2009/2010 Hotel - Hilton Portland & Executive Tower

[xxxchihiroxxx]

^ It shouldnt be, theres a few large parkin garages near bye because we are close to a mall

[DancingTofu]

Avoid driving if at all possible.  If you can, park somewhere on the Max line and ride the max the rest of the way.  Parking's going to be scarce, and where it's available, it will cost a ton.

[xxxchihiroxxx]

yeah I agree with the max thing, try the busses as well if you live near by instead of using cars. While there are parking garages (trust me you wont find anything on the streets) they do cost a nice chunk

[DancingTofu]

They are actually working on a new parking garage up around 8th or 9th that should add 400-800 parking spots into the area when it's finished, but that probably won't be finished by con 2009 and it'll probably cost just as much to park there as anywhere else.

[D-Chan]

How many blocks out should I make the area map? I was thinking of making it big enough to stretch down to the waterfront to include Saturday Market.

please and thank you

[JeffT]

In the lobby, there's a panel of like, twelve buttons with key holes and little read outs of what floor each elevator is on. If the Hilton feels like it, they can lock an elevator so it ONLY goes to the hotel rooms or ONLY goes to the con space. Wicked cool.

How does this work? When you call an elevator on the first floor, how do you know which one to enter if certain ones are locked to certain floors? And what if that is not the one that arrives?

(From the old discussion, the only way I can see floor lockout working is if you have separate call buttons for each car (which there isn't, judging from my photos), or if you have the elevators automatically return to the first floor and sit with the doors open when idling, so people can always enter the needed elevator. Plus signs to direct people.)

[Pai009]

The hotel is awsome, but dose anyone know how much VIP is going to cost? I'm just woundering, I want to start saving my money for it.

[TomtheFanboy]

Here are the aforementioned panels full of buttons from the lobby. I f I had  ever been on an elevator along I would have snapped some interior shots to show all the crazy buttons inside.





See how they're all controlled by keys? That's why I said that the main lobby could control the elevators. It would be super freaking cool if we could have an elevator manager under Faciliities/Yojimbo who had a key and the training to use it but I somehow feel our staff is going to busy elsewhere.

[JeffT]

Other than possibly "Restaurant Express" (would that be the 23rd floor?), I think all the controls in the photo are for specialized or emergency uses.

"Car To Lobby" and "Bypass" are for emergency use. The "Hall Call Lockout" and "Floor Lockout" (I think this is also known as "Car Call Lockout") apply to all 4 elevators, so would be used to restrict access to certain floors rather than control traffic. And it looks like, with this control panel, it is only supported for 3 specific floors.

But, it's hard to know all this for sure without more detail.

[DancingTofu]

Elevators were a big problem in 2005.  And a smaller problem 2006.  And a big problem again in 2007.  And once more in 2008.  Are non-emergency stairwells to EVERY floor of this hotel?  Are there non-emergency stairwells at all?  How many elevators does the hotel have?

[TomtheFanboy]

I don't think you're giving an accurate view of the elevator problems.

2004 was the worst year ever when it comes to elevators. Things will never be as bad as they were then because we've never completely broken elevators OR had COPS take over an elevator for a few hours.
2005 was annoying because of the Romanians in the hotel hitting all the buttons.
2006 was barely 2 floors so the elevators weren't used by most people.
2007 was bad because not all the elevators went up to the room floors and there weren't many to begin with.
2008 was the way it was because we had an extra 1000 people.
I don't know which of the last two years was worse because I dodged the elevator bullet in 2008 (poolside suite FTW), but when I did ride the elevators I didn't have a hard time so I don't think it was worse this year.

I don't see next year getting better elevator-wise, they have higher tech elevators but they also have more floors and we'll have even MORE people.



In other news...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Y6oS9wYQ8
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F82w6Fnq2rQ

[JeffT]

With an extra elevator car (4 instead of 3), the fact that they are much faster, and possible extra logic to optimize them, I would say the 2009/2010 elevators could easily work much better. But we'll have to see.

[TomtheFanboy]

With an extra elevator car (4 instead of 3), the fact that they are much faster, and possible extra logic to optimize them, I would say the 2009/2010 elevators could easily work much better. But we'll have to see.

It think the extra logic and higher tech level will be the biggest pluses. The Doubletree did have two more elevators for most of the floors.

[xxxchihiroxxx]

w00t just booked my room :3

its costing us like 700 for the whole weekend O_O

[kylite]

once they give us the "convention code" it will reduce prices MASSIVELY!

[xxxchihiroxxx]

yeah I sure hope so ^^;;

[superjaz]

the hilton looks so shiny i hope we dont leave pocky crumbs all over the place

[DancingTofu]

Totally not bothering with a hotel room this year; I'm just going to sleep at a friend's apartment 15 blocks away if I can't mooch a room.  It wasn't worth the stress (let alone the money) this year.

[oslapedo]

once they give us the "convention code" it will reduce prices MASSIVELY!

That is good to hear because once I get my room it'll be around $700 too.

[xxxchihiroxxx]

I dunno, a part of mine being so spendy was because I have so many people in my room >.> 4 others in clueding me....

[oslapedo]

I tried seeing what it'd be like for 1 adult w/ 1 King bed and it was slightly over $700 as well : O

[xxxchihiroxxx]

oh dear ._.

[DancingTofu]

It's $245/night standard rate single IIRC.  We should hopefully get that discounted by a lot.  Sakuracon gets it down to $140-$170/night, which is $200 to $300 off your bill right there.  We should be able to get even lower rates, as we usually do.  Again, wait for the convention code; give that to them and you should see a huge drop in the price.

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

Those stairs... I really want to have someone take a picture of me going down them in my Yuna Wedding dress... with either lady-fiancee, a Seymour, or a Tidus in tow. XD

So total for the con for a room for $119 would be... $476 dollars for four days. $516 for the $129 rate, $556 for the $139 rate, and $596 for the $149 rate. But three days it would be...
$119*3=$357
$129*3=$387
$139*3=$417
$149*3=$447
Start saving up!

[oslapedo]

Depending on how long it takes I'll just wait for the convention code to come out before I order... but I might get impatient.

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

XD I'll wait for the code, myself. Thats, IF I can get monies. Does anyone know how much the discount has been in the past?

[xxxchihiroxxx]

no I dont know actualy, and I still reserve early cause i found last year when I reserved round this time of year I had a way better room than my friends who reserved much later >.> and last time we were at a hilton the rooms were small and cramped, (given I think this one is suposed to be a lot nicer) I do not intend to have a tiny room stuffed with extra merchindise, 4 girls, cosplays, suitecases, and food supplys for the weekend.... me needs larger room... (specialy when two of the three do not know the meaning of the words pack light...)

[kylite]

Those stairs... I really want to have someone take a picture of me going down them in my Yuna Wedding dress... with either lady-fiancee, a Seymour, or a Tidus in tow. XD

So total for the con for a room for $119 would be... $476 dollars for four days. $516 for the $129 rate, $556 for the $139 rate, and $596 for the $149 rate. But three days it would be...
$119*3=$357
$129*3=$387
$139*3=$417
$149*3=$447
Start saving up!

Dont forget this: 12.50 % per room per night tax

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

I didn't factor that in because... I was lazy. XDD *did it all in her head from laziness not letting her go get her calc*
So yeah.... probably around $550 on average for a room for four days, $500 for three. Or something like that. ^^

[oslapedo]

I have a question, if we book our room before the con code comes out can we add it in later?

[Jamiche]

I have a question, if we book our room before the con code comes out can we add it in later?

Yes.  After the code comes out, you can contact the hotel and have your reservation placed in the block.

[The_Panda]

So, how did you get those rates that said it was $119 to stay at the hilton? I keep getting told that's it's 200 per night.

[Bob]

How much of a problem are the hallway sizes going to be? I mean I'd hate to see a Lavi try to go down one of those halways with a hammer. and I myself my have a big sword.

[xxxchihiroxxx]

yeah I know for a fact that there are going to be at least two of us Lavi's with large Hammers >.>

[KinkyFriedChicken]

I have To Walk Throught The Halls With Very Large Wing Blades For Sasori x-x

[Mitsukai Mizu Amaya]

I'll have Yuna wings and the train of death. @.@
Anyway... what is the law in the US regarding who can reserve a room? I'll be 17 by the next con... do you have to be 18 andor have an 18+ person reserved, check in, and check out?

[RobinSena]

So do we have codes yet?  I haven't seen anything on the news and I know my group would find it very painful to stay at a non-con rate. :/

[xxxchihiroxxx]

codes arnt out yet but you can reserve them and then use the codes when they come out, something along those lines.

[RobinSena]

codes arnt out yet but you can reserve them and then use the codes when they come out, something along those lines.

Thanks for the reply =^_^=  That is what did about a month or so ago, but really want to get locked into the con rates as soon as we can ~ Every $ we can save is awesome

[TomtheFanboy]

Hey everyone with the gigantic costumes and props. Remember that no one is forcing you to use those props and costumes, it is your choice. There is nothing that can be done about the size of the upstairs hallways.

The main two floors and the lobby should be fine for you, also the building across the street should be ok.

The Third Floor will not be ok, there will not be room for that giant hammer to go past people into the  various rooms (probably something like viewing rooms or workshop or tabletop gaming). I've already referenced my video of the third floor. I'll make sure that my next one actually goes upstairs and we can see what the hallways are like.

[xxxchihiroxxx]

Ok Tom, i just wont take it upstairs.

[KinkyFriedChicken]

I finnaly found the hotel =O Its really big and prettyful and....BIG!

[melchizedek]

I saw it at the election meeting but really it's going to be hard to figure out where everything is at

[oslapedo]

I just booked my room! We'll be checking in on the 4th and leaving the 7th. Now I will just wait for the con codes to come

[TomtheFanboy]

Here are the hotel discount rates from the November Meeting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLUxN6y5hNQ

Attendee Rates: The prices differ depending on how many roommates you'll have. These rates apply to rooms with two double beds.
Single/Double is $119/night
Triple/Quad rate is $129/night
The one bed rooms are only available at the single/double rate.
You are not supposed to have more than 4 people in a room. <_<

Executive Tower Rates: $139/$149 per night, respectively.
The Executive tower is across the street. It's a little nicer and every room has a small refrigerator and microwave for you to use.

So for Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night; that is at least $357 plus tax and ammenities.
No word yet on internet fees or any other surprises.
Start budgeting!

[DevinShadowV]

I live close so I'm lucky but I'm going the con for 09

[oslapedo]

Teehee, 400+ is a lot better than it being slightly over $600, like it is now. I can't wait for the con codes to come out >:3

[DancingTofu]

Hey everyone with the gigantic costumes and props. Remember that no one is forcing you to use those props and costumes, it is your choice. There is nothing that can be done about the size of the upstairs hallways.

The main two floors and the lobby should be fine for you, also the building across the street should be ok.

The Third Floor will not be ok, there will not be room for that giant hammer to go past people into the  various rooms (probably something like viewing rooms or workshop or tabletop gaming). I've already referenced my video of the third floor. I'll make sure that my next one actually goes upstairs and we can see what the hallways are like.

It should also be noted that props that are two large to occupy a 2'x2'x4' or a 6"x12"x7' region* will not be checked in at Gaming's bag check or allowed in gaming.

* These exact figures are not final.  Numbers will be finalised at least 2 weeks before the convention.

[oslapedo]

I noticed that the con rates are now up. How do we add them in if we already booked a room?

Never mind I figured out how! And yay for con codes! Our room is now so cheap <3

[shanime_panda]

yup! me and my friend already reserved our room, we decided on getting one at the executive tower since it's more roomy and we have 6 costumes total with a few pretty big props.