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It's apparently going to be released on May 25th, is there any chance in hell any dealers or distributors might actually have a copy in the dealer room?

Sorry, I just needed to share. It's been several years since I was able to make it to Fanime, but I just finished sorting everything out and I'm really excited. :D

Because apparently I am never capable of making a hotel booking without something going sort of wrong!

Bear with me, this is a bit convoluted. I wanted a king bed room at the Hilton from Wednesday the 25th to Tuesday the 31st. I am flying in from relatively far away (Montreal, Quebec) and the buffer days are sort of necessary for me.

However, when I went to the CMR page right after it opened on Friday night, the only room available at the Hilton on Wednesday was a king bed with guaranteed rollaway. I don't need a rollaway, I don't want a rollaway, and I certainly don't want to pay for a rollaway.

I've called both CMR and the Hilton directly and the general consensus was "That doesn't make any sense, I agree, but for the time being we can't help you." CMR can't give me a room and make a note not to put in the rollaway, and the Hilton can't do anything until they get my booking - at which point it will be too late for me to buy my plane ticket at a reasonable price.

The guy at CMR was quite helpful and nice and put me on a waitlist for a room with no rollaway starting on the 25th, but at some point I am just going to have to buckle down and buy my ticket so I'm sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place here.

I'm just wondering if anyone else tried to make a booking for the Wednesday and was met with similar bizarre issues. It just makes no sense to me that they can't just be like "oh okay we're changing the reservation so you don't have a rollaway anymore! someone else can have it!" ><

I'd love to be able to bring a rice cooker or crock pot or the like, that is a really good idea. Unfortunately since I'm flying in, I can't afford to put something in my suitcase that uses up that much space and weight :(

I'm pretty sure the max legal number of people in a double room at the Fairmont is four :/

Eeee okay so yes I am a dork but I went to the big auto show here in Montreal and I got to sit in two of the awesomest modern cars ever, the 2010 Bumblebee edition Camaro and the 2010 SRT 8 Challenger.

Bumblebee!!!


Challenger!!

And being in the trunk because I am a dumbass


And yes, I did my nails for the event. Classic Ford Racing stripes.


So what kinds of cars make you happy? Post pictures!!

This post brought to you by remakes of classic American muscle, and the punctuation mark Exclamation!

I think it's to cover possible incedental damages, such as stained or torn linens and carpets, broken plumbing, snuck-in pets, smoking in non-smoking rooms, stolen bathrobes, or any other nutty thing that could possibly be anticipated but not expected.

edit: For the record, it's not always charged. In my two years at the Hilton for Fanime, I was never charged an advance deposit. I suspect outward appearance at check-in may impact whether or not it's charged for most hotels, as harsh as that sounds. Back when I used to go to Anaheim for AX and I checked in with a loud, goofy friend wearing cat ears and nine billion pins on her falling-apart backpack, they charged me. Now when I wear a nice blouse, travel with one shiny new suitcase and a quiet, male travel companion who usually dresses in slacks and a dress shirt, I've yet to be charged an advance deposit, no matter what hotel chain in what city we're staying in. I guess we just don't look like "risks".

We are now a 100% NON SMOKING Property

Just to have it on record that not everyone is thrilled about that descision, this is why you've lost at least two loyal Hilton regulars. I'm not sure if any studies ever get done regarding this sort of thing, but people who smoke still do travel on occasion.

So thanks. Your renovated rooms look lovely, it's a shame we'll never get to see any of them.

I've booked at the Arena Hotel for a number of reasons (price, privacy, smoking allowance, huge fuckoff jacuzzi in each room, free dinner, etc) and I'm just wondering if anyone's ever stayed there? It looks a bit cheesetastic decor-wise but clean and well-maintained. It's about a mile away, but I'm fine with walking, so that's not really an issue. I was just hoping someone might know something about it. Anyone got any input?

Does anyone know if they're coming along well and how things might look? Maybe anyone who lives in the area and has been by the hotel recently for whatever reason? I know it's a bit early to start planning already, but the website isn't terribly helpful and I'm trying to figure out what my plans for next year will be. :)

Did anyone get any photos of the kimono fashion show on Sunday afternoon? I participated in it, and I loved the outfit they put me in, I would love to get any more pictures of it!

I remember by this time last year the dealer list posted on the site had been updated a few times, but this year it doesn't seem to have changed since it was pushed live. I'm just wondering if it's going to change at all in the coming month? :)

Does anyone know offhand if there were dealers selling Pullip dolls in the past, or are any dealers lurking around here who may be bringing a couple? I didn't look last year because I wasn't into them then, but I'd like to know if maybe I can get a friend for my current girl this summer, so I can anticipate how much cash to bring. ~.~;;

For anyone who doesn't know what they are, they are large-headed but small-bodied dolls, released on average once a month.

Here's some pics of mine, so maybe if anyone saw similar-looking ones around they could let me know? :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonypics/sets/72157603668783754/

Sorry, I just needed to share, but I got my plane ticket!

I actually got it on Wednesday, when it went down to $600. Today I checked the fares again out of curiosity and saw it had gone down by $50, there was a whole new lower price bracket :( So I called the airline and asked what happened, and the guy was awesome, he was like "I shouldn't do this, but go ahead and make a new booking while I cancel the old one."

So I definitely have my plane ticket now, and at a full $200 less than I thought it would cost me! (Last time I priced it it was $753).

YAAAAY! Now just to wait three months T_T

Last year I got a dealer's badge as part of a booth staff and didn't have to go through any of the reg stuff on my own, so could someone tell me how much the daily passes were last year? I realize prices may change  for this year, but it'll give me an idea of how economical it would be to pre-reg with a full weekend pass versus buy a day or two's entry.

Since I'm travelling across an international border (coming in from Canada), I can't legally bring my own alcohol with me. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any convenience stores that sell alcohol as well (I'm also going to want to buy juice and soft drinks), or any package stores within reasonable walking or short taxi distance from the hotels (Hilton specifically, but wtf they're all near each other). Last year I only ended up fidning one on the second to last day, and that was in a car with some local friends. This time I'd like to be able to stock up on drinks and whatnot when I first arrive.

And yes, before anyone asks/nags, I'm well of age ;P I don't plan on attending the con hammered or anything, that's no fun! We just want to be able to have a drink or two before bed in the evenings to relax, since this is partially a trip for Fanime, and partially just an "omg we need to unwind and have a vacation" trip.

I've recently gotten addicted to Pinky:St dolls, and want to start setting them up a house as well, and filling it with Re-Ment miniature food and stuff.

I've never been to Fanime before, but I'm wondering if anyone who has knows of any dealers who regularly come to Fanime who have these things?

I emailed J-List asking if they'd be coming this year, and they said it was uncertain but not very likely, since it's not financially viable. I'm not really familiar with any other distributors with locations in the US who might be able to make it.

I'm just wondering, for anyone who stayed at the Hilton last year, what the rooms were like? Bathtub size, etc. Also, are there microwaves in any of the rooms?

I was told by the housing comission when I spoke to them on the phone (amazingly helpful people, btw) that the king rooms were listed as having microwaves, but I saw no mention of them on the Hilton website. It's not a problem if they don't, but it'd be nice if there's a chance I might get one.

Also, does anyone know what time the hot tubs closed normally in the evenings? I know these policies can change, but it'd be nice to have a rough idea from someone who was there last year.

Thanks!