Detour or ACen?

[The Waffle King]

hey guys, its 6 months away from local con time (march - may) and i think it's time to start planning some stuff. first thing's first though. last year our funding/time constraints only allowed us to go to one con.

so what shall it be this year people? Detour or ACen? Let's start by getting some info on each.

Detour:
-April 4-6
-Thunderbird Convention Center (same place as last year even though they said they would change to a larger place)
-ATTENTION: the Ramada (Thunderbird) is already filled up! that means we find a different hotel to stay at. which could be bad because we cant just easily walk back to the room for a break without crossing the street. also note that the other hotels do NOT offer the cheaper convention rates.
-reg costs are $30 before dec 31, $40 before feb 28, or $50 at the door.
-be aware they have a 3000 attendee cap here. there are almost 500 pre-reg's at the time of this post.

ACen:
-May 16-18
-still in rosemont, il. so probably the rosemont convention center like always. their 2008 website still isnt up and very little is stated in the forums, so info is limited. so for now ill assume it's the same as last year with the Hyaat being connected to the con center.
-hotel room avalibility has not been determined.
-hotel rates have not been announced
-badge rates have not been announced, ill assume the standard 30/40/50 pattern.


That's all the info i got so far, i'll edit the post when stuff comes up. but untill then, let's get this discussion started.

i'd quite obviously prefer ACen over Detour this year for a few reasons.
1) the hotel is better and (as far as i can tell at the time of this post) have not filled up yet. also, the other hotels are closer if the Hyaat gets filled.
2) not as crowded as Detour. yes, it's still pretty crowded but not OH SHI- packed like detour is.
3) mooooooore stuff. it's the largest con in the midwest.
4) ummm, less driving >_> for me and the far away group at least. for everyone else in the rapids area, it's the same 200 miles for either con.

although i do have some problems with ACen. it takes place on the weekend of finals week. which could cause some problems for me (and other school goers that have finals from may 12-16). I have to be out of my dorm 24 hours after my last final, and until i register for next semester's classes, i wont know when that is. or i might end up having a final late in the day on friday. also, i'd be moving my stuff back home that weekend as well. this also depends on if i can or do move into a friend's appartment next semester, which also has repurcussions. although i'll be close and wont have to worry about moving my stuff around, i'll be kinda strapped for money for paying rent and what not.

but still, i think ACen looks better in general. what do the rest of you think?

[ZaCloud]

Well, speaking for myself n Annette, we've never been to ACen before, so we dunno what to expect. But we have been to big cons too (Otakon) so it won't be a huge shock or anything I'm sure.

Now speaking for myself only, ACen does sound like the better option as far as the connected hotel; lotsa walking around to reach break-places does black magic on my ancient bones. I lurved the layout with Detour, it's too bad those rooms went so darn fast. >_<

Some plans might be changed from mine n Annette's original at this point, but we did plan to move up to Wiscy around whatever time the con'd be going on; we'd quit our current jorbs (or in her case transfer. Hope to in my case but I'll have to find out if that's possible/necessary), go up thar a couple weeks before con-time, and totally dive into looking at apartments until we find suitable ones for us. Then move in our stoofs (or buy stoofs if we couldn't haul it all up), settle in for however long we've got, then go to whatever con is decided.

ACen being later, it'd give us more time to save up for what's needed for both the move and the con, so that's one more plus, along with that it should be warmer at that point.

So, seems after all that long drawn-out prattle, I myself vote ACen. The Saiyan of Wonder can cast her own vote for herself.

[Sephiroth X]

Its hard for me to honestly pic between a different-hotel-detour or Acen.

I still personally love Detour alot more than Acen.

Plus I'd like to make mention of this, even though the hotel was connected to Acen's convention center when we all went to it... it was still a tremendously long walk from hotel room to con. Probably about the same distance as it would be compared to walking across the road from one hotel to the Detour hotel. (I've been keeping in touch with RevolutionaryJo from the Detour Staff, she mentioned that the hotel is literally across the road).

And I need to mention this... and will bold it so everyone notices it.

THE WEEKEND OF ACEN FALLS ON A WEEKEND IM OUT OF TOWN
(I'm making note of that because regardless of how advanced I give notice of some things I seem to always get questioned why I cant go)

The weekend of Anime Detour falls on one of the few weeks where im not out of town. Mid March my family always goes on a weekend sub-vacation with friends of the family, which is usually preceded by some other local family event the weekend before (which almost certainly for me rules Acen out of the question). Not to mention days after Detour I'm going to be going to Michigan for my Uncle's wedding.

My vote by default has to go to Detour, and to top I'd prefur Detour anyway for various other reasons like its a better drive (no Chicago nutballs), better con community, and since it lacks a big-con setup it lacks some of the big-con fees

Additional Note:
We should actually call the Detour hotel to get concrete information about it being booked first. I remember last year around this same time we got word that the hotel was booked too, yet we were able to get three rooms somehow. Plus you have to take into account hotel cancelations and they have an 'unofficial' reserve room queue setup for such occasions.

[ZaCloud]

*peeks in between jobs*

Ooooh, I see. Well, Detour is just as acceptable since I know and love it. If the walk's about the same anyway, then it matters not. And really, the sooner I get outta this durn area the better.

Wouldn't want to miss Sephyness, and possibly even Waffleness. The hustle n bustle of finals and moving out n stuff could make ACen a little tough on teh Wafflemeister. So my vote goes back to neutral after carefuller thought and in light of the new evidence. (I was pretty sleepy when I first posted. ^_^;; )

So for me, whichever!

[The Waffle King]

detour will work as well, if acen wont work for sephy, then we default to detour. dont wanna leave people behind like that. that made pretty short work of this decision.

i'll call the hotel sometime and find out what's really going on. if they are full, ill look into making a tentative booking at the nearest hotel but continue to check back for canceled rooms.

also, i'd like to make a request. now that both sephy and ac have reliable cars, i'd like to opt out of driving people to detour if transportation does not become an issue. it's not that 8 hours of driving is horrible compared to what sam and annette have to go through, its just that driving on the interstate with a car-full of people when i can barely stay awake isnt too smart.

also also, ill check as soon as possible what classes i need for next semester and what days and times they'd occur at (attempting to leave myself with no classes on friday) but im not sure when next semester's catalog will be out

[smtemp]

HOly crap XD detour hotel already sold out?

I was kinda iffy on going anyway... D: might find a different con that'll be better for sales. BUT I might not have to worry about that if things go well with Cosplay.com and Fastfoodanime.com selling my magazines now! *er.. soon* I can MINGLE with everyone instead of sitting at my table XD woooo! www.anicoz.com *ZaCloud wrote in my first issue ;D*

I'm definately going to Acen But that's also cause.. I'm right here! Some friends and I are planning some rawkin costumes and are going to compete in the masq. *hopefully*

Hope to see you guys at the next con we all happen to attend ^_^

[phycoredwolf]

scrachs chin cracks neck and looks about* allright , heres what i know , the surounding hottles for detour arent toooo far a bit of a walk tho , bussing for most of them , pluss il bring the fail bird to wich ever one i go , *glues gundam arms on it in advance this year* one concern with acen for those who like food , no consuites was an isshue and no food vendors is a drag , buuuut we can plan in advance this year and not get quite so done over by that lil detail as il be brining my rice cooker of justice again .
another note , detour is fun and small and fimalr but that means the same thing we allways see , wich will be a 3rd year in a row for me , with only one trip to acen so it might have my vote there , tho i would like to go to both... no way i have teh cash as of now tho hmmm il get back to every on with more math on that latter, i just might be able to pull it off... hmm

[AltruisticCrono]

-Comment from AC coming soon-

[phycoredwolf]

*monster truck anoucment voice * SUNDAY SOMEDAY SUNKDAY

[AltruisticCrono]

I'm all for going to either con... but that also means I am probably only going to one of them... since money is tight as always.

I've had more fun at Detour thus far, but it is a bummer that the hotel seems to be filled. If Waffles can secure two or three rooms, we can probably go since we want to include Sephy. An overflow hotel is an awful way to go, but it may be better than no con all together.

The AVG club has the funding to pay for only one convention. $600 (last year) is a pretty large sum that comes from the budget. Fundraising in an option, but we did not do so well last year and the first semester's end is in sight.

An interesting fact to add... ACen falls the day after my last college semester. I am also graduating that semester the night before. At this time I do not know if that is a good or bad thing in terms of stress or relief.

[The Waffle King]

alright, due to schedules and what not, i think we'll be going to Detour again this year. once i get more stuff, i can start the whole planning thing and making of the subsequent thread.

[Monochrome Rainbow]

AS LONG AS THERE'S A RAVE!!!1!!!

Enough CAPS though. I had a blast at Detour and i'm not a fan of large groups of people. Yes, Detour was packed, but if ACen is even larger, the amount of time spent getting lost could rack up to half a day for me. But either way, I'll go to one or the other. If Waffles or whoever can secure a couple of room as Crono mentioned, then I'll go to Detour.

[SqiKy kLeen]

Jon, this time Ill remember to bring the bread for those sandwiches. +1 Rice cooker for great justice.

Well, this late in the thread its clear where the horde is going this year. Although its too late in the game now to really have my opinion mean anything, I still gotta say I was up for Acen this year. Despite the large con craziness, the hotel was made for it, meaning that theres usually pleanty of room to walk. And in terms of late-hours fun and sheer number if events, panels, ect it cant be beat. Im up for Detour for sure, but expenses pending, Id still like to go with those of you Detour-torn soldiers still up for more convention insanity.

[shintaanimated]

Hey, Josh from AVG club here, just wondering if you guys wanted to get together with the club and split hotel costs and what not. For sure I know Ross and I are going. If we plan early enough we might just get the hotel costs covered by the club. so i am curious on what you guys want to do.
ps, I am not working at this con!!!! lol

[remixedcat]

ACen might be better for the possible move time. I plan to move before may but the move might be around april half moon so maybye I can come. I would rather have moved there to go to it then drive cross country like this becuase our van would be excellent for car camping since it can sleep like 4 people and be a nice shelter to save on hotels (plus wifi since I got cracking tools for every type of service) hpwever it gets 16/mi-gal on a good day. that would be 300 dollars on gas money alone! I would hate to be in a small car for 2000 miles. I am claustropobic. I am also very antsy on long trips and I am a diva.

I also do not like to be away from home for extended periouds of time since I have issues with a few things. (too personal) I would like to move soon but there are a few things that are keeping me here and we need to have ZC move with us to save alot of money since we cna live together in a nice big place and save on calc like 3,000 dollars or more. We dont have to settle for a crappy apartment for each of us instead we can get a nice house and split expenses. To do this requires us to look-n-move practically and jump on the first best thing we can find and move there in one week. (since most landlords require you to move in within 2 weeks or less or they can fill it in and possibly take your deposit and run or if their ncie just return it and let somoen else move in) Detour is too early for this time frame a month makes a world of difference....

however if we move BY april.... the rents are normally cheaper becuase in may they jack prices up becuase peak season 1 starts for moving. Me and ZC will have to discuss this very soon.
However affording a move+this is going to be hard specially if we move let's say march latemoon and detour is just a week or two away it would possibly interferre with our new jobs since we would have to start working approx 2 weeks after we move into a new place since the initial buffer cash will not lasrt very long since we eill neeed food and household items. If we move on said date ACEN would give us time to get adjusted to the new house and our work would lax up and we would be more prepared mentally and financially.

for a detour move we would have to move BEFORE my beeday witch i am NOT ready for. It would be awesome to have a new place for my beeday and have one HUGE moving bash with all you and my beeday, however I am NOT guaranteeing it will happen. But the optimal date would be February 10th for a detour optimal target move date. So we can financially recover and mentlaly recover and have jobs and are secure in the new area before we even think about going to conventions.