The Sheraton

[alexdelarge78.livejournal.com]

Please forgive me in advance for this. I believe it may have been discussed before but I can no longer remember if it was, or what was said.

The dummies guide to lines

Please enlighten me as to how the sheraton will be more beneficial this year for the con registration. We (myself and wife) were there last year and we swore never to use it again- multiple issues. The brochure speaks of a shorter line .. but there are still going to be masses of people attempting to register.

I'm not an idiot, I'm just trying to see this with logical clarity. The Sheraton is a block or so away from the other host hotels and the means of travel is difficult if you are using a motorised device or aid due to disability. The 'security' they have at this hotel were in need of training, directing the crowd rather than asking questions. I don't want to be directed down to the lower level of the sheraton when I need to go through the lobby to the elevator. I'm sure the staff and volunteers have good reasoning, I just can't *see* it.

I don't see the benefits, would somebody kindly enlighten me.

Most sincerely

(Droogy) Rob

Comments

[salog.livejournal.com]

I do see a little logic in putting registration in the Sheraton. Most people only go to registration once when they first arrive at the convention. As you have mentioned, getting to and from the Sheraton is difficult. So this way people have to make fewer difficult trips. Plus it opens up a lot of space in one of the three main hotels for programming tracks.

[dark-blade.livejournal.com]

Wait, it's what? I've not even set foot in the Sheraton, precisely because it IS so far away and I'm disabled. I stay in a con hotel to be where everything is, so that I can participate without exhausting myself.

On the bright side, maybe it means less actual programming will be over there--especially the themed night parties.

[mcb397.livejournal.com]

I personally don't mind that it's in the Sheraton, since that's where I'm staying. Stayed there last year, too. On the other hand, I can see where it would be an issue for people who have problems getting around. I know they had the bus that went between all four con hotels last year, but we never waited around for it, we just walked.

I'm sure they had their reasons.

[wynnegruffyd.livejournal.com]

For my husband and I, this is really a big kink in our Con experience. I use a scooter because of mobility issues. My husband has had numerous back surgeries and has bad knees and is disabled himself and even though he doesn't use a scooter, he can't walk very far or stand in one place too long. We are staying at the Hyatt. I normally check into the host hotel and then we proceed to registration. The Sheraton is a long haul for us from the Hyatt. I've been told to see Disability Services about getting our registration however where is Disability Services? In the Sheraton!!! So how does that help me other than not having to stand in a line? Plus two very popular tracks are located at the Sheraton....BritTrak and TrekTrak. I'm a huge BBC and Trek fan. I could have stayed at the Sheraton I suppose but then the food court, late night programming such as filk and drumming are of course back at the Hyatt. Its a no win situation.

[lady-kathana.livejournal.com]

You can contact Disability Services ahead of the convention. Perhaps they can arrange for you to pick up your badge in the hyatt?

[bantiarna.livejournal.com]

I can see the logic of moving it since people only visit it once and what a big space that opens up. But it bein quicker? I fail to see how.

But . .we cannot go this year so hopefully the kinks will be out by our next time :)

[jeffs-page.livejournal.com]

I can see D*C's point about opening up room at the Hyatt for more available space, but here's some things for everyone to think about.
* Thursday and Friday are work days in downtown Atlanta. So, in addition to the normal workers and traffic, there will be close to 20,000 people (estimate) trying to get their badges on those days. Yep, there are sidewalks, but they aren't that wide.
*The sidewalks aren't that level either. Several times last year I had trouble with my scooter going over broken concrete and harsh ramps by the parking garage and at the crosswalks. It's not going to be much easier with everyone on the sidewalks at the same time.

[keirandyl.livejournal.com]

Rumour has it that the space will allow for the ability to have more people line up by last name than in a long winding row to a smaller (stand in the line with the first letter of your last name) line which is currently the set up at the Hyatt. Sometimes certain letters have very short or empty lines its too hard to haul people out of the long winding line to fill it. Now this is just the rumour I heard so may not be fact. But it makes a bit of sense if they can manage it. Maybe the Sheraton won't work out, but lets face it the Hyatt doesn't work that well either, so why not try it.

As to mobility issues I can't say other than hopefully people will be able to use the shuttle service or taxis, or there will be another alternative set up by Dcon. Perhaps if enough people voice their difficulties Dcon will set up an alternate site at the Hyatt for those with mobility issues.

Change is scary but can be good.

[critus.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much the explanation that I heard. That, and due to the fact that there is more space there shouldn't be a need for anyone to stand outside at all.

[lilithschilde.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly. I'm happy to give it a try. It's got to be fixed somehow!

[glasscannon.livejournal.com]

I wonder if any thought has been given to putting Disability Services in the Hyatt/Hilton/Marriott since Registration is in the Sheraton. It seems idiotic to me (as someone who has in the past had mobility issues, but will hopefully be sans-cane for D*C, knock on wood) to put Disability Services in the one hotel they have to know those with mobility issues have the hardest time getting to. I can understand needing to reorganize to save space and hopefully make the lines move faster, but at some point you have to sacrifice space for the needs of the paying customer.

[deborak]

I have my fingers crossed that this will be a good change. Anything would be an improvement over last year's Thursday wait! I recall that one of the quickest badge lines I ever navigated at D*C was a year it was *not* in the Hyatt, so I'm all for this. Disability needs to step up for the folks for whom this is difficult, though.

[ydnic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, having worked in Pre-Reg I can definitely say that ANY amount of space that would allow for lines to flow faster is a good thing! I hope it works out.

As for Disability Services, there are some really good folks working in that department. They'd basically come to the Pre-Reg line and get badges for folks and take them up to their table, which was located in a more accessible area in the Hyatt (the Grand Hall, where Pre-Reg has been for the last couple of years, is down a flight of stairs--there is a ramp, but it was not in an area that made it 'line-friendly'). I assume they'll have something similar worked out this year (at least I hope)!

ETA: I checked the website, and it says that the Disability Services table will be in the Sheraton: http://www.dragoncon.org/services.php#dis

[cyberdragon56.livejournal.com]

Just a reminder to help speed up the lines:

Have your photo ID OUT AND READY before you get to the counter.

Have your postcard in hand.

Just these two things will help speed up the line a little.