to chat with someone for a few minutes (on the bus, in line at an attraction, etc).
Mears shuttle is "fine". Nothing fabulous about it but perfectly safe and you ride with others (which makes me feel more comfortable when I travel by myself). I've never taken a taxi from MCO but it would get you to your resort quicker than the shuttle - especially when you don't know how many stops it will make before your resort. One word of caution with taxis in WDW, make sure if you do take one that it is approved by the hotel. The 'non-preferred' cab companies may try to scam you as they did try to with me...but being a Disney vet, I knew they were taking me the extra-long route (this was going from one Disney resort to another). So if you decide on a taxi, check allearsnet for their recommendation and call HBC for theirs as well.
As for your question about park hoppers - how much time will you have each day to spend at the parks? During my conference, I am busy until 5 pm so it would be a quick time at 2 parks if I were to do that in one evening. I do usually spend a weekend as well and on those days, I may want to park hop but I really do my research to figure out where I most likely will go each day before I spend the extra $55 (or $50 for a conference ticket). If you are going for a conference, many times Disney offers a discounted ticket and each ticket comes with a bonus that you can use at a waterpark or minigolf (and some other places). And since your children are not going, you may want to do some more things you don't normally do - like going to Jellyrolls or seeing Yeeha Bob or spending some time at Mizner's and listening to the band or even just checking out some of the resorts. So before you decide to add the park hopper, make sure you would be able to use it (and yes, I get a park hopper when I am by myself but I also have 3 full days in addition to the conference to go to the parks).
I know there are some comments on the transportation throughout this thread so you may want to search this thread for some real reviews rather than just listening to my guesses
But no matter what, you are so right when you say YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY
Hopefully someone can tell you where the HBC pick up location is at the parks but you know how it is with so many people leaving that I'm sure you won't be in the dark, alone, you know?? I totally get it though, I travel a lot for work and I don't get ground floor hotel rooms, I check underneath the bed, behind the curtains, and in the closet everytime I enter the room. I hold my keys between my fingers walking to the car in the dark and scan all areas like I'm some sort of paranoid-low-on-the-foodchain-animal. And I feel so much better at Disney - including HBC! I am still cautious but Disney really does keep their eyes open even if you aren't. I swear one time a cast member materialized out of no where when I was walking to the Dolphin late one night. He made sure I got back ok even though he didn't say that 
is not for me!):
