Thanks for all the info.
I'm familiar with the area and WDW issues, but I've never actually stayed at the hotel - just passed-by a number of times.
I'm planning my conference attendance for this year, and I have an Orlando one (Infocom) second week of June. Now the hotel is nowhere the convention center, but the HHonors points and my upgrade capabilities are worth the 40 min drive. (Bringing my wife for some Epcot time was also a factor.) I just wanted someone who stayed at that hotel to agree.
Dave