helpfulnerd, I know exactly what you mean. 2015 my Army buddy and I had costumes and had to Uber from the W in midtown. Im not judging anyone but three guys staying in a hotel in midtown is not the impression I wanted to convey to anyone, if you catch my drift. Anyway it was my first experience with Uber and I love it. It still does not not make it as easy as staying in a host hotel but what else can you do?
Narrator, congrats on your first Con. I have been going to DragonCon since it was DragonCan and before that, the Atlanta Fantasy Fair as far back as my first Con in 1987. I have seen this place and the Cons grow to what they are today. I can remember when getting into a panel with a few stars was as easy as going to the ATM. Today we obviously have way better panels but it comes at a price of long lines and not being able to really plan on going from one panel to the next. Now you have to skip time blocks to stand in line. So each year I really only plan on hitting maybe one or two panels and the rest of the time is people watching, drinking, eating, and cosplay. Regardless you really should try to get a host hotel at least once so you can fully take in the whole experience.
Matrixspoon, right there with you. I know I find rooms in midtown as late as the the week before the Con but I really just want to have everything wrapped up now so I don't have to worry about it then. At least once, I will have a oh **** moment and realize that I forgot to reserve a room and its too late. In 2004, I didn't get a room at all and drove from Snellville every day. that completely sucked, I couldn't drink drink and it made for a not so great Con. I vowed then that I would have a hotel even if it was all the way up at Emory, and most every time I have had good luck in landing host hotels but it seems this is the new norm.
Joshspiderman23, congrats on the Marriott, I expect you will be put in a room with 1 king bed. I say this because every time I have reserved a room at a host hotel, I have had 3 adults and regardless of what the hotel says and regardless of what my reservation says, I have always been stuck with 1 king bed. Arguing about it simply makes no difference to them and your only option is to take it or leave it, the host hotels are more than willing to sell your room to someone else. Really pisses me off but what can you do?
Anyway, guys if you hear of a new block going on sale please let everyone know and see you all at the 2016 Con.