Dragon*Con 2010

[xinit]

The rooms aren't nearly as plentiful and cheap as they are for TAM - Dragon*Con rooms in the official hotels can be hard to come by for a decent price, and who can beat the short commute from the Hilton's guest rooms down to the Skeptic track room...

I've booked a couple days before the show starts in the event there are any extras like Star Parties tacked on the front end.

I know, the 2009 event's corpse is barely cold, but I've made a horrible discovery that I'm sure others will soon enough... The Hilton is accepting bookings ahead of schedule, and I've booked in from the 1st through the 7th at the reduced rate.

The hotels start "officially" taking bookings October 1st at the convention rate... however, the one that I tried today is allowing bookings for 2010 Labour Day weekend already. Discounted rooms from the Dragon*Con block went shockingly quickly last year; by the afternoon of October 1st for the Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott. It was a slaughter. The problem was compounded in past years by people from other events using the booking code to get rooms at a significant discount. Okay, $184 doesn't SOUND all that discounted, but still...

I'd rather see any traveling skeptics get the discounted rooms than some Twilight fans, so...

Conference dates: Dragon*Con 2010 Sept 3-6
Hilton Atlanta 255 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 1-404-659-2000

Group code: DGC
Rate $184

[Cleon]

The main reason why hotel space was so hard to come by this year is because of the Georgia Tech game.

Unless there is a similarly competing event next year, which I doubt, getting a room shouldn't be as difficult.

[xinit]

Well, the past couple years have seen a bit of panicked over-reserving by geeks, but hasn't there also been a game every labour day weekend for years? Maybe it's hotel-reservation paradolia for me to see a pattern here that isn't? Regardless, at least I don't have to stay at the Hyatt...

[Wowbagger]

Good idea! Staying at one of the three neighboring Official Hotels (and, to a lesser degree, the Sheraton) is often much more convenient than staying somewhere else.

Except, perhaps, when you have to wait for the elevators.

But, grab 'em up while you can!!

[Cleon]

Good idea! Staying at one of the three neighboring Official Hotels (and, to a lesser degree, the Sheraton) is often much more convenient than staying somewhere else.

Although the Wyndham Garden, where I stayed for a couple nights last year, is right behind the Hilton and waaaay less expensive than the other four.


Except, perhaps, when you have to wait for the elevators.

Moving the "center" of the con from the Hyatt to the Marriott was a huuuuuuuuuuuuge improvement in the elevator department. It was much, much, much easier to get around this year than in years past.

[Reed]

After dragging my feet this year and missing out on a downtown hotel, I've made reservations at the hotel chain's website using the DGC code that Richard (xinit0) provided.

See you all next year at D*C!

[Wowbagger]

Moving the "center" of the con from the Hyatt to the Marriott was a huuuuuuuuuuuuge improvement in the elevator department. It was much, much, much easier to get around this year than in years past.The first year I went to D*C (2006), I stayed at the Hilton, which was far from the "center" of the con, and it was still insane waiting for the elevators, sometimes.

[Cthulhu]

The first year I went to D*C (2006), I stayed at the Hilton, which was far from the "center" of the con, and it was still insane waiting for the elevators, sometimes.

With the addition of the Sheraton, it seems that the "center" is now the Marriott, at least this year that seemed to be the case.

It also seems that the Hyatt is trying to move people out of it at night, as far as I could tell.

I am thinking about the Hilton for next time I go, whether that is 2010 or 2011.

[Wowbagger]

With the addition of the Sheraton, it seems that the "center" is now the Marriott, at least this year that seemed to be the case. The addition of the Sheraton was certainly part of the reason the center of activity was shifted. However, if you will recall: They also had the Sheraton last year, but that alone did not completely alleviate the crowding problem in the Hyatt.

This year, they also moved a lot of things around, to make more effective use of all the space they now have. (For example, they moved registration to the Sheraton, this year, but not last year.) And, those actions actually helped quite a bit more.

[Cthulhu]

The addition of the Sheraton was certainly part of the reason the center of activity was shifted. However, if you will recall: They also had the Sheraton last year, but that alone did not completely alleviate the crowding problem in the Hyatt.

This year, they also moved a lot of things around, to make more effective use of all the space they now have. (For example, they moved registration to the Sheraton, this year, but not last year.) And, those actions actually helped quite a bit more.


Oh yes, I agree. I didn't make it to D*C last year, so I can't comment on the crowds from then, but I do know that the longest I waited for an elevator at the Hyatt this year was maybe 5 min, as opposed to 40+ in the past.

Moving the registration to the Sheraton was a great idea, hopefully they keep it there. Moving the concerts and night parties around also helped a lot (the Shindig and Battlestar parties come to mind, both in the Sheraton)

[Cthulhu]

According to dragoncon.org, the Hilton, Hyatt and Sheraton are accepting reservations for next year. Marriott starts on 10/1.

[Kevin 251]

There's a Holiday Inn a few blocks from the convention hotels -- we stayed there last year, and it was significantly cheaper than the main hotels. But I stayed there again this year, and it was almost the same price as the main hotels. (The Holiday Inn was PACKED with football people this year, which may have contributed to the prices getting jacked up.)

Just made reservations for the Hilton for next year -- if we're paying that much, we might as well stay right at the convention. Thanks for posting the group code!

[MattusMaximus]

Got my room at the Hilton for next year already. Good thing too - word is they've already sold out :boggled:

[skepticality]

Also,

Don't discount the nice Red Roof Inn on Courtland Street. It is RIGHT next to the Hilton.

Before me and Swoopy were Directors and just normal attendees that is the hotel we ALWAYS used. It is much cheaper and only across the street from all the con-related stuff. :)

[skepticality]

I hope there isn't an event again this year. There has been one for the past three years. Last year it was that huge Auburn/Florida game (don't ask me), the year before was a MASSIVE Airline Pilots convention which was in the Sheraton (before Dragon*Con used that hotel).

I am hoping for a year when we aren't competing for hotel space with other groups! :eye-poppi

The main reason why hotel space was so hard to come by this year is because of the Georgia Tech game.

Unless there is a similarly competing event next year, which I doubt, getting a room shouldn't be as difficult.

[Wowbagger]

Labor Day Weekend is a tough time slot to not have competition for.

[skepticality]

I know, it is a rough time of year, but... I think that is part of the overall Dragon*Con plan.... there aren't many more hotels around our little area of Downtown. Eventually, we will push all of those other meetings out to the fringes of town! ;)

[Wowbagger]

Eventually, we will push all of those other meetings out to the fringes of town! ;)Hey, why not? It worked for Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

[skepticality]

Now you have the spirit! :D