First time around

[mafiaprincess.livejournal.com]

A few questions... just because it's my first time at this con. :)

1) Does the Hyatt have free wireless in the rooms? If no, where can I get wireless? I know there's something for $9.95 to have wireless on your computer in that region of Atlanta but I can't remember the link for it or anything. Fail on my part, but I NEED internet access during the con so this is a bit of an issue.

2) To get to the airport/hotel and vice-versa I use MARTA from the airport to the Peach Tree Center Station for $2.00. Please let me know if I'm wrong.

3) Any advice. I've read a LOT of forum threads on what to do when it's your first time and such, but anything is helpful.

Comments

[blood-sorbet.livejournal.com]

Hey girl hey :D

Hyatt wireless is $10 for 24 hours, which, unless you're splitting the cost with people, is ridiculous. I hear that the food court at the Peachtree Center has free wireless, but we were not able to connect to it last year. I'm fairly certain that the nice breakfast cafe across from the Hyatt (I can show you it, its fabulous) has free wi-fi, and its pretty convenient. Also, the food is amazing.

I forget what the MARTA cost is, so someone else can answer that. It's not too bad though, and its quick and takes you directly to the con area.

I made a big FB note full of tips for veteran con-goers who have never been to D*C specifically, since even normal con-goers will be a bit overwhelmed with D*C. You might've seen it already, but here it is anyway :)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=416574743841
(I might just post it on my LJ too)

[mhaithaca.livejournal.com]

I would love to know more about this nice breakfast cafe!

Meantime, Boingo offers $9.95/month instead of $9.95/day (or more) service, which covers the Atlanta Marriott Marquis as well as lots of airports. There are also Starbucks locations with free Wi-Fi nearby.

And yes, I'm not sure of the price, either, but MARTA between the airport and the mall/hotels is easy. Just make sure you don't have more luggage than you can easily carry or otherwise wrangle.

[maryquesera.livejournal.com]

Second the request for more info about the breakfast place!

[blood-sorbet.livejournal.com]

http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/MenuNutrition.aspx

It's the Corner Bakery :) It's delicious, and hopefully they still have the free wi-fi they were advertising last year...

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

Is the cafe the Corner Bakery? It's at 270 Peachtree, right across from the Hyatt. I haven't eaten at that location, but I've eaten at others. It's pretty much the same as Panera, for those who are familiar with that. :)

[blood-sorbet.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think so! I was trying to find it through google maps, but had no luck, though I think I found it on street view:
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n26/nameless_liberty/breakfastplace.jpg
I'm 95% sure its the little place with the black and white striped awning. I just remember it had really good food last year and was open extra early, and lots of people were there with their laptops :)

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's Corner Bakery. :)

[acciochocolate.livejournal.com]

Please post it here in the dragoncon community! Thanks! There's still plenty of folks not on FB.

[blood-sorbet.livejournal.com]

I'll have to edit it a bit, then, because it was specifically for some friends I know on FB :) But I will post it here too!! Might be a few days though.

[muerandah.livejournal.com]

The Hyatt does have wireless internet in their rooms. But its not free.

Since its your first time, just enjoy yourself and have fun people watching.

[maryquesera.livejournal.com]

Someone in another thread here suggested Boingo for internet access, but it's not in the Hyatt. Marriott only, I think. I think it was about $8 a month for a mobile, $10 for a laptop. I haven't used it yet myself, but I'm considering trying it. Boingo's also in a lot of airports, including Atlanta's.

[nightwing22dg.livejournal.com]

Hello again,
I'm an expert taking MARTA. Yeah, it is $2.00 per trip. Though you have to get a card too. One time use paper cards are only $.50 as opposed to the long time use & re-loadable $5 cards. The big question is if the long escalator there is working since MARTA had problems with escalators this year and shut them all down earlier. Though they do have elevators inside MARTA as well. And MARTA does connect right into the airport and lets you out at the Peachtree Center FoodCourt that connects with the Hyatt via a little walkway. Or just head out to Peachtree and cross Baker street into the Hyatt. I always eat at the food court because you can't beat the price or selection.

I was wondering about wireless internet myself. I have an IPOD touch I'm debating on bringing.

[hollycomb.livejournal.com]

The escalator is working again now.

[blood-sorbet.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh that happened to me last year XD It was extra embarrassing because there was a line behind me and everyone had to wait while I pathetically tried to scoop out 18 of these big coins lol. It was awful.

[dianne-the-geek.livejournal.com]

ooo, I always forget about this! Every year I have 18 dollar coins that I'm trying to spend on the last day so I don't have to lug them home. Thanks for the reminder!

[ubiquitous-a.livejournal.com]

Good to know! I actually love those coins! :)

[noelleleithe.livejournal.com]

MARTA is $2, but it's an extra 50 cents for the Breeze ticket to load the fare onto. It's cheaper to buy a round trip and load both onto the same card ($4.50 total). Or, if you're concerned you might misplace the ticket, just try to hold onto it, and if you do, you can reload it for the return trip without paying the extra 50 cents again.

[dianne-the-geek.livejournal.com]

The best thing about taking MARTA from their airport is that you can't possibly get on the wrong train. From the airport, they all go to Peachtree center. Once you hit ground, so to speak, it can be a little disorienting your first time to get to the hotels, but there's usually someone official-looking around who can give you directions (or follow the flood of geeky t-shirts!)

Pack comfy shoes (really, really comfy shoes), take your vitamins & use hand sanitizer to avoid the con crud, and just generally have fun. I've found most D*Con regulars are pretty helpful if you get lost along the way (those hotels can by pretty maze-like sometimes).

[dlorean.livejournal.com]

Marta takes credit cards now! :)

[pyanfar.livejournal.com]

MARTA Breezecard info:

http://www.breezecard.com/

[glasscannon.livejournal.com]

You've gotten good answers to your questions, but for more general first-timer advice, the best thing I can recommend is to watch any DragonCon videos you can find on YouTube, and look at the maps of the hotels (someone posted a link to GoogleMaps recently, but the PocketProgram, once it's released, will have maps of all the levels of the hotels too. Last year was my first year, and because I'd watched a lot of videos and looked at the maps ahead of time, I managed to only get lost once (in the bowels of the Sheraton).

Even just knowing the relationship of the hotels to each other is really helpful. The main four form kind of a backwards L shape, with the Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton in a straight line, with just one street between each (and "hamster tubes" over those streets), and then the Sheraton is a right turn from the Hilton and a couple of blocks over. This year there's also the Westin, which is a few blocks over from the Hyatt. But watch videos online and look at the maps, and it'll help a lot.

Beyond that, just don't try to plan too much. No matter how hard you try, you *will* miss out on something at DragonCon, simply because there's so much cool stuff going on literally 24 hours a day. So pick a couple of things you really want to make it to, and things you could go to if you find yourself with free time, but otherwise just go with the flow, people watch, take an afternoon nap (the better to stay up for the late night parties!), that sort of thing. It can be overwhelming, but on the bright side you'll never be bored. ;)

[nightwing22dg.livejournal.com]

I've been going to DragonCon for 13 years, and I still get lost looking for some of those panel rooms.

RE: #3

[archersangel.livejournal.com]

wear comfortable shoes, you will be walking & standing around a lot.
drink plenty of water. the host hotels have water stations set up if you don't want to lug a bottle around.
try to follow the 6-2-1 rule; 6 hours of sleep, 2 "real" meals & 1 shower per day.

i think that's about it. have fun.

[veracity]

Drink a lot of water, like carry it around with you in your bag. Seriously. Native here, and it's been killer hot. Today we finally got some decent rain but that's short term in late August/early September. The city is extremely hot, especially if you don't use the hamster tunnels because nothing in this city is flat. So get a water bottle when you get here and keep refilling it. Water is provided in the Hyatt in little plastic cups, but that's not a long-term plan.

Oh, and the bag: I have a small mini-messenger bag I carry to the con with me so I don't have to hold anything really. I actually got it a store in Peachtree Center in 2006 but it's been darned useful since. It's also harder for a purse snatcher to snatch something that's literally attached. And mine is big enough to hold the pocket program, the big book/autographs, all the necessaries (wallet, lipstick, insulin), some granola bars and my water bottle. It's definitely a wise investment to find something that distributes the weight.

[http://users.livejournal.com/mad_brilliant_/]

I got free wifi at the food court last year, and it worked great.