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Could you have Steam Powered Giraffe at least open? Fanime has had english speaking bands open before. They were a blast and it would be cool to see them on a big stage.

I'm putting this here and in the musicfest thread because clockwork alchemy doesn't have it's own forums. Can we get Steam Powered Giraffe back next year? Maybe have a show where they preform at the San Jose Convention Center? They were a major highlight.

well if you're going Friday morning I would recommend showing up sometime before 10am. If you do it will be less than an hour wait. The major line starts around 11:30 -noon.

I was wondering how long the lines tend to be on thursday and what time most people show up?

I'm traveling from 20 miles south in beautiful Santa Cruz. I have a friend coming from Oklahoma (though she does live here but she's leaving from school). I have another friend coming from Florida, and one other from Ohio. Two years ago a friend of mine who again grew up here took a plane from her school in Denmark to go to fanime and then went back right after.

Fanime Veteran here, 2013 will be my 7th go around and I plan to go for as long as live in the area. I usually room with at minimum of 3 people and the most 6. I've been to the Fairmount, the Hyatt, and the Hilton and I figured I'd post my thoughts on all 3 of them here.

Hotel Name: Hyatt
Would You Book Next Year: Yes this is my second choice but a CLOSE second, and it's most of my friends first choice.

Pros: First I love the parking situation, it makes check-in awesome. The decor is very modern and sleek and the renovation has greatly improved the lobby. The decor is definitely wonderful no doubt about it. Breakfast is cheap if you wake up early enough, about $5 per person and it's a good amount of food. It's SO CLOSE to the convention, S-Hall and where they are currently holding the Black and White Ball, seriously about a min walk to all of the above. I like the fact that it's not connected to the convention because the noise factor is cut down severely. The beds are pretty comfortable and there is a couch in each room now. There is free Wi-Fi and the number of guests is MUCH lower than the Fairmount or the Hilton so much quieter hallways and when the elevators are working less traffic. I love the check in it's super fast and check out is even better. You can open the windows slightly you want a breeze. also if you're on the higher floors you get a pretty great view of the Fairmount park. You can even here the bands that sometimes play there(IF you have the window open). The view on the other side of the building is the convention center which is AWESOME. Really great views all around. The bathrooms were quite nice. I like the fact that you can't enter the building late at night without a key card. Good ventilation over all, it never got stuffy.

Cons:They have refrigerators but when I went they weren't THAT cold. To be fair this was the second month after the renovation. The elevators, every time I go to the Hyatt I can almost guarantee that one of the elevators will break on Saturday, but if you plan ahead you can avoid it. Last year I'm sad to say was probably the worst when 2 elevators broke down on late Saturday and were like that till late Sunday. If you ABHOR walking even across the street than this hotel is not for you.

Special Notes to Share: The rooms can comfortably fit 4 people but I've seen 6 people manage to fit decently well. The closet space is smaller than at the Fairmount so if you have lots of cosplayers rooming together not a good idea. Also multi-cosplayers there are only 2 mirrors so I would not recommend. There's plenty of room in the closet otherwise. GREAT if you are going to the masquerade or concerts. I've seen a lot of the special guests while in this hotel.

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Hotel Name: Fairmount

Would You Book Next Year: Yes, it's MY personal favorite. My friends disagree with me.

Pros: Again very great views, you can see the silicon valley and the park. There are plenty of great restaurants nearby:  a cute bakery, a bistro, johnny rockets, and a few others. by nearby I mean either DIRECTLY across the street or in the lower portion of the building. THEY HAVE A POOL!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE their bathrooms, by far the most spacious and luxurious of the hotels and GREAT for cosplayers. They give you a robe and they have a hairdryer in the room. The decor is my favorite of the hotels every part of the room, elevator, corridor, and lobby is gorgeous. The beds are comfortable and they have refrigerators. I think their TVs have great quality and it's SUPER easy to hook up a gaming station or dvd player. It's really great for watching all that anime you just bought at the convention. I can't remember off the top of my head if they offer a dvd player. The staff is very helpful if you arrive as soon as check in starts they have plenty of luggage carts. They have a big lounge chair which is comfortable enough to sleep in. Also if you're in a a single king size room you MAY request a second bed but be sure to do it fast otherwise the will run out. Very secure hotel. Rooms are pretty soundproof I've never had a problem with noisy neighbors. LOTS of closet space like 3 hardcore cosplayers will have enough room for their costumes. I can't guarantee room for major props.

Cons: To my knowledge no microwave.Watch out for the food in the rooms they charge it to your account if you pick them up. If you have kids that like to play with things beware. If you are in the main building the corridors get REALLY confusing cause they all look the same, not good if you're tired. It IS a walk to the convention center, but not for a party. Definitely a lot of people stay at the Fairmount so elevators get packed. I've noticed the Tower has faster elevators instead of the main building. The parking is expensive and kinda hectic on check out. But you have a spot. Using the key cards in the elevators gets complicated, you have to do it fast. It's quieter than the Hilton but not as quiet as the Hyatt.

Special Notes to Share:I feel like I should add that the decor of the Hyatt is comparable but a completely different feel. Also the fridge is stocked with alcohol and I put this in the special notes cause it's either a pro or con if you have minors. I went with a lot of my minor friends and it costs money to empty the fridge, which I think is unfair. The reason I had the fridge emptied was a promise to the parents so this just could just be me. Again comfortable for 4 people and at MAX have 6. The room size is almost the exact same as the Hyatt just differently planned out. Definitely out of all the hotels this is my favorite. Definitely for cosplayers it's the best hotel.

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Hotel Name: Hilton

Would You Book Next Year: No, my least favorite.

Pros: Part of the convention center. Parking is very easy and cheap. Pretty views and one of the newer hotels it got remodeled two years ago(I haven't seen the new remodeled rooms). The beds are comfortable. The restaurants in the lobby are REALLY good if slightly pricy, but I should note you can visit them even if you aren't a guest. Lots of parties.

Cons:When I went the air conditioning was awful and the room was SO stuffy. It was hard to open the windows even a little bit. I was rooming with 4 other people. I hate the bathroom set up, not that much privacy and prefer a door that can lock. REALLY loud parties, the rooms aren't that sound proof and sounds carry. LOTS of activity in the halls. I sleep lightly so this hotel is awful for me. Check out is awful and if you do stay here try and get a lower room because the elevators are super busy.

Special Notes to Share: Great for people who prefer the late night events that happen in the convention center. Either be a late night partyer or a heavy sleeper.

Wow I'm kinda a duffus quoting a 2009 post. But yeah I'd like to see a Gaia booth again. Also World God Only Knows... I wish they had more merchandise for that.

Also...BRING BACK THE GAIA BOOTH!

Yeah! My friend and I were all bummed that they weren't here. Someone had even given my friend some money to buy her a hat from Gaia, or something, and it wasn't even there, which threw a wrench in the works.

I liked finding the old Final Fantasy PSone games there, though. I bought myself Final Fantasy VIII, which was the only one I didn't have. XD

I would like to see more Gurren Lagann stuff, definitely. I'd definitely go after some Kamina and Simon related items. :3

At the last possible minute they decided to add a panel, but yeah i missed he Gaia booth there too last year.   Dont think they the intention of coming around to Fanime then.  It wasn't on their con schedule and a lot of people were getting upset that they werent going to drop by.  Think all the complaints got to them ^_^ so they at least came by doing a panel. 

I must say thats very strange cause their headquaters is in San Jose that's why we had so many Gaia artists in the Artist Alley I REALLY missed the Gaia booth. I wonder if asking admins on Gaia would be more helpful to this endeavor?

I truly love the Black and White Ball and think it's a lot of fun. As far as the dress code I think that if you're going to ban 4" heels or boots cosplayers shouldn't be allowed in. I mean if your basis for letting them in is they put a lot of effort in to putting together that outfit I can argue that some dress up ensembles take just as long to put together if not longer. It really sucks when you have to be turned away and then see someone wearing the same kind of violation walk right in cause it was part of their cosplay. So if you are going to make a blanket rule please make it apply to all.
I agree with Nina Star and Charis that some people are truly more comfortable in 4" heels. I know it sounds weird but I become a complete klutz when I wear two inch heels while in 4 inch one I can dance for 4 hours straight. I'd gladly close my eyes and spin around in them. I'd love to see explanation videos and real life examples rather than just the drawings. As a side not the drawings are adorable and please don't get rid of them if possible.

Okay I have a bit to say about this, and one tiny suggestion which I'm not sure should go in this thread. As a side note this is my 5th time going to fanime.

PROS:
-Dealers Hall: It was truly amazing this year! Like WOW!!!! who ever decided the organization did a splendid job. every booth led me straight to the next and I kept finding new treasures upon further inspection it was like a anime candyland.
-Seating : I found there was a lot more places to sit this year. Which was great!
-Clockwork alchemy : Really cool idea! I hope it shows up again next year! the shuttle was great. Eventually my friends and I just took my car because we're impatient but it was cool all the same! I wish it had been in a closer hotel like the hyatt or fairmount.
- Pocket Schedule was back!!!! I missed it so much.
-Line rovers : They were upbeat and kind. They really helped make the best of the huge reg line! More on other rovers later...
-The anime selection in the viewing rooms! It was really great this year a mix of classic favorites and new hits! It was quite enjoyable mix of nostalgia and discovery.
-Food on site was very good

Neutral/Other;
-I REALLY wanted popcorn in front of the anime viewing area. My reasoning is it would make a lot of money, and draw people over there. two birds one stone. It might be too messy or there could be another reason that it isn't in place there but I spent two hours watching anime WISHING I had the glorious sustenance known as popcorn.
-Tons more people this year. Not a bad thing but changes need to be made for this new development.

Cons:
-Black and White Ball : It felt like the door checkers hadn't read the list of conditions for letting people in, which was strange because the list was posted RIGHT next to them I feel like they turned away a lot of acceptable outfits and let in others that were WAY to informal even if they were cosplays.
- The rovers around the con : They seemed to have a lot of mixed info and didn't collaborate, I was in line for the My Little Pony fan panel and they were slightly late which meant the panel was canceled but one guy said if the panelists arrived in the next 5 min(they did) the panel would be back on. It was very confusing. This could be because they were one day volunteers. Same with door guards for gaming, dealers, and artists halls. half the time they let people leave and enter through the same door other times directed us elsewhere.
-The lines for panels if they grew past a certain point were hard to figure out.
-Online release dates: I wish everything was released earlier. I remember last year and the year before hotels and everything were available in December and the schedule was available 2 to 3 weeks in advance. I'd prefer that cause it allows for more planning. I hardly saw my friends this year(a number of 30 in total) while last year I managed to spend an hour or two last year with the same number of people. I truly believe it was because of the later release of the schedule