Location

Console-ing Passions 2022 will be hosted at the University of Central Florida main campus in east Orlando. UCF’s main campus offers affordable on-campus dorm housing options, as well as several lodging options within walking distance or an easy drive of our conference, including the brand new on-campus Celeste Hotel and Conference Center.

For Participants

• Joining us in-person? Refer to the In-Person Participants Guide.

• Joining us virtually? Refer to the Virtual Participants Guide.

Additional Planning Information

Lodging

Dorm Housing (Conference Hotel) – Bring your own linens. Housing will be in the Lake Claire dorms. The address is 12580 Gemini Blvd N, Orlando, FL 32816. All housing registration has closed for this year’s conference – if you are staying in the dorms, information for check-in and check-out will be sent directly using the email you registered with.

Other options within 1 mile include:

• The Celeste Hotel, 4105 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32826 (on campus)
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, 3420 Lake Lynda Dr, Orlando, FL 32817
• Residence Inn by Marriott, 11651 University Blvd, Orlando, FL 32817
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott, 11801 High Tech Ave, Orlando, FL 32817
• Home2 Suites by Hilton, 3414 Technological Ave, Orlando, FL 32817
• InTown Suites Extended Stay Select, 11424 University Blvd, Orlando, FL 32817
• Hampton Inn & Suites, 3450 Quadrangle Blvd, Orlando, FL 32817
• Courtyard by Marriott, 12000 Collegiate Way, Orlando, FL 32817
• DoubleTree by Hilton, 12125 High Tech Ave, Orlando, FL 32817

Getting Around

Orlando does have public transit that you can take to get to campus,  but, like other Sun Belt cities, it’s not the greatest and will take a while. A speedier option to get from the airport to campus is taxi or rideshare. 

Food

Given the unpredictable nature of attendance, and different comfort and safety levels with indoor dining, we will offer extended meal breaks and guidance for a range of dining options. This allows us to reduce our costs, and offer participants flexibility without wasting food. Coffee, tea, water, and lemonade will be available at scheduled breaks in the registration area.

The conference sessions will be held in UCF main-campus spaces, including lecture halls, classrooms, and conference rooms. There are a variety of dining options on campus: https://ucf.campusdish.com/LocationsAndMenus

Area sites of interest/things to do

There is a variety of things to do within an easy driving distance of campus—including, of course, Orlando’s famed theme parks and the nearby beaches. Other sites of interest include an assortment of museums, arcades, cafes, and walking trails, some within walking distance of campus. Unless otherwise noted, all locations listed below are within a half-hour drive of campus.

Theme Parks

• Universal Studios/Universal City Walk – https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us
• Disney World Parks/Disney Springs – https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/
• SeaWorld/Aquatica – https://seaworld.com/orlando/
• Gatorland – https://www.gatorland.com/

Beaches

• New Smyrna Beach (1 hour drive) – https://visitnsbfl.com/
• Cocoa Beach (1 hour drive) – https://www.cocoabeach.com/
• Canaveral National Seashore (50 minute drive) – https://www.nps.gov/cana/index.htm

Games and Arcades

• Cloak and Blaster (near campus): https://www.cloakandblaster.com/
• Gods & Monsters (International Drive): https://www.godmonsters.com/
• Joysticks Arcade Lounge & Retro Bar (downtown): https://joysticksorlando.com/
• Arcade Monsters (near campus): https://www.arcademonsters.com/ 

Museums

• Orlando Museum of Art (downtown): https://omart.org/
• Orange County Regional History Center (downtown): https://www.thehistorycenter.org/
• Wells’ Built Museum of African American Heritage and Culture (downtown): https://www.wellsbuilt.org/
• Mennello Museum of American Art (downtown): https://www.mennellomuseum.org/
• Zora Neale Hurston National Museum (Eatonville): http://www.zoranealehurstonmuseum.com/
• Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park): https://www.morsemuseum.org/
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (50 minute drive): https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

Cafes and Bookstores

• Kitty Beautiful Cat Cafe (downtown): http://www.thekittybeautiful.com/
• Craft & Common (downtown): https://www.craftandcommon.com/
• Vespr (near campus): https://thevespr.com/
• Lineage Craft Coffee (near campus): https://www.lineageroasting.com/
• Writer’s Block Bookstore (Winter Park): https://www.writersblockbookstore.com/
• Lakeridge Winery (45 minute drive): https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/
• The Wine Room (Winter Park): https://www.thewineroomonline.com/winter-park

Parks, Trails, and Gardens

• UCF Arboretum (on campus): https://arboretum.ucf.edu/
• Leu Gardens (Winter Park): https://www.leugardens.org/
• Mead Botanical Garden (Winter Park): https://www.meadgarden.org/
• Econ River Wilderness Area (near campus): https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/locations/Econ-River-Wilderness-Area.stml
• Oviedo on the Park (short drive from campus): https://www.cityofoviedo.net/511/Oviedo-on-the-Park
• Cady Way Trail (accessible from various locations): https://www.traillink.com/trail/cady-way-trail/
• Cross Seminole Trail (accessible from various locations): https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/departments-services/leisure-services/greenways-natural-lands/trails/cross-seminole-trail.stml