Overview
Orlando's Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is one of the two most-used denominational conference venues in the US (the other being Indianapolis Convention Center). The Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been hosted at OCCC in 2000, 2010, and 2026 — with 2026 drawing about 20,000 total attendees / 11,692 messengers over 4 days. Church delegations from across the US charter motorcoaches to move pastors, messengers, choir members, youth leaders, and senior groups to the convention with luggage and boxed materials.
What to Expect at OCCC for Denominational Conferences
The Orange County Convention Center is a three-building complex: West Building at 9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819; North Building at 9400 Universal Blvd; South Building at 9899 International Drive. Denominational events typically use West or North/South depending on size. Confirm which building is hosting your conference before finalizing coach dispatch.
OCCC has on-site parking at both West and North-South buildings, and event-specific parking is first-come, first-served. The Destination Parkway Garage is also an option depending on event configuration. For motorcoach arrivals, the event parking access points vary by building — the Universal Boulevard entrance is encouraged for North/South events.
Denominational conferences at OCCC typically span 3-10 days depending on the body. Southern Baptist Convention: 3-4 days, ~11,000-12,000 messengers, ~20,000 total attendees. Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly: 6-7 days. United Methodist General Conference (when hosted): 10 days. Conference housing blocks are sold as group room blocks with limited inventory; for SBC 2026, over 19,500 room nights were booked and the housing block was near capacity.
Charter bus scenarios typically fall into two categories: (1) Church delegation charter — move pastors, messengers, choir, youth, or senior leadership from one church or association to the convention with luggage and boxed materials; (2) Retiree/senior group charter — airport-to-hotel transfers, hotel-to-convention shuttles, and half-day sightseeing add-ons around International Drive.
Why Denominational Delegations Charter Buses to Orlando
Coordinated logistics. When 30-50 church members are traveling together to a multi-day conference, a dedicated coach for airport pickup, hotel-to-convention shuttles, and group dinners eliminates the daily 'where's everyone?' problem.
Cost efficiency. A dedicated coach for a 4-day SBC delegation runs $2,500-$4,000 per day; split across 40-50 delegates that's $50-$100/day/person — much cheaper than individual Uber/rental car arrangements.
Materials handling. Delegations often travel with boxes of denominational materials, resource displays, or teaching supplies. Motor coach luggage bays handle this cleanly.
Denominational identity. Arriving as a group under a church banner reinforces delegation identity for messengers/commissioners voting on denominational business.
Recommended Vehicles for This Trip
47-Passenger Motor Coach
55-Passenger Motorcoach
40-Passenger Mini-Coach
Additional Motorcoach
Executive Sprinter VanSee our full church bus fleet for detailed specifications and additional vehicle options.
Sample Itinerary
Here's a typical schedule for this destination — actual times will be tailored to your pickup location and group needs.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Day 1 Morning | Pickup at sending church parking lot; luggage under coach |
| Day 1 Drive | Long-distance drive to Orlando (multi-day for eastern/midwest churches) |
| Day 1 Evening | Arrive Orlando; hotel check-in near I-Drive corridor |
| Conference Day 2-4 | Daily hotel-to-OCCC shuttle service (typically 7:30 AM depart, 6:00 PM return) |
| Conference evenings | Optional group dinner shuttle, evening session pickup |
| Final day | Morning session; afternoon airport transfer or return drive home |
Pricing Guide
| Vehicle | Price Range | Per-Person (Full Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| 40-passenger mini-coach with restroom | $2,500-$3,200/day dedicated OR $1,800-$2,400 for one-way transfer | $63-$80/day/person |
| 47-passenger motor coach | $2,700-$3,500/day dedicated OR $2,000-$2,700 for one-way transfer | $57-$74/day/person |
| 55-passenger motor coach | $2,900-$3,800/day dedicated OR $2,200-$2,900 for one-way transfer | $53-$69/day/person |
Dedicated-coach pricing includes coach + driver + up to 10 hours daily. Multi-day arrangements (4-day SBC, 7-day PC(USA)) get a modest per-day discount for longer commitments. Long-distance interstate trips include driver overnight hotel + second-driver options.
Booking Timeline
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 6-12 months out | Reserve coach as soon as denominational calendar confirms Orlando |
| 3-6 months out | Confirm delegation size + hotel block |
| 2 months out | Finalize hotel-to-OCCC shuttle schedule with conference program |
| 1 month out | Distribute delegation itinerary + coach boarding points |
| Day of | Coach arrives at hotel 30 min before scheduled shuttle departure |
Frequently Asked Questions
What denominational conferences use OCCC?
Southern Baptist Convention (2000, 2010, 2026), Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly (varies), United Methodist General Conference (varies), Anglican Church in North America, and numerous evangelical and nondenominational gatherings. SBC 2026 drew ~20,000 attendees / 11,692 messengers over 4 days.
What's the OCCC address?
The Orange County Convention Center is a three-building complex: West Building at 9800 International Drive, Orlando FL 32819; North Building at 9400 Universal Blvd; South Building at 9899 International Drive. Confirm which building is hosting your specific conference.
Is coach parking available at OCCC?
Yes. On-site parking exists at both West and North-South buildings; event-specific parking is first-come, first-served. The Destination Parkway Garage is also an option depending on event setup. For motorcoach arrivals, event parking access points vary by building — the Universal Boulevard entrance is encouraged for North/South events.
How does a hotel-to-OCCC shuttle work with a dedicated charter?
Your delegation books a hotel near the I-Drive corridor. We provide a dedicated coach that shuttles the delegation from hotel to OCCC each morning, waits or repositions during the day, and returns to hotel each evening. Same coach + driver for the entire conference.
What's a realistic per-day per-person cost for Orlando conference charter?
For a 40-50 person delegation on a 47-passenger dedicated coach, plan on $55-$75 per person per day for local shuttle service. This is much cheaper than individual Uber/rental car arrangements for a multi-day conference.
Can we combine conference days with Orlando theme park visits?
Yes. Retiree/senior delegations frequently add a half-day Universal Studios, Epcot, or Disney Springs visit at the beginning or end of the conference week. We can quote the additional day at a discounted rate as part of the same charter.
How far in advance should we book for a major SBC or GA event?
6-12 months. Orlando hotels and coaches both fill fast when a major denominational meeting is hosted. SBC 2026 housing block was near capacity with 19,500+ room nights booked.
What's the difference between a dedicated coach and a one-way transfer?
A dedicated coach is booked for the full day (up to 10 driving hours) and stays with your delegation. A one-way transfer just moves you from point A to point B (e.g., airport to hotel). Multi-day denominational trips almost always use dedicated-coach service.
Can our delegation travel from a distant city (Texas, California, Chicago)?
Yes. Long-distance interstate charter trips work well for delegations of 40+ (splits the coach cost efficiently). For very long trips (over 15 hours drive time), we assign two drivers or plan a driver-overnight stop.
What if our conference schedule changes mid-week?
Dedicated-charter arrangements build in flexibility. Your delegation leader can adjust departure/return times day-of within the driver's hours-of-service window. Structural schedule changes (extra day, different hotel) are handled with a same-week rate adjustment.
Related Resources
- Related activity hub: Denominational Conferences Charter Bus
- Read the deep-dive blog: Orlando Denominational Conference Bus (Blog Guide)
- Denominational Conference Charter Bus Hub
- Denominational Conference Group Transportation Guide
- Indianapolis Conference Bus