Disney.

Offering the "World" to Association Events

When it comes to meetings--Disney does them like no one else. At the Walt Disney World Resort, association professionals will find everything they need to drive record-breaking attendance. Practically every kind of resort experience is found in this one magical place. Within 47 square miles are 6 dedicated meetings resorts, 4 world-famous theme parks, exciting nightlife, amazing entertainment, and endless recreational opportunities. Whether it's a modest group size of 500 or a gathering of 15,000, Disney makes meetings magic happen.

According to George Aguel, vice president/general manager, Disney Vacation Development, Disney offers endless opportunities for both planners and participants. "The key benefit is that it's all here," says Aguel. "The combination of our renowned meeting capabilities and the allure of the world's most popular resort destination ensures a consistent winner for associations."

The experience is everything at Disney Impeccable facilities, flawless service, and unsurpassed creativity are key ingredients that make every event special. They are part of the pixie dust that makes Disney the most magical meetings place on earth.

The Disney Meetings Resorts

Uniquely themed, Disney's six meetings resorts offer every kind of accommodation imaginable. Each resort also boasts state-of-the-art convention centers and the finest in amenities and service.

Disney's Contemporary Resort has been home to "meetings magic" since opening in 1971. Overlooking the waters of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, this resort features 1,041 guest rooms and 90,000 square feet of flexible function space, all set in a dramatic urban setting. Complementing this are first-class amenities, award winning dining, and convenient monorail access to the Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot.

The allure of the American Southwest is recreated at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. Lush landscaping, quiet courtyards, and elegant fountains enhance the Southwestern theme of Disney's largest and most affordable meetings resort. In addition to its 1,997 guest rooms, Coronado Springs also features a 95,000-square-foot convention center. On one continuous level, this resort offers more meeting space than can be found in many American cities. It's also home to the Southeast's largest hotel ballroom--measuring 60,000 square feet--and 45 breakout rooms that feature the latest in technical support. Like the Contemporary, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort offers convenient access to the rest of the World. Nearby are Epcot, the Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.

If a meeting demands the ultimate in luxury and indulgence, a step back in time to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the answer. Classic Victorian architecture combined with Disney's legendary service make this an ideal meetings resort. The charm of a midAtlantic seaside community comes to life at Disney's BoardWalk Resort. With 378 rooms and a posh 21,000-square-foot convention center, this boutique resort is ideal for executive conferences and smaller meetings. At the center of it all is the resort's namesake, Disney's BoardWalk. This recreation of an old-fashioned boardwalk features an eclectic array of shops, nightclubs, and eateries set in an atmosphere of whimsy and wonder. A brief stroll down this fanciful promenade leads to Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts. Recreating a cozy New England retreat, these resorts offer meeting professionals 1,217 rooms and a richly appointed convention center with more than 73,000 square feet of function space.

Private Theme-Park Events

Spectacular resorts are just the beginning of the Disney meetings experience. Disney's four world-famous theme parks offer unmatched private-event opportunities.

The glitz and glamour of show business take center stage at the Disney-MGM Studios. A collection of working backlots, combined with show-business themed attractions, offers a wide array of private-event options. Guests can stroll though the New York Street backlot and become part of a Big Apple street party, or strut down Sunset Boulevard and catch a screaming limo ride on The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Attractions and backlots provide elaborately themed venues for one-of-a-kind events. Disney rolls out the red carpet and breaks out the bubbly for an exciting evening where attendees are the toast of the town.

Two worlds offer endless opportunities at Epcot. Home to Future World and World Showcase, Epcot is an ever-changing place where guests discover... experience... and celebrate. Imaginations are brought to life in Future World. A casino party under the sea brings guests face to face with sharks, rays, tarpon, and other marine life. Groups can also congregate amidst dinosaurs, get handson with a dazzling array of interactive experiences, or take a high-speed thrill ride in a car of the future.

For a more exotic locale, the search is over and no passport is needed. Without leaving Epcot, groups can be serenaded by a tenor along a Venetian canal...sip champagne under the Eiffel tower...or dine in the grand setting of the American Adventure. Another option is a private reception or dessert party on a secluded island while IllumiNations 2000 explodes overhead with lasers and fireworks. No matter the group's size, Epcot possesses captivating environments and the latest technology to leave guests spellbound.

The mysteries of Africa and Asia are waiting to be discovered at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, which celebrates the rich diversity of our world. Groups can experience cultural traditions and tribal rituals at an African street party in Harambe Village. They can also enjoy a private event among the crumbling, yet beautiful, ruins of an Indian palace in Asia. In Dinoland U.S.A., grad students lead guests through an unforgettable night of games, revelry, and all-out silliness. The Festival of the Lion King is an explosion of color and inspirational entertainment, the perfect addition to any event. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park is a natural habitat for an extra special event.

A timeless classic, the Magic Kingdom Park offers endless possibilities for the most enchanting events imaginable. Eight themed lands create an ideal background for any special event. From a friendly gathering with the pirates of Adventureland to an intergalactic blowout in Tomorrowland, guests can let their imaginations run wild. Groups can also cap off the evening with the charm of the Main Street Electrical Parade and "Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks.

Participants are part of the winning lineup when events are held at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Whether a group comes here in tennis shoes or tuxedos, Disney venues come alive through slam-dunk events. Surpassing most people's vision of a sports complex, this facility boasts classic architecture, broad plazas, and beautifully landscaped promenades--each offering exciting event opportunities. While it's perfect for sportsthemed events, this all-encompassing complex is also ideal for team-building events, large scale parties, or entertainment spectaculars.

Disney Institute

Beyond events, Disney adds another unique dimension to association meetings with professional development programs offered by the Disney Institute. Unique in the world of training, these programs give participants an insider's look at the Disney operation. Featuring presentations by Disney management and visits to behind-the-scenes operations, Disney Institute programs offer participants a chance to discover the business behind the magic.

While programs can be held at any of the Disney meetings resorts, the 57-acre Disney Institute campus is a complete resort in itself. Dedicated to professional development, the resort offers a quaint small-town atmosphere. Here groups can take advantage of 28 learning studios, a performance center, a cinema, and a full-service business center. On-site amenities include an 18-hole championship golf course, a world-class fitness center and spa, and spacious villa-style accommodations.

Recreation

When association business is done, participants will find endless recreation and entertainment options throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. For golf enthusiasts, Disney offers five championship courses and 99 holes dedicated to the sport. An on-site staff can also create customized group outings, tournaments, and events. And golf is just the beginning. Attendees will also find tennis, fishing, water sports, horseback riding, and professional and amateur sporting events.

Nightlife

At night, Downtown Disney beckons with its sophisticated array of dining and entertainment options. Downtown Disney Pleasure Island offers a collection of eight elaborately themed nightclubs and a nightly New Years Eve celebration. Next door participants will find Downtown Disney West Side and dramatic entertainment experiences like the mesmerizing Cirque du Soleil production "La Nouba" and DisneyQuest, a five-story indoor interactive Theme Park.

One Single Contact

To help meeting professionals make the most of it all--the resorts, Theme Parks, entertainment, and recreation--Disney assigns a single dedicated services manger to each group. This Disney expert opens the door to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer, arranging everything from audiovisual and entertainment to transportation and specialty merchandise. The services manager can also arrange special meeting/convention tickets tailored to a group's specific needs.

"At the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort is a commitment to creativity and quality that is second to none," says George Aguel, vice president of Disney Vacation Development and Sales & Services. "Our clients and their meeting participants use words like 'magical,' 'emotional,' and 'inspiring' to describe its effect on people. Combine Disney's incomparable event venues with our tradition of service and you have a meetings experience that you simply can't find anywhere else. That's the magic of meeting at Disney."