Disney Meetings:
This is something I wrote for my 9-5 job. It was from the April 2017 issue of AdminAdvantage, the magazine of DeskDemon.com a website for administrative professionals.
Disney Magical Meetings
By: Susan Silva
Disney. Disney magic. Disney imagination. Disney innovation. Disney fun! Millions of people every year “experience” Disney. For me Disney is special. My birthday is very close to Christmas, so growing up my parents took my twin sister and me to Disneyland Resort in Southern California every year for our birthday. Disneyland made our birthday special and left actual presents for Christmas. Millions of families worldwide have treasured memories of going to one of the Disney resorts for a vacation or special occasion. But Disney isn’t just for the family vacation! Thousands of companies hold meetings at a Disney resort every year. Companies have such a good experience that many come back year after year. Disney is known for quality, and that is what you get. Disney Meetings host, create and produce magical and inspiring events—meetings that will be unforgettable for you and your attendees. “Why Disney Meetings? The answer is simple: because it is Disney itself!”
When planning meetings, the Disney experience provides you with the whole package. Disney‘s event staff will take the time and work hard to give you the perfect meeting within budget and at the same time help you meet your objectives while having fun. It doesn’t matter if your event is small or large, the event staff will work with you and help you with creative ideas to get the job done right while staying within your budget. You can start with where you want your attendees to stay. After getting to know the needs and objective of your meeting, they can help book a stay at the perfect hotel. Each Disney hotel has an ambiance of its own—casual, fun, some with a bit more luxury. Disney can help you pick the best hotel for the goals of your meeting. You can also include a few resort days before or after your event for a special rate and purchase specially priced Disney Meeting and Convention theme park tickets.
Some of the fun features that come with planning at a Disney Resort are the opportunities of meeting rooms or event space that can be themed. You can have a “Swashbuckling Soiree” or maybe an “Alice in Wonderland” themed-party for everyone. With world class service Disney provides lots of options to give your meetings the maximum impact they deserve. Start the day in a conference room with a catered breakfast, book break-out rooms for brainstorming or smaller group sessions, have a fun themed catered lunch in an outside location, come back to a team building event in the park, and end the day at one of the fine restaurants nearby or a sit-down dinner with beautiful décor and entertainment. The meeting is yours to make magical! Disney can help you surpass the “WOW” factor!
Your meeting may be a managers meeting, a convention, a conference, an incentive trip, a corporate planning meeting, or possibly a team building experience. If you are planning to include a professional development element to your agenda, your Disney Meetings representative may suggest including a Disney Institute program. Disney Institute provides fun and informative training, based on the time-tested success and insights from Disney parks and resorts worldwide. Disney Institute can provide your meeting with a keynote presentation and one-day to multi-day programs which provide you with Disney insights in stimulating format and team building experiences.
Disney is known for their imagination; they can help bring this magic to your meeting, keeping your attendees engaged. Disney makes you look good! Some meetings look for ROI; Disney gets you ROE—Return on Emotion. Planning a meeting at Disney will bring out the best in your meeting and your attendees. They will leave with great memories—a positive Return on Emotion!
Planning a meeting at a Disney Resort has its advantages. Disney wants your experience to be excellent and will make all your meeting members feel like VIPs. Disney meeting services are available worldwide at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the Disneyland Resort in Southern California, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort and the Disney Cruise Line.
Orlando, Florida is the number one conference destination in the U.S. My bet is the Disney Resorts play a major part in being number one. Walt Disney World Resort has six convention resorts with more than 700,000 square feet of flexible event space for your meetings, including ballrooms, meeting rooms and outside locations. Each hotel has its own ambiance and unique features.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is on the water and has a 1940s feel of Atlantic City. With over 370 luxurious guest rooms and over 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a great choice for conferences with an exciting atmosphere.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort has an iconic A-frame tower with a beautiful view of the Magic Kingdom park just across the lake. Disney’s Monorail runs through the resort. This hotel has a modern look and feel and has over 650 guest rooms and a convention center with 115,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort is a popular spot for meetings; it has a Southwest feel with palm-shaded courtyards and haciendas. It also has a white sand beach and scenic trails. The Disney’s Coronado Spring Resort is popular for larger conferences and has many amenities for the larger events, with over 1,900 guest rooms. They have business class guest rooms as well. The resort has over 220,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the Veracruz exhibit hall that is 85,765 square feet of meeting and event space and the Coronado ballroom with 60,214 square feet of space.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian style hotel. It takes you back in time with its décor and style. The Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has an antique style with stained glass ceiling domes and a feel that you are at a beach resort way back in the early 19th century.
Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort club is more upscale and has a more relaxing atmosphere with a nautical, New England vibe. It is next to beautiful Crescent Lake where you can rent water crafts and take time to enjoy the beauty of the area. With over 1,190 guest rooms and over 70,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort is a great option for your meeting. Within its meeting space, there is the Grand Harbour ballroom which can accommodate a meeting or event up to 4,500 guests! On the flip side, there is also the executive boardroom for small groups up to 14 guests.
Southern California is home to Disneyland Resort, the first and original Disney Park. Located in Anaheim with airports nearby, the Disneyland Resort is easy to get to. There are three Disney operated hotels, all just outside the park and each has its unique theme. Downtown Disney is just steps away from all three hotels and has plenty of places for dining, shopping and having the Disney magical experience.
Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is a beautiful hotel that makes you feel you are at a wilderness lodge. The hotel lobby was inspired by Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn. It has elegant wood accents and a roaring fireplace where you warm up, talk with co-workers or just relax. It is the “Grandest” of the three hotels with over 940 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The Sequoia ballroom can accommodate events up to 1,200 guests. The Grand Californian has three scenic outdoor areas that can accommodate events up to 200 guests.
Disneyland Hotel is the original Disney Hotel! A little fact: the Disneyland Hotel opened in 1955, but none of the original hotel remains. It has had several renovations and is now a cool hotel with stunning views. Guests in many of the rooms can enjoy the nightly fireworks show or the World of Color show at the Disney California Adventure Park from the hotel’s balconies. The Disneyland Hotel has over 970 guest rooms and 136,000 of flexible meeting and event space that includes the Disneyland exhibit hall that can accommodate up to 3,000 guests.
Paradise Pier Hotel has a beach culture theme. It is right across from the Disney California Adventure Park and many of the rooms feature views of the park. The Paradise Pier Hotel has fun themed rooms which highlight the sea-side beach theme. Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel has very cool rooftop pools and the California Streamin’ waterslide! Many of the Disney hotels have won awards, but the Disney’s Paradise Pier hotel won the AAA Three Diamond Award in Southern California specifically for business travelers. The Disney Paradise Pier Hotel has over 480 guest rooms with 24,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is Disney’s magical Hawaiian paradise! Located on the island of O’ahu, this destination showcases all the WOW factors that are Disney. This beautiful waterfront destination gives you an exotic, luxurious backdrop for your meeting. Your meeting will be truly Hawaii with infusions of Disney!
Disney Cruise Line offers a unique meeting experience as well as all the wonders that a Disney Cruise can bring. Disney has four ships, each with dedicated meeting space where you can get together for your meeting. Have your meeting attendees try a group port adventure. The Disney Cruise Line, with its unparalleled service, will be one your meeting and event attendees will take home memories from to last forever.
Disneyland Paris is “the” place to plan your next meeting. When planning a meeting at Disneyland Paris, you will work with Disney Business Solutions. Disneyland Paris is Europe’s number one tourist destination. Disneyland Paris has two major conference centres, an events arena and 9 partner hotels. It is the fifth-largest convention facility in France! Disney Business Solutions will give your meeting an experience only Disneyland Paris can give! You search for your ROE (Return on Emotion) at many of the resorts around Disneyland Paris.
Disney’s Hotel New York takes you to New York in the 1930s. Experience an Art Deco feel of New York and Wall Street. It gives you that high energy feel. The Disney’s Hotel New York is great for larger meetings as it holds one of the two convention centres located at Disney Paris. The Disney’s Hotel New York has over 568 guest rooms with 5,000 square meters of meeting and event space.
Disney’s Newport Bay Club’s ambiance and décor is based on a New England experience, light house included! Laid back with relaxation, this colonial style hotel allows you to get away from it all, Disney style, with over 1,093 guest rooms and 5,500 square meters of meeting and event space. The conference centre for businesses having meetings at the centre is not accessible by the casual Disney visitor.
The Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris is a grand hotel full of luxury. The hotel’s theme was inspired by Victorian palaces. The Disneyland Hotel has over 496 guest rooms and a customizable business suite that lets your meeting be held in a unique environment. Many of the rooms offer beautiful views of the Disneyland Park. The Disneyland Hotel has two meeting rooms of 2,800 square meters for small meetings with lovely views of the Disneyland Park.
Hong Kong Disney Resort – Over the years Disney has been magical in the meetings and events realm. Disneyland Hong Kong has the benefit of this combined knowledge and can bring that extra sparkle and magic to your Hong Kong meeting.
Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is located on the shores of the South China Sea. It captures a Victorian theme and brings a bit of luxury and class to the ambiance. It has 400 guest rooms and 1,500 square meters of meeting and event space. It has a dedicated Conference Centre area for meeting guests and includes two beautiful ballrooms: the Cinderella Ballroom and the Snow White Ballroom.
Disney’s Hollywood Hotel sets you in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Art Deco design of the hotel has a more playful feel . Disney’s Hollywood Hotel does not have meeting room space. When planning a meeting, the Disney’s Hollywood Hotel partners with the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and hosts the meetings at their property.
In the future months, DeskDemon will delve into each Disney destination area in more depth and bring you some of the unique features and fun that each resort area can bring. But in the end, it starts with what was quoted in the beginning: Why Disney Meetings? The answer is simple: because it is Disney itself! That really says it all.
