Been to Dragon-Con before?

By eveychu. 15/11/12, 04:01 am

So my parents are sending me to Dragon-Con 2013 next year for my 21st and I was wondering if any of my fellow cosplayers have been before?
If so
Where do you recommend staying? I don't want to stay in a dodgy shack.
What should I expect?
Tips?
Yes anything helpful would be amazing!

By neimhaille. 16/11/12, 03:51 am

What an amazing 21st! Congrat!

Jackie, Kristy and I have all gone :) Its huuuuge so planning is good!

Firstly:
There is a CVS near by. This is a very pretty store for one but also has food and supplies youll want. Just no high quality glue. Easy to find, just start printing google maps now ;)
So avoid the queues for food and drink at the foodfourt by going for the CVS fridges. Just beware the red fish lollies which have mineral oil in them.. the budget brand is safer in this regard!

Plan your groups. Do not tryand wander around solo as you will get lost and ignored. Unless in body paint- sometimes. And that can be good or bad. I was very lucky I had a friend help me throughthe crowds when i was in pain and all painted up ;)

Level 10 of the Marriot is the place for photoshoots. Also the Hilton patio. The Patio gets very very hot so make sure if you do one of the big Marvel/D/Anime shoots to bring water (acyually sports drink is better) and hover near the shade.

Level 10 on the marriot is where SGH photoart and Lionel also hang out, I only got one shoot with each but friend them on facebook and ask if they are dong shoots and see if you can get a booking. I had no idea and almot missed out.

Most things happen at night. Many large group gathering happen about 9pm on. I was not able to do any of them, except the Rougie meet (which I had been waiting 10 years for!) due to fatigue and jet lag. 3 am was the time my body wanted to wake up and still does!

These are times when the photographers are on the main lobby floors of the Marriot.

Plan your costumes now, and have back ups. Costumes you have worn before and are failiar with. You may not wear them all (I had one extra costume I kind of wish I had worn).

Be prepared for hating travel after. The long haul leg is not so bad but the internal US flights are horrible. And be prepared that your hand luggage may wind up getting checked in at the gate. So make sure your carry on is rigid and packed well to avoid anything getting bumped around or squashed.
TSA is almost certainly going to open your luggage, so inlude a note (keep it friendly too!) about what you have in the way of ostumes and even print some pictures of the original costume if it helps too.

Security is as bad as everyone says so wear slip on slip off shoes on your flight. Mine doubled as my pretty Moulin Rouge and Reinette shoes. They are by Kumpfs and live up to the name.

But the airports have interesting food courts. If you go through SFO rather than LAX there is an amazing soup place with real bread in the main food court. Soooo good.

Hotels. I was lucky to share in the Marriot, level 20-something which was quiet in the room noisy on the balcony. The airways between hotels are a bit of a crowded nightmare. But I believe all the Marriot rooms are gone now? I do know people stay at the overflow hotels and not have much of a worry.