Disney world is a horrible conference destination, but not for the reason you've focused on. That four days at the Big Annual conference is supposed to be your annual vacation from the wife and kids. Zero chance you are getting away alone for this one.

The point needs to be emphasized that in this day and age, unions seldom properly represent the interests of the rank and file. The NEA, for instance, will happily throw good teachers under the bus in order to protect bad ones. Why? Because bad teachers have lots of time to spend on union activities. Good teachers are busy, you know, teaching.

Eh, I can't get that wrapped around the axle about it.

You can reach the Grand Floridian by Disney transportation (monorail/ bus combo) from anywhere on Disney property. The walk-in rate for the Grand Floridian is $488 (no idea what kind of block rate they got) but other accommodations on property can certainly be had for $200 or less. The Disney touches that make family vacations seem magical would certainly make a conference run smoother for attendees (luggage wrangling, eliminating the need for taxis or rental cars, reasonably priced food options, etc). Not to mention that Disney has employees and tool focused on providing conference specific "magic" to make these things run smoothly at the organizer end too.

Actually, Orlando is perfect for the hard working union boss. He may:

- send his wife and kids to the Disney properties, as well as Universal and Sea World

- send the wife and kids to Tampa for Busch Gardens, as well as the Lowry Park Zoo

Once they've run themselves ragged, then he can

- send himself and his buds to the strip clubs

- send himself and his buds to the Seminole Hard Rock casino

I would call that a win-win scenario. To the best of my knowledge, there are no nude strip clubs in Orlando. They'd have to take the trip over to Tampa for that.

If the rank and file are annoyed by that, I'll remind them you voted for this, so shut it and eat the sh!t sandwich your union bosses are handing you.

Elle-

Disney has a convention center with cheaper space and cheaper rooms--Coronado Springs Resort. In off-season (i.e., now), standard rooms are around $150. Literally every other Disney resort is cheaper than the Grand Floridian.

While the union blows their money on Disney's fanciest resort, Disney's been working hard to make cheaper vacations more affordable to these low-wage families with a series of value resorts, the All-Star, Pop Century, and Art of Animation resorts. But union bigwigs don't want to spend that kind of time elbowing with the proletariat they claim to represent.

I actually worked at Disney though it was at the Yacht & Beach Club, about half the price of the Grand. My friend did work at the Grand and now works in convention services... tempted to make a call...

Conventions are usually less expensive than the full price mentioned since the rooms are guaranteed "occupied" – people who are no-shows still pay or the company does – and they rent the convention center of their resort/hotel. Since no-shows are normally around 5% (15% at regular hotels) Disney likes guaranteed payment enough for steep discounts.

UFCW are still full of shit, they also covered all of the food (including restaurants) and hotels at Disney.

-Brian
Coronado, while on property, is actually not a Disney resort, that is how they slightly bend the pricing rules, though I am sure you can imagine what would happen if they went too low since it straddles Yacht and Beach and the Boardwalk.

– tl;dr
For an off-topic example of a convention gone well; when Daimler-Chrystler showed several could not make it and they got charged per contract, the company told the front-desk to release the rooms and fill them if they want giving the resort double payment for each room. D-C was the best group I ever dealt with, I was in EPCOT at the time and did the "night security" (using that term loosely) for the fireworks show, they gave the workers, "cast members" all of the extra food and hid us in the crowd since they knew we were not really able to accept.

Years ago I attended a convention in Arizona and the room rates were much cheaper. The usual rate was around $300 - but that include a round of golf for two....bare room was around $250 (you had to hunt on there website to find it) our rate was $140.

There was a point in time in my life that I had to borrow $25 stay at a Red Roof Inn because the snow was coming in and the training class was 75 miles from home at a training class.

I now prefer the Choice Hotels if I have to spend a night out. Those are maxing about $125, in most places.

If I am representing people making under $15 and staying in a room for four nights that is a weeks income, I would question the sense of it.

These idiots are addicted to OPM. They can go to hell.

I R A, my wife is a member. No, she did not "vote for this." It was there when she started working and it'll be there when she retires.

She doesn't care for the union, but to be honest, it's helped in a few ways. Our kids got well over $10,000 in scholarship money, which helps a lot when you are the one paying - we both have jobs, so we're rich, you know. The healthcare is good, and she'll get a modest pension. So how do they do it? You know all those kids working part time pay union dues, don't you? What do you think they get?