Gartner Symposium at Coronado Springs

[nkereina]

I saw that the Gartner Symposium is scheduled to end on 10/18, which is the day before we arrive. I know this is a huge convention that people ideally want to avoid. For anyone who's been there during this time, did you find it to be disruptive with tear-downs or people staying past the convention through the weekend? Anything to be concerned about after its over? Thanks!

 

[Dave006]

No real activities at the Coronado Springs only Gartner attendees staying there during the October event.

The Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2018 will take place at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

Dave

 

[Tess]

I saw that the Gartner Symposium is scheduled to end on 10/18, which is the day before we arrive. I know this is a huge convention that people ideally want to avoid. For anyone who's been there during this time, did you find it to be disruptive with tear-downs or people staying past the convention through the weekend? Anything to be concerned about after its over? Thanks!

No real activities at the Coronado Springs only Gartner attendees staying there during the October event.

The Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2018 will take place at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney's Boardwalk Resort.

Dave

We have been several times during the Symposium AND stayed at Dolphin on at least one of those occasions and we didn't notice any appreciable difference in the parks or with our hotel/restaurant service. The real issue is booking a hotel room at one of the deluxe or Swan/Dolphin resorts during the Symposium. We have noticed a good many dedicated buses for the attendees going from the MK Resorts to Boardwalk resorts, but other than that nada.

 

[DebbieB]

I stayed at Boardwalk one time when they were there, no big deal. Only knew they were there by seeing them with their credentials, hanging out on the boardwalk at night.

 

[purple figment]

We've been several times in October during the week of the Gartner Symposium and stay at the Boardwalk. The attendees don't impact the resorts or the parks. At the resorts we tended to see them walking around in the morning and evenings. We didn't even see many of them having dinner at the resort restaurants, probably because they didn't make ADRs at 180 days! Instead, we saw more of them dining at Disney Springs.

I wouldn't worry about staying at Coronado Springs. None of the Symposium sessions are there so there's nothing to tear down afterwards. Most likely you won't even know they were there since you'll be arriving after the Symposium ends.

 

[writerguyfl]

As large groups at Disney World go, Gartner is one of the best as far as cohabitation with "regular" guests is concerned. It's been a few years since I was there while that event was happening. But, the only real time I noticed them was when hundreds of Gartner attendees were escorted into Epcot right be Illuminations. They had space reserved for them, so the only issue I saw was guests having to wait a few minutes while the Gartner folks were passing through World Showcase.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The attendees don't impact the resorts or the parks.

In my experience, they do impact parking, particularly at Boardwalk, Beach Club and the Swolphin. The good news is Disney goes to extra efforts to enforce Boardwalk parking in that time. But I would caution not to assume "oh we can drive to our ADR at Beaches & Cream/Trattoria/Yachtsman and they'll let us park for the ADR!" Because you are likely to end up in the DHS or Epcot lots.

 

[gillep]

We were there during this convention last year, the only 'issue' we had was at the YC at the start of the conference, the lobby was absolutely full of people waiting to check in, otherwise no issues.

 

[madalex]

Like some other posters, I've been a guest at an Epcot resort a few times during the Gartner symposium. All those attendees make the bars and restaurants in the area a little more crowded, but it's not too bad. Also, seeing all the Gartner folks with their lanyards working and networking all over the area does make the place seem a little less "magical" (but I suppose that says more about me than them).

I go to the FWF every year and always stay in the Epcot resort area. All things being equal, I try to avoid Gartner week, but would stay there that week if I couldn't get a reservation at any other time.