restricted access to hotels again?

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

I am wondering access to the hotels will be restricted to people with badges or room keys again? I think last year this happened in the evenings?

What is the official policy on this?

Comments

[fluffydragon.livejournal.com]

God, I hope so. It was wonderful last year.

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

Personally I like the crowds but whatever whatever.

[fluffydragon.livejournal.com]

... you like fighting through tons of people that shouldn't be there? Okay.

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

as far as I've heard, it will be the same as last year, with 7:00PM to 3:00 AM starting Friday and Sunday night, and going into security procedures right after the parade on Saturday (I'm guessing due to the 4 college football games going on that day)

[neovenom.livejournal.com]

I second this because I've seen tweets from fan track directors and from interviews with them on podcasts that pretty much say the same thing. Hilton is supposed to join the Hyatt and Marriott with this checking too.

[mcb397.livejournal.com]

The Hilton was checking last year too.

[hollycomb.livejournal.com]

I hope so, it was such an improvement!!

My coworkers stressed about this because they like to go to the Hyatt bar and people watch after work, but they were able to get in early Friday evening and were out of there around 7. After that I'm all in favor of them barring the doors. :))

[whiteladyeowyn.livejournal.com]

Well, me personally, I wish access was restricted from the start of Con til the end... but that's me.

[acciochocolate.livejournal.com]

+1

[geekechik.livejournal.com]

Here, here! You've got my vote on this one.

[tonyalittegirl.livejournal.com]

me too :)

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. For myself, I kind of like allowing the mundanes into the lobby in the daytime. I always get a kick out of watching people in business suits/families with small children/etc. getting excited to take photos with the stormtroopers and other costumers. I've seen people walk into the hotel who seemed to have no idea that the con was going to be there, which is hilarious. Plus, some of these visitors will get interested enough to buy a badge, which supports the con. As long as the con is careful about checking badges at room doors to make sure nobody gets to enjoy panels and such without paying and is prepared to start badge checks early if the crowding gets especially bad, I am okay with daylight lobby access for all.

I am VERY glad about the access restrictions in the evening, because that's when folks are more likely to be drunk, disrespectful, and looking for trouble. Starting that last year was such a good policy.

[andrew norton (from livejournal.com)]

I'm pretty sure it will be, since I was helping signage out at the weekend make up this years signs at the Dragoncon offices (I'm not on the signage staff, I'm on the EFF track staff, but was helping out) and some of the signs that came up and were boxed for transport were the 'private party, room key or badge' signs.

So I'm pretty sure it's happening again. (Of course, I'm not an official source)

[materpenitentia.livejournal.com]

Good it says private party - cause my wedding is Sunday night at 10pm in the Hyatt and I know there will be family that are only going to that.

[m-cubicle.livejournal.com]

I've said it once and I will say it again. The people that have paid good amounts of hard earned money for a Dragon*Con badge and hotel room deserve to enjoy the convention free of people who just are there to be curious. I don't want to sound like a hard ass here, but it's the lesson learned from D*con 2010. Girls were getting felt up, gang fights broke out, and generalized chaos ensued. Why should some people pay and others not? Lock down the hotels Thurs.-Mon. to anyone NOT with a con badge and/or hotel key card. This thing is getting too expensive and too big to just to let anyone in off the street. Just sayin'..........

[halafax.livejournal.com]

You have a good point. I had some issues with some guys who wouldnt leave my lady friend alone. It wasnt a good time had at all.

[davidvcody.livejournal.com]

Yes. Also, the program will be expanded to the Hilton.

No, we are not announcing the hours that badges and room keys will be checked.

Restricting access to those with badges and room keys was one of the most popular policies we have ever introduced.

Enjoy. :)

[thedrunkenjedi.livejournal.com]

Wise not to announce it, this way non-members can't gain access just before the cut-off.

[pixiekingtom.livejournal.com]

The icon says it all, David.
This policy has been incredibly helpful to bringing the Con back to the Congoers and away from those who think that they're stuck in a giant frat house.

[twitchomatic.livejournal.com]

Your words, they are truth!

[elvishtard.livejournal.com]

*high fives this comment*

[materpenitentia.livejournal.com]

I have a couple family people coming to my wedding in the Hyatt Sunday at 10pm, they aren't staying in the room so won't have a key and they aren't going to dragoncon either but they will have a wedding invitation.

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

You're getting married at the con? That is AWESOME. Congratulations.

[materpenitentia.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[richardlt.livejournal.com]

You may really want to contact the offices directly with this instead of relying on LJ. I'd hate for your family not to get in because the guards are doing their duty to letter of the law: no one without a room key or badge. If all else fails, simply notifying the guards at a specific entrance just prior to the wedding may help, and make sure you family knows to use that specific entrance and flash the wedding invitation.

Also, is this the Game of Thrones themed wedding I've heard about elsewhere?

[materpenitentia.livejournal.com]

yeah, that was my plan to have them enter through the one door like the main one and have the security know already by giving them a copy of the invitation ao they know what it looks like and there are only two people and they would have matching invitations to the one I show the security

[materpenitentia.livejournal.com]

Yes it is GOT and Pern

[frankkmiller.livejournal.com]

I guess .. actually ran into some other people that missed the throngs. Didn't really bother me a bit.

But .. I've also never experienced any of the .. issues .. that others have, knock on wood.

[eidolon-bird.livejournal.com]

How can you "miss the throngs" when attendance is at fifty thousand (or higher, if you believe they lie about attendance to keep the fire marshal from throwing a fit) and grows each year? Marriott was PACKED last year, even with the badge checks.

[braidedmane.livejournal.com]

So much this. There will be no shortage of crowds even with the restrictions.

[scott-st-james.livejournal.com]

I just wish it was a little more conditional.

For instance, I live overseas and Dragon*Con is a great chance for me to see people from the Atlanta area that don't come to the convention. Given that I won't necessarily have a car on the premises, it would be nice to be able to bring 4-6 people into a the hotel with me for the evening so we can all party together.

And I understand why it's popular policy. I've heard loads of complaints about various forms of muggles (which I've experienced none).

But meh. I could take it or leave it.

And if I'm honest, I get the idea there are more effective means to deal with crowd control without lockdowns.