Who's going to Tech Ed Orlando?

Roll call: who's headed to Tech Ed next weekend?

I'll be there. Still gotta figure out accomodations and transportation. My guess is that Orlando is not very friendly to mass-transit... if I'm wrong, please someone let me know.

-KF

You're wrong and you only need to get to one of the conference hotels as there will be shuttle buses at each one.

eagle, is your job got anything to do with setting up all these conferences? how can you afford to go to all of them - as you seem too?

Coral corporation pays me as an evangelist to infiltrate Microsoft communities, but don't tell anyone!

I'll be there...staying at the Quality Inn Plaza I think...a stone's throw from the convention center.  Should be a decent event I think...

Let's have a C9 meetup! I'll be arriving Saturday evening and will be at the INETA Summit on Sunday.

I'd be fine with that.  Where is the closest place for beers?

I'll be there. I am chairing the Birds of a Feather track at the conference, so stop by the BoF table in the Community Lounge on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings and say hello.

I'll also be at the User Group Leader Summit on Sunday. (Psst, it's not just an INETA event, Culminis is cosponsoring on the IT Pro side.)

I arrive Thursday morning and will be in Orlando through Sunday.

Tips: orbitz.com hooked me up with $9/day rental car through Payless (though the amazing price is blunted somewhat by the $50-odd dollars in municipal and state taxes...) Comes out to ~$160 for 11 days.

I was planning to stay in style at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International drive. That has fallen through and now I will be even more stylishly appointed at the Palm Lakefront Hostel. For anyone looking for  last-minute accomodations, it doesn't look like a bad option if you have a car, and the $16/night rate is hard to beat.

Always up for a beer or two. Maybe I'll bring my C9 guy and see what photo ops are available at the booths.

Hope they have free parking at the convention center.
I usually stay in Hostels, I used to run a Hostel in a beautiful village in south west Kerry, Ireland.

In Hotels you never get to meet anyone, but in Hostels you meet everyone and have fun!

The Palm Lakefront Hostel is far from the convention center, but I still don't know where I'll stay.

Why don't we meet-up at 6:30 PM on Sunday, at the
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes there is a get together after the Summit that I believe will include beer!

eagle wrote:

Hope they have free parking at the convention center.
 

Roger that, Eagle. Anyone know what the parking situation is at the convention center is, and what alternatives there might be if the convention lot costs an arm and a leg?

I'm past needing to stay at hostels for the economics of it, but when I travel alone to conferences I really enjoy the social aspect of it. This is especially true of international cities like NYC and San Francisco where you can meet folks from all over the world.. For this last FlashForward, I stayed at an insanely nice hostel at Ft. Mason that overlooked San Francisco bay. Amazing place, with a fantastic view, and a kitchen with restaurant-quality appliances.

http://www.msteched.com/content/faq.aspx#16

Check out the link for all sorts of answers...
Unfortunately I only get in late Sunday, so I'll miss the all important beer session...

Don’t worry, there will be beer opportunities nightly.

 

We'll find a time and place to meet, how about here;

Unofficial TechEd XML Cabana - JW Marriott Lobby Lounge

I won't be able to make a meetup on Sunday. However drop by the Windows Desktop Cabana during the week and say hi. I won't be there all the time but I should be there for a couple of hours each day.
Thanks
-Dave

If you are getting a rental car, it is a total waste of time and money (if you are staying at one of the conference hotels, of course).  The convention parking wasn't free in 2000, and I don't think it has changed.  Plus the parking was all the way in the back, and the buses dropped you off right in front of the entrances closest to the conference.  The buses are quick and easy, and you usually don’t have to wait long to catch a ride.  The only exception to this rule is the Universal Party.  Then, you have to wait in line to go there, and then, depending on when you leave, you may have to wait in line to get back to the hotel.  But, it is a worth it.

I can't wait to find out what XSLT2 is!