That woeful day has come.

[ceagle]

When FC started letting the hotel charge for parking.
All these years at this hotel, it has been free to con attendees, and now they say it is only for hotel guests.
Bad BAD policy. This was the beginning of the end at the previous hotel.

Luckily I have a backup plan, but it is rather inconvenient. I may have to morph into angry parrot feathers every time I pass the front desk, talk to the hotel manager, or speak to con ops. This cannot persist. It is one of my few points of contention: that hotel parking should be free for attendees, and especially when it is ample and hitherto free.

For example, the last hotel was free for a few years, then they built big expensive gates, tire puncture systems, and hired attendants, and charged $12 per day just to pay for all that. Insane, methinx.

Well...grumph. I haven't slept since 10 a.m. Wednesday, and have been driving since 6 a.m. this morning. Maybe I'll just take a nap.

(other than this not-so-fine-how-do-ya-do from the hotel, I'm sure the rest of the convention will be a kick! after...I.... take a napzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....)

Comments

[pawpad.livejournal.com]

That totally sucks. Reminds me of the company I'm at. It is getting more and more horrible. A couple months back, they put up new gates/speedbumps, ect and started charging their own employees to park in the parking structure. What the heck???

[pawpad.livejournal.com]

PS I hope you have a great time at the con, regardless!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*purrrts* I'm very honored by your peeking in... thankooooooo ^v^
Ah yep, I think the con itself will be great!
That really iz nutz about the stuff they are doing over at yer company though too... always seems like they are trimming back... be nice to see summa the days return where they actually give a little more to those who give their lives and time to work there....
Other than that, here's hoping things are going well in general with you also...! :}

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Burn the booths!!

[tenaya-owlcat.livejournal.com]

Well, that answers the question of whether or not you'll be at FC! *dances* Tagg and I will be there on Saturday, so keep an eye out for us!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!... thanks for the heads up... ^V^ *waggle*

[mortonfox.livejournal.com]

I had to pay for parking at Anthrocon too. It sucked. (having to pay for parking, that is, not Anthrocon :) ) Anyway, hope you have a good time at FC regardless.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Thank ya much!
Yeah, I think this will be the 2nd or third time in all these years we've have to pay, so it does represent a departure from the usual, more hospitable parking welcome situation... other than that, the con should be good :> Moseyed around for about two hours yesterday, and the folks I saw in the lobby were so fun, I could even turn around and go home right now and have a satisfied feeling ^v^ .

[canid-anubis.livejournal.com]

You know... and I'm not sure 100% how they do it there, but typically guests want to be able to leave and return and wil either get a pass or a room key or something for this. The fact that there will be so many people sharing rides or getting there other ways should allow you to find someone to give you a token 'whatever' to get you in and out without having to pay, I'd think. They can't be doing it by licences or bills or something, right?

At AC, as mortonfox pointed out, we had to pay, but it was 50% rate ($10 a day), and each person in the room could get the half price cards and give the extras to whoever they wanted. So keep an eye out for this and see if you can't beat the system there.

Also... Tire Puncture Devices?! They still use that stuff out there? I though that they were illegal all over the country by now. I know I haven't seen any in the DC area for 15+ years now due to people suing about them. Odd.
-Canis

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

hehehe... that's good news about those puncture devices... didn't know that!
But yeah, it's not *tooo* high a cost to pay, but just its sheer presence is a gnawing thorn in the experience...

I'm not staying at that hotel, so that's why I wouldn't be able to get a pass, unfurrrrtunately. I spoke with two reps at the hotel, and they both were steadfast about no exceptions. One even said they planned the added revenue stream in the current business structure. ;P

[canid-anubis.livejournal.com]

I feel like I'm trying to teach you to be a theif... well, I suppose I am.
But my point is that I know that YOU are not staying there. But for example, one dragon on my list is there. He drove. At least 2 others in his room did not. If they told the front desk that they drove, they could get a pass, eh? And since they didn't drive, they could just hand them to you.

If you had a room there, we'd not be talking of this at all :-p But if you knew some there that flew in or ride shared, maybe they could get you such a pass by fibbing just a bit at the front counter :-p

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

wooot.. *HUGGLE* u sooooo nice ^V^
I went ahead and tried a gamble on the parking thing... annnnnnnnnnd...... what's great *shhhhhhhh, I wasn't sure if this was changing this year too* .... after midnight, they usually/sometimes tell the attendants to go home, so you can leave the lot complimentarily if that's the case... and we made it tonight! wheeee!!.... soo..... the rules changed, but they didn't technically affect me yet... wheee! *hugs ya so much thanx!* :D

Parking Charges at FC

[lanakila.livejournal.com]

*nuzzles*

It's so unlike you to be so feather-frazzled about anything, though I certainly do share your feelings about being charged to park at the hotel. :/

When Anthrocon was held at the old Adam Marks hotel in Philadelphia, hotel guests had to pay for parking. I don't remember the daily rate.

When Anthrocon moved to the Westin in Pittsburgh, their hotel charges $20 per day!!! The hotel itself has "in-and-out" privileges, but I think there was limited parking spaces in the underground garage.

Next door is the Convention Centre parking garage, which also charges $20 per day but has no "in-and-out" privileges. (Eeek!)

It's highway robbery, I tell ya!

Re: Parking Charges at FC

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

blarrrrrgh to those highway robbers!! *arf!*
Thanks for peekin' in, Lana! *wingfluffs ya*
Those east coast charges sound awful... This is somewhere in between though, as the hotel guests don't have to pay, but it used to be all con attendees were admitted, and there really *are* plenty of parking spaces (I've never been unable to find a space since we've been at this hotel). But it's just another added charge and injustice, nonetheless. :/

[loveyouenola.livejournal.com]

I agree with lanakila, I've never heard you so worked up! *worried eyes* I hope the sleep you have helps that. It's not good when our eagle friends gets his plumage in a twist.

Yes, this new policy does suck - particularly if there is ample parking available (ie, they're not struggling for spaces - in which case, I could understand the priority being guests, and visitors having to pay).

Why don't you make a possie of fellow attendees and attack the manager en'mass. There is strength in numbers over issues like this.

*hugs* Don't let it interfere with the con funnnnn-ness! Give Ding a hug from me, will ya?

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

hehheh... the villagers are revolting!! ;D
Thanks for peekin' in, bud... if she's accepting hugs, kinda difficult from across the dealer's table, but I kin ask!

as long as they keep the current policy

[mammallamadevil.livejournal.com]

I don't have a problem with paying $5 for parking if I'm not staying at their hotel. Their parking staff has been helpful and attentive (unlike the previous hotel where they were surly and obnoxious).

I do, though, WHOLEHEARTEDLY SEE YOUR POINT!

Thanks for the hug today. A good day is seeing da Eagle...please try to get some rest...

MLD

Re: as long as they keep the current policy

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*purrrts* You are very welcome, and Thank YOU too!
Yeah, even though I was having a great time with folkses, my head was throbbing from being 32 or so hours without sleep at that point ;P Gotta remember to check that strategy off my list in the future... *rolls eyes*
I got into the hotel around 7 pm and took a nap til 10, then got my stuff outa the car, got a bit of a snack, and went back to sleep from about midnight till 7 am or so.... feeling much better today *whew* I think things'll be much better now...
I may go ahead and use the parking thing.. I know it's not tooooo much really, but the sheer fact that it's only the 2nd or 3rd time we've endured that fee in all the years of FC just pokes and prods at the senses.. :D

Looking forward to seeing you again much much! *hugs virtually as well*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing a lady drive through one of those automated barriers with her car :D I think she meant to *chuckles*

YOu do need some sleep Mr feathers :)

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

ah yeah! Jush cover me in downy plumage!... 8>

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

totally.... yikes :/
As I was saying in other postings, there were still people I missed this year, even though we tried, a few slipped thru the cracks.. ;P
I do think Warphammer introduced us a few years back though, but I guess we we on different areas of those nearly 3,000 people this year...
I hope you had a good time out there though!