[ChihiroChibi]

Any Advice for someone new to Acen?
Anything I should keep an eye out for?
Anything I should or shouldn't do?
Anything?

[Kitchan]

ChihiroChibi, on 10 October 2010 - 04:48 AM, said:

Any Advice for someone new to Acen?
Anything I should keep an eye out for?
Anything I should or shouldn't do?
Anything?

"Don't Panic" is a good one. It's a fairly major convention, and it can be easy to get lost or to misplace things or to be confused. If you're confused, ask a member of ACen staff your question. (They will have special badges, but are usually in identifiable areas - Registration staff is in Registration, etc.) Some things we don't know, but a lot of things we do, or can find out the answer to.

[KungPowKirby]

Bring snacks and stuff to the con. Food is EXTREMELY expensive through the con site and there isnt any convient fast food places except maybe mcdonnalds. Also eat real food. A funny thing i once read is that a person can not live on Pocky alone.

[KungPowKirby]

Oh and also the venders in the dealers room can't sell food. Ummm make an effort to figure out where everything is before you need to go. I cant tell you how often I would be searching for a place and by the time Id get there itd be full... :/

[MsLovelyCookie]

Plan what you would like to do for all 3 days, use the Acen Schedule if you have panels to see, or games to play, just try to see as much as you can. For the first 2 years me and my friend just stayed at the Exhibit Hall and Artist Alley, I only had one day off of work to explore so buying was all I could do. Then last year we took a shot at the Soap Bubble which would have been more fun if I didn't trip and fell while trying to reach the end of the line. 2011 we are going earlier.

This post has been edited by MsLovelyCookie: 10 October 2010 - 09:45 AM

[EndlessKey]

I'd suggest getting there on Thursday. Makes things a lot less stressful.

This post has been edited by Toushiro_H: 10 October 2010 - 10:35 AM

[Cherry_Wolf]

Pace yourself. Don't push your limits too far. If you need sleep, get some sleep. The con will still be there when you wake up XD If you know you have a late night activity you want to go to, take a nap or at least chill in your room for a second and recuperate. You need to rest, eat right, and keep hydrated. It's very important. And if you drink, please do it responsibly. And take your medicine if you are on any.

And like MsLovelyCookie says, plan ahead! The schedule is usually released a couple of weeks or more prior to the convention. Look at it and determine if there are any panels worth your time and the like. They also had an awesome program last year where you could print out your own personal schedule!

Also, SHOWER SHOWER SHOWER!!! Nobody likes con funk!

[Isamu]

It is an unwritten rule that any first timer has to take four people to Gibson's steakhouse and buy them dinner.

[Voxx]

This thread should help you out! =D

[FlyingElf]

The thread Ska posted has some good information.

Other than that, I strongly encourage you to go out and meet people. You'll find a lot of cool people around con. Don't be afraid to talk to them, meet new people, and make new friends.

[Oreo_Otaku]

Comfortable shoes! Last year the con was in 3 hotels and the convention center. While most of the programming is in the Hyatt, there was more panels and AMV room in the other hotels "across" the street and the convention center.

What's nice about coming in on Thursday is you can check out the layout of the convention and rest up for the weekend.

Major activities have major lines such as concerts, dances, Masquerade and popular panels. It's best to get there early and wait the hours to get a good seat. Example: Saturday's dance was estimated at a 1-2 hours wait if you get there @ midnight!

If you are a cosplayer, do check the rules. It would be bad if you couldn't wear something that you brought along with you only to find that it violates one of the rules.

[ChihiroChibi]

Isamu, on 10 October 2010 - 10:54 AM, said:

It is an unwritten rule that any first timer has to take four people to Gibson's steakhouse and buy them dinner.

And I'm guessing your one of them xP lol

[ChihiroChibi]

Cherry_Wolf, on 10 October 2010 - 10:36 AM, said:

Pace yourself. Don't push your limits too far. If you need sleep, get some sleep. The con will still be there when you wake up XD If you know you have a late night activity you want to go to, take a nap or at least chill in your room for a second and recuperate. You need to rest, eat right, and keep hydrated. It's very important. And if you drink, please do it responsibly. And take your medicine if you are on any.

And like MsLovelyCookie says, plan ahead! The schedule is usually released a couple of weeks or more prior to the convention. Look at it and determine if there are any panels worth your time and the like. They also had an awesome program last year where you could print out your own personal schedule!

Also, SHOWER SHOWER SHOWER!!! Nobody likes con funk!

I'll only be 19 by the time the con rolls around so not old enough to drink in the states anyway, even though in my province it's 18 lol, and oh god con funk don't even get me started, don't worry I won't be the smelly one xD

Thanks for the Advice. ^^

[ChihiroChibi]

Ska, on 10 October 2010 - 11:15 AM, said:

This thread should help you out! =D

Thanks for the link, guess I need to wander the forum more before I make a topic lol

[ChihiroChibi]

Thanks for the Advice everyone, I'll defiantly keep it in mind as the survival guide of Acen isn't much different from the one at my city's con. Except I can't just run home if I need something xD. I'll probably figure out where everything is when I come in on Thursday, my good sense of direction and photographic memory will probably come in handy as Acen is much much bigger then my city's con.


Thanks Again ^^

[Oreo_Otaku]

Just a preview of where the hotels and Convention center are in relation to each other: http://maps.google.c...egency+o%27hare

P.S. You might need to zoom in and the Sofitel is now a Hilton.

This post has been edited by Oreo_Otaku: 10 October 2010 - 12:59 PM

[Isamu]

ChihiroChibi, on 10 October 2010 - 12:30 PM, said:

And I'm guessing your one of them xP lol

No, but I do try to get a few people to join me for a nice dinner on Friday of the con. Gibson's is just a close and great place to eat.

[Femme Fatale]

Everybody here has some great tips to give for your first time experience at Acen. I also advise you to save money: you're gonna need it for buying stuff at the dealer's room, or paying for your hotel room, parking at the hotel, and if you're gonna order out instead of bringing in snacks or outside food. And, make sure you choose the "right" people to be your roomie. You don't want anyone thats gonna trash your room beyond all recognition or be a complete and total ^%$.

[Iapetus]

I can't stress bringing your own food enough. While Acen is one of my favorite cons, it's the worst I've been to when it comes to food options. You have to get creative when it comes to bringing your own food, especially if a cooler isn't an option. I'm a fan of several instant soup mixes where all I have to do is add hot water, and I can get that from the coffee maker.

Bring at least a small cooler if you have any perishables, or simply want to keep pop cold. The ice machines on each floor are a godsend for keeping your food chilled, but won't do you much good if you fill up your bathtub when you forgot to bring a cooler (a group of my friends in another room did this one year and also didn't shower at all that weekend because of it).

Nuts and sunflower seeds are good sources of protein that don't need to be refrigerated, and I always keep a bag on me when I'm wandering the con in case I get the munchies.

Bring some plastic cups in the very least. The hotel will provide some cups, but it's often more hassle than its worth to request more.


If you're on a higher floor, don't be afraid of going down the stairs. Going down the stairs is easier than going up, and you can avoid some of the problems with the elevators that way.

[ChihiroChibi]

Iapetus, on 10 October 2010 - 04:10 PM, said:

I can't stress bringing your own food enough. While Acen is one of my favorite cons, it's the worst I've been to when it comes to food options. You have to get creative when it comes to bringing your own food, especially if a cooler isn't an option. I'm a fan of several instant soup mixes where all I have to do is add hot water, and I can get that from the coffee maker.

Bring at least a small cooler if you have any perishables, or simply want to keep pop cold. The ice machines on each floor are a godsend for keeping your food chilled, but won't do you much good if you fill up your bathtub when you forgot to bring a cooler (a group of my friends in another room did this one year and also didn't shower at all that weekend because of it).

Unfortunately I don't think I can bring a cooler on the plane, I'll probably just have to go into the city and get food (If anyone would be willing to show me around the city >.<)

[KungPowKirby]

I know I was told that theres a grocery store just a couple stops away on the blue line. someone could probably tell you exact directions closer to the con.

[Kitchan]

ChihiroChibi, on 10 October 2010 - 04:15 PM, said:

Unfortunately I don't think I can bring a cooler on the plane, I'll probably just have to go into the city and get food (If anyone would be willing to show me around the city >.<)

I do know a lot of people go to Mitsuwa's on Sunday (a Japanese grocery store with a food court), but that requires a car as it's a suburb or so over, I think.

This post has been edited by Kitchan: 10 October 2010 - 06:09 PM

[Lina]

Mitsuwa is in Arlington Heights, which is a couple of towns over. It's in the same suburb as the convention (NW Suburb). I say it's about a 15-20 minute drive. It's probably quicker if you take I-90 since it's right off of it.

[FlyingElf]

ChihiroChibi, on 10 October 2010 - 04:15 PM, said:

Unfortunately I don't think I can bring a cooler on the plane, I'll probably just have to go into the city and get food (If anyone would be willing to show me around the city >.<)

There are grocery stores that aren't far away and the public transportation system in Chicago is pretty good. So you should be able to figure out a way there using that at worst.

[Kaishun]

Go with someone that's already been there, and print off maps if you plan on going to any photoshoots.
It's easy to get lost, and 'oh, it's over there' doesn't help much when 'over there' is filled with swarms of people.
Despite having said maps, I still somewhat got lost. But, as others have said, if you need any help, ask someone with an official badge.

[Prayer Police]

Use the buddy system. No more flying solo!!!

[ChihiroChibi]

Prayer Police, on 10 October 2010 - 11:16 PM, said:

Use the buddy system. No more flying solo!!!

I always use the buddy system lol, thats why I am bringing a friend with me, don't like traveling alone xD

Thanks Again everyone, food problem is somewhat solved at least in the thought processing. lol

[KungPowKirby]

Prayer Police, on 10 October 2010 - 11:16 PM, said:

Use the buddy system. No more flying solo!!!

<- Flew solo and was just fine.

[Snow_Storm]

Get outta people way. As in don't stand in the hallway or corridors. Seriously.

This post has been edited by Snow_Storm: 11 October 2010 - 08:37 AM

[ChihiroChibi]

Snow_Storm, on 11 October 2010 - 08:35 AM, said:

Get outta people way. As in don't stand in the hallway or corridors. Seriously.

Oh I hate when people do that, it's like dude this isn't high school where you can just block up the hallway and some people never grow out of the habit. I always make sure that I'm not in the way.