[TheRabbi]

beavis1313 said:

hello I  am thinking of coming to anime central  but I have never gone to any convention before .I just finished reading  all 12 pages of information. Most of my questions have been answered before I even had to ask but I still have a couple of questions. (1) is it held at the convention center or the hotel or both? (2) I have seen some talk about  registration on Thursday is that only for people who have pre registered or is it open to anyone?  
Thank you
Josh

To extemporate a bit more on Lordi's response to #2: Registration is for people to get their at-con registrations in and for both to recieve their badges. (This is how it was run last year; this year may or may not be different.)

[TheRabbi]

Kanbioutou said:

ok so I should go to security hq and ask "Can Rabbi come out and play?" cool got it!

Can't guarantee I can 'come out and play' - I might be working - but you're always free to check. (I've got a particularly easy position because I'll mostly be in HQ instead of out roaming. But you never know. I may take that Friday 8am shift!)

[Kanbioutou]

Well I'll come over and bug you anyway then! it'll be fun. We'll arm wrestle or something. Or you can try to fight my ninja that will be with me.

[AnnasTear]

Kanbioutou said:

aw I see you at the con!

This year I'm going to remember my camera. I want to actually get pictures of the people that I meet at con. I'm going to be all over the place this year, so I'm sure I'll get to see you around.

[Kanbioutou]

AnnasTear said:

This year I'm going to remember my camera. I want to actually get pictures of the people that I meet at con. I'm going to be all over the place this year, so I'm sure I'll get to see you around.  

awsome I'll be dressed as Fuu from Samurai Champloo so I'll be in a pink kimono. I'll have a Ninja with me but he tends to stay hidden so thats not a good indicator as to where I am.

[AnnasTear]

Kanbioutou said:

awsome I'll be dressed as Fuu from Samurai Champloo so I'll be in a pink kimono. I'll have a Ninja with me but he tends to stay hidden so thats not a good indicator as to where I am.

Well, I suppose if I could see him, he wouldn't be much of a ninja...huh....

[Kanbioutou]

nope and he is an awsome ninja. I think the only time anyone sees him is when he takes a smoke break. or is going to buy something. because stealing is wrong.

[TheRabbi]

Kanbioutou said:

nope and he is an awsome ninja. I think the only time anyone sees him is when he takes a smoke break. or is going to buy something. because stealing is wrong.

That's true... one of the only cases where I'd have to fight your ninja. ("Fight your ninja" sounds so wrong... Another one for the HaT thread, AnnasTear?)

[SuperEmily86]

what time does the con actually start? the first event (not registration time)
when does it end on sunday? (when are we escorted out by security?)

[Valakin]

SuperEmily86 said:

what time does the con actually start? the first event (not registration time)
when does it end on sunday? (when are we escorted out by security?)

Super E. Don't worry... you got Ryu and Me

[AnnasTear]

SuperEmily86 said:

what time does the con actually start? the first event (not registration time)
when does it end on sunday? (when are we escorted out by security?)

The start time of the convention will be early Friday afternoon. The exact time will be known as we get closer to the convention and the Programming schedule is known.

The con ends late Sunday afternoon. Security wouldn't be escorting you out, unless given a real reason to.

Just come and enjoy the con. The Programming will be known as we approach the conention date so that you can better plan out your trip.

[Ris]

Hihi, everyone..let me just say I'm a realli big newbie in all of this stuff (ACen will be my first con) but from what I've seen in the forums, everyone here is really nice, so hopefully I'll get some slack for umm...being a little slow :sweatdrop I've got lots of questions, and I'm really sorry if some of them are repeats but I do my best to read before I ask, I really do...don't want anyone to get mad!
1. If I'm not staying in the Hyatt, am I going to be missing out on stuff?? Is it okay if I come to the Hyatt without having a room??
2. This sounds dumb just asking but, I know there is a masquerade 'contest.' If I'm not going to be in it, is it alright to still dress up??
3. About this badge thing, what is the nickname you get on it? Is that just like for fun, or like if you hated your name and wanted ppl to call you something else?
4. Does it cost money to get a badge or do you just get a badge when you register?? oO
5. I've heard stories of ppl who weren't anime fans going to cons, then getting into anime...I'm bringing two friends with, and they aren't big anime fans like me. Are they still going to be able to have fun??

Thank you, and sorry for the trouble ^.~; hopefully these questions weren't too obvious, I feel embarassed just asking.
Off to work on costumes!!

[Tiresias79]

Ris said:

1. If I'm not staying in the Hyatt, am I going to be missing out on stuff?? Is it okay if I come to the Hyatt without having a room??

All you'll miss out on is the 24-hour madness that is ACEN. Having a room in the Hyatt is great, you can literally wake up in the middle of the night and run down to the video rooms and catch a couple hours of anime, even in the middle of the night. Yeah, it's OK to come to the Hyatt without actually having a room. Our first year going in 2003 we stayed at a Motel 8 about 10 miles away, some people stay at other nearby hotels and still others just commute from home. If you're interested in finding a room there, go ahead to the Operations section and go to the Convention Site subsection and see if anyone has space in their room, or start another thread asking if anyone has space.

Ris said:

2. This sounds dumb just asking but, I know there is a masquerade 'contest.' If I'm not going to be in it, is it alright to still dress up??

Yup, that's what's called Hallway Cosplay. Just head on over to the Masquerade section of the forums and read the cosplay rules, there's a specific section that pertains to hallway cosplay with some important need to know rules and restrictions. Examples are no props longer than 4 feet and nothing can stick off of your body more than 6 inches. Like I said, read the rules for more info.

Ris said:

3. About this badge thing, what is the nickname you get on it? Is that just like for fun, or like if you hated your name and wanted ppl to call you something else?

The nickname is just what is in large bold letters on the badge front. If you want it to be your name, put it there. Otherwise, put anything you'd like, as long as it's not inappropriate.

Ris said:

4. Does it cost money to get a badge or do you just get a badge when you register?? oO

The badge is what you pay for when you register. It's what gets you into any con related rooms and the dealer's room.

Ris said:

5. I've heard stories of ppl who weren't anime fans going to cons, then getting into anime...I'm bringing two friends with, and they aren't big anime fans like me. Are they still going to be able to have fun??

Sure, they should be able to have fun, just as long as they're open to new things and don't already have a strong dislike of anime. Remember though, they'll have to register as well, so they'd have to be willing to pay money for something they might not like.

Ris said:

Thank you, and sorry for the trouble ^.~; hopefully these questions weren't too obvious, I feel embarassed just asking.
Off to work on costumes!!  

No problem, if you can think of anything else, ask. Someone will give you an answer.

[Tiresias79]

TanekeeJ said:

I missed the pre-registration.  How do I register now that the deadline has passed and how much more will it cost?  I would really like to attend this event.  Thanks!  

Now that you've missed the deadline, you'll have to wait until the con itself to register. It's $45 for all three days.

[Kanbioutou]

Keitaro said:

That's true... one of the only cases where I'd have to fight your ninja. ("Fight your ninja" sounds so wrong... Another one for the HaT thread, AnnasTear?)

ara...? why does that sound wrong? he needs to hone his skills for when we travel to the far east for pale skined ninjas are not favored there.

[Sango-San*]

Okay, I decided to post here about this, because I believe here I will most likely get an answer. I registered online and then I sent in my payment two days before the last day to be postmarked. I deposited right in the post office to make sure. Now it's been a week and I have not receive the confirmation e-mail telling me the payment has been received. I'm nervous about this. I understand alot of them are probably being still processed, but still is this the normal time it takes to receive it?

[Tiresias79]

It took me about 7 weeks to receive my confirmation. Of course that was back in January. Right now, they're doing a mad rush to get everyone who sent payment in on time confirmed in the system. One thing to do is to check with your bank and see if the check you sent in has been cashed. If it has, you know they have at least received it, and now you're just waiting for them to get to it.

[animan]

is acen always in rosemont?

[Sango-San*]

Tiresias79 said:

One thing to do is to check with your bank and see if the check you sent in has been cashed.  If it has, you know they have at least received it, and now you're just waiting for them to get to it.

Hmm... I sent in a money order.

[animan]

it said no money orders...didnt it?

[Tiresias79]

The past few years it's been in Rosemont. Hopefully it'll stay there for a while since we have all that nice Convention Center space to expand into. Yes, you could send in money orders, just not cash or credit cards. Do you still have the receipt? I hope so, cause you should be able to check with the issuer and see if the money has been withdrawn from it yet. If it comes con time, and the money still hasn't been withdrawn, then chances are it has gotten lost and you'll have to register at con and pay full price, but still keep your MO receipt as you should be able to get your money back from it from the issuer. If you don't have the receipt anymore, then cross your fingers and hope everything goes all right. I know that last bit might not be what you want to hear, but it's the way things go sometimes. Hope this helps.

[Keechak]

Hey I was just wondering My friends and I are going for just Sunday we will be getting there Saturday sometime. when do you people suggest we register what time should we get in lineso we have the most time on Sunday? is it posable for us to get our badges for sunday on saturday night?

[Mandy-chan]

Keechak said:

Hey I was just wondering My friends and I are going for just Sunday we will be getting there Saturday sometime. when do you people suggest we register what time should we get in lineso we have the most time on Sunday? is it posable for us to get our badges for sunday on saturday night?

You cannot register for Sunday on Saturday. You can only get one day badges on the day you are going to use them.

I would get there as soon as reg opens, but those times has not been released yet.

[Sango-San*]

Yes, I would not have just sent in a money order without knowing if it was accepted or not.

Tiresias79 said:

Yes, you could send in money orders, just not cash or credit cards.  Do you still have the receipt?  I hope so, cause you should be able to check with the issuer and see if the money has been withdrawn from it yet.  If it comes con time, and the money still hasn't been withdrawn, then chances are it has gotten lost and you'll have to register at con and pay full price, but still keep your MO receipt as you should be able to get your money back from it from the issuer.  If you don't have the receipt anymore, then cross your fingers and hope everything goes all right.  I know that last bit might not be what you want to hear, but it's the way things go sometimes.  Hope this helps.

Thankfully I do have the receipt. I will go check. But, what if it has and I have not been sent a confirmation letter. Who should I contact then in that situation? Thanks your info does help.

[Tiresias79]

If it has been cashed, then ask for a confirmation from the MO issuer that the money has been removed. If it's possible to get a cancelled copy of the MO, that would be best, but may not be possible. Then just bring your MO receipt and the confirmation that the money has been withdrawn with you to the pre-reg line of the con. They'll get you taken care of from there. Basically, if you sent the money in before the final deadline, and it gets cashed, you're registered.

[Keechak]

Are there typicaly more things to do at the Con on saturday vs. sunday? my mom thinks it would be nicer if we go on saturday because it's a higher price therefore she says there is probably more to do. however we would be getting there around noon on Sat and then I'll have to stand in line to register. How late would my friends and I be alowed to stay at the con with only a Sat pass? Would we have to clear out by 12:00am? when the day becomes sunday? We will be leaving for Chicago on Saturday no matter what. I guess what I want to really know is which would be more rewarding, 2:00pm threw ? on Saturday or Registering right when the booth opens on Sunday and staying till around 3:00 pm?

[Tiresias79]

In my opinion, definitely Saturday. Sunday, typically, the con is starting to run down and less things happen. Saturday however, the con is in full tilt and everything's happening. I'm not sure how long the badge will let you stay on Saturday though, I'll wait for someone with more knowledge to come on here and answer.

[TheRabbi]

Tiresias79 said:

In my opinion, definitely Saturday.  Sunday, typically, the con is starting to run down and less things happen.  Saturday however, the con is in full tilt and everything's happening.  I'm not sure how long the badge will let you stay on Saturday though, I'll wait for someone with more knowledge to come on here and answer.

While IRT (Security) has strict rules to follow, we also aren't unreasonable. A good plan would be to plan to stop being in convention space by midnight. Then, you can get your stuff in order, sleep in your hotel room, and clear out the next morning. As long as it's apparent that you're going to your car to leave, you oughtn't to be hassled. If, of course, you don't have a hotel room (due to being local and one-day), then things get a bit more iffy. I'd still say you should be plan to be out of whatever panel/video room/convention space you're in by midnight. It's a Saturday badge and, despite the joke that Sunday doesn't start until 8am, we have to use the calendar.