I'm guessing if you can't have fun with Mickey then you can't have fun anywhere

Regarding renting cars in Orlando, I think it is a well-known fact that Alamo is run by Satan's spawn at that airport. I once landed at 11PM,and was still waiting in line at Alamo at 2AM! I only got a car then because I jumped into their club line and when the woman said "Your husband belongs to our club, right?" I replied "yes." Anyway it is much, much easier to rent from an agency that has cars right on site. I just walk across to the garage and get in a car now, usually at Avis.

To the other Floridians, as a local Floridian, I might suggest you consider the following. Since a large part of our economy depends on tourism, be it for leisure or business, rather than dissing those who have complaints, wouldn't it behoove us to look into and address some of these issues they bring up. Perhaps that way we could engender repeat satisfied business. I'm not in any tourism business, just concerned about our economy. Perhaps a better, more extensive public transportation system of trollies and the like that could take visitors to some of the interesting locations you mentioned, as well as to get people to and from the airport. Other cities have done it. Florida has had some unfortunate battles over high speed and commuter rail, so perhaps no one has the will for it here. Also, perhaps planning by local businesses or chambers of commerce to emphasize, promote, entertainment options for adults. Do we really want our visitors to spend all their time at Disney, or would we like them to spread the wealth around the community. Better funding for the arts would also help. It's really a shame Orlando let its opera go defunct. Not everyone enjoys Disney tunes. Disney is fine for families and some adults, but I brought visitors from out of town to Epcot and they were mildly interested but suggested that the entry price was rather steep for a rather high priced, chance to pay more to shop and eat. Perhaps we should be developing alternative entertainments to attract a different kind of visitor. Many families have tight budgets these days. It would be a shame not to promote more convention business by not addressing their concerns. Also, what is it with all the tolls around here? If anybody wants to visit someone or something away from Orlando they really have to fork out a lot in tolls. We could do some better planning here, and maybe do some focus groups on how we could improve the business travelers' experience here rather than dissing them.

Interesting:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12498996/

http://answers.google.com/answers/th...id/517688.html

http://www.meetingsource.com/convention_centers.htm

Suki, one option is to take a taxi from the airport and then pick up a car the next day at a local (usually hotel) location. You get "home" faster, don't have to wait in lines when you are tired and save $$$ on the airport fees.

That may not work for everyone, but may work for some. Oftentimes, I didn't need a car for the entire stay, so just rented it for the couple of days I needed it - again from a hotel rental desk rather than the airport.

If you DO rent a car, fill it up before you head to the airport. The gas stations near the airport do rip you off.

Neo darling, you know I love you, but I think maybe you are debating here just because you love to debate (yes, I know you led teams). So I know you can debate any point of view, whether you believe it or not, and whether it is truly correct or not.

Just because tons of conventions are held in a place doesn't mean the attendees actually enjoy the place. They may enjoy the meeting, without enjoy the locale. So whether or not it is on the top of those lists in terms of numbers of conventions and amount of convention space is immaterial to me.

I know what my personal experiences are, I can't speak for anyone else. And not matter how I feel, I am quite sure I will be attending more conventions there in Orlando. The place isn't the draw for me when I go to conferences or conventions anyway. The conference or convention is the draw.

Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe you really do believe that those of us who have expressed that we don't enjoy Orlando for conferences are fibbers or idiots. I hope not, because I would rather you not think I am a fibber or idiot, as I really don't thing I am either.

That's a good tip in general, starrs. I stay with family over on the east coast though so it doesn't work for me. However since I switched to Avis at Orlando, I zip in and out.

Not only do I love to debate, but I love to point out meaningless comments that really don't logically support what they are supposedly saying. Isn't that what this site is all about? Was your comment about loving debate supposed to be an insult or something? What's wrong with debating a topic that was brought up for debate? I'm confused.

"We need more activities" (than Orlando?), "it was only 55 degrees and rainy in February in Orlando", and "there are no good restaurants near there" or citing one bad restaurant choice and pretending there must be no good ones (which has clearly been disproven here) are just a few examples that really don't make any sense if people are seriously trying to give reasons why Orlando is a bad choice for business. And to mention other traffic laden cities as an alternative because Orlando has such bad traffic, really makes no sense at all. It seems people are floundering for excuses why they don't like the choice of Orlando, yet they fail to back up those excuses or offer logical alternatives without those same drawbacks.

To be perfectly blunt, I have a strong feeling the real excuse that seems unspoken is "I detest anything that has Disney attached, so there is no way I could ever be happy in Orlando."

Oh no, it absolutely was not meant to be an insult! I rather enjoy most of your debating posts. Please do not think I was trying to insult you. A. I simply wouldn't do it, not my style. B. Even if it was my style I am not very good at insults.

I must point out that the things in the second paragraph above were no points given by me.

Again, I can only say my personal experiences, and I can tell you that no hidden despising of things Disney is going on with me. As I said in my posts, I would probably enjoy vacationing there, they have golf after all. I have not enjoyed conferences there. In the experiences I have had I have often been in isolated locations, taxi fares were very high, if you did rent a car I find Orlando one of the most difficult places to drive (and I have driven in some very difficult places). I don't HATE Orlando. I don't like going to business conferences there.

I also would prefer not to be in Orlando for a confernece.
In fact, i would prefer to be in Boston, Chicago,even Philly etc..even in the cold winter.
My company has had annual meetings at venues all over and the Gaylord property in Orlando was dreadful -
San Antonio is easy to fly to and has great hotels near the convention and offer entertainment w/o a car - we have had several there.
I am with Dutch on this one!!

321go - How about Tampa? Can we have a GTG there instead?

How about 321go's house? Preferably the night of a launch

Ok, so 55 degrees and rainy is bad weather for February, yet people here want a conference in Boston/Chicago/Philly in February? So what's the temperature in those cities in February? I thought so, makes no sense whatsoever.

Let me put it to you this way. How many people would enjoy a convention in Chicago/Boston/Philly in February? I can tell you that I would absolutely dread having to be in those cities in February. I've been sent to Chicago in March and they had over 18 inches of snow and I was stuck there two weeks, I was itching to get back after day 2. A convention there in February would seem like punishment. At least if you're going to send me on a convention, give me a destination where I don't have to wear 20 layers to go outside.

I've been to Orlando probably at least a dozen or more times on business (never pleasure). I've never had a bad time, always had great food, the weather was always great, and I was never lacking in activities. One time I went over to Cape Canaveral on the weekend. Another time on the weekend I went to Clearwater and kicked back on the beach. Yet another time I went diving at a natural springs just north of Orlando. And yes, I've been to the theme parks many times, and yes, I had fun. One time, my boss even told me to treat myself on the company dime to a day at WDW as a reward for good work. You can't beat that!

I mean, come on, how can anyone think that Dallas could offer a better convention experience than Orlando? What's there to do in Dallas (and I'm in TX so I can say that). I mean, San Antonio is a reasonable convention destination, but there's only so many times you can walk down the Riverwalk in the course of the week before you tire of it.

Now Vegas or New Orleans, now you're talking. Those are great destinations with probably more to do than Orlando. Or Chicago/NYC/Boston/Philly during the April to October season.

Like I said before, if you can't have fun with Mickey, you really don't know how to have fun

bkluvsnola, I think your last sentence really summed it up. I'm convinced that most of the people "whining" about how horrible Orlando is, simply equate Orlando with Disney, they hate everything Disney or Disneyesque, and so they can't have a good time anywhere near a place "run" by Disney. It really is that simple. There are some who have a similar reaction to the very word, Las Vegas, which says "tacky" to them and they will complain about any event there.

I've not said here that Orlando is the best place to have a business event, but come on, the excuses being given are just so totally lame! If a business traveler can't find any "good food" in the area, or doesn't know how to rent a car with a confirmed internet price, he probably should just give up traveling!

And yes, Starrs really had it right. People will complain, no matter what, and since Orlando is clearly one of the top three convention spots in the nation, it logically will gather a high percentage of those complainers.

>

Heck yes, come on down! Dutch, you too.

Dblm, those are all interesting points, but as a Floridian I'm sure you understand the current political climate in this state which consists of one refrain: cut taxes. Example: why do we have toll roads? Because voters didn't want tax money spent on local roads. All of the things you're talking about cost money. Our state is in terrible financial shape and the political reality is that those things will not happen now or in the near future.

If a business traveler can't find any "good food" in the area, or doesn't know how to rent a car with a confirmed internet price, he probably should just give up traveling

You've completely missed the point. Congratulations.

"Like I said before, if you can't have fun with Mickey, you really don't know how to have fun."

Do you really believe that? I've been to sales meetings in Orlando about 4 times. They're fine. Nothing exciting, nothing terrible, but we always have a tightly scheduled day and activities so there's really not any down time.

I would never choose to go to Orlando myself. Not a Disney fan and not into theme parks. If I'm with friends I can enjoy myself just about anywhere but Orlando is near last on my list for vacation destinations. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with me, or that I can't have fun.

And, as for food, I'm sure there are some decent restaurants in the greater Orlando area, but I think overpriced, mediocre chain restaurants prevail. I've never seen so many chain restaurants in one place.

Lastly, I have no idea why people on this board aren't allowed to have differing opinions. It's obnoxious.

As the saying goes, you're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. I have no problem with folks saying they'd rather be in a cosmopolitan city environment. The idea that someone staying at the Dolphin had to deal with an $80 cab ride to get a decent meal is just silly.