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[sephygoth]

I obviously didn't make this year, looking at all the reviews I wish I had(again). Friends have told me(with limited stories) that it's most worth it. the parade for instance I saw on the telly XD ...ya know that post con depression? miss-out depression can match that.
I'm looking for what to expect, mostly as a cosplayer, but anything from getting there, staying there, panels and events held on DC grounds.
For instance, Who's going back again this upcoming year? and is proud to say so
So many themes present this yr (from warhammer to star wars) simply put a push on me to finally try searching possibly flying....first time might as well be to a con

[Bubs]

I'll be there Already making plans :3

My first time flying was this past January! It's not so bad, actually sort of fun

[mdelgiorno17]

This was my first year, and I had a blast. I'm already making plans for next year as well.

[sephygoth]

Anything stick out which made the con as good as it was?

[sociologies]

I'm planning on coming next year as well. Hopefully, the pre-registration line debacle will have cleared up by then, and they'll finally just switch to a bar code system for badges! Well, I can only hope...

[mdelgiorno17]

Originally Posted by sephygoth

Anything stick out which made the con as good as it was?

The costumes that I saw were stunning, and people had great things to say about my costumes. I really enjoyed the two panels that I went to. I missed out on some panels and will have to be more organized next year, but even just walking around and people watching was fun for me. Unlike other conventions that I've been to, there was always something or someone new to see.

Brandon Sanderson signed my slightly worn copy of Elantris, the book that got me hooked on his writing. He seemed very appreciative of his fans and was very sweet.

Oh, and I had my first little photoshoot in my AC II courtesan costume. That was a great experience, as I've never had the opportunity to work with a photographer before other than stopping briefly for photos while walking around a convention. Thanks again to my Ezio and the other courtesans for letting me join them!

[GlassCannon]

Definitely going back next year, it'll be my third year. I've only done San Diego Comic Con and BlizzCon, and seen videos/read reports of other cons (and gone to E3 and GDC, but those are different sorts of cons), and DragonCon blows everything else out of the water, IMO. There's just so much to do, so many cool people, so many amazing costumes, so many kickass parties. I could be there two weeks and still not do everything I wanted. Even SDCC feels lame in comparison.

[sephygoth]

Originally Posted by GlassCannon

Definitely going back next year, it'll be my third year.

Originally Posted by mdelgiorno17

Brandon Sanderson signed my slightly worn copy of Elantris, the book that got me hooked on his writing. He seemed very appreciative of his fans and was very sweet.

Oh, and I had my first little photoshoot in my AC II courtesan costume. Thanks again to my Ezio and the other courtesans for letting me join them!

Excellent! thats some good input, I like signings, particularly on my forehead, but old covers will do too.
Also, great photogs that give the models credit(by taking good pics) are hard to find...I'd be on the hunt for good shooting locals. Thanks a bunch, so far, great manners form peeps that actually GO already kinda inspire me.

[Truest_Strike]

This was my first Dragon*Con and I loved it and I am definitely going back next year. What where some highlights? That crazy bunch that called themselves The Deadpool Corps , the parade, the crazy amounts of stories that happen each day while you're there, the small in-between stories that happen before the bigger ones, the gatherings, the people. I can go on and on. My experience different from another. Overall one of my favorite cons.

[dinanm3atl]

I have been going for multiple years. Next year, 2011, I am going costuming! No ifs, ands or buts! I always make up something each year... not next year. Already started on the costume and I JUST got done with D*Con 2010.

[ne0ven0m]

I'm looking forward to year 4 in 2011. Already got a hotel, debating how to go about tickets since I don't want to wait for hours, and brainstorming group costume ideas.

[Pirogoeth05]

My hubby and I were discussing coming back on Thursday. We are definately going again. It was the first con I had ever been to and it was amazing! We are determined to get into a host hotel somehow as we were at a hotel that was a mile away. Not easy to get to and from the con quickly and/or at night. MARTA saved us there. I've already got a good idea as to which costumes are coming. Come to think of it, I've got 3 in mind already. And there's two others I'd like to take as well. Oh well, lots of costumes aren't a bad thing, right?

[Truest_Strike]

Originally Posted by ne0ven0m

I'm looking forward to year 4 in 2011. Already got a hotel, debating how to go about tickets since I don't want to wait for hours, and brainstorming group costume ideas.

Got a hotel already? I know that is something I am going to try and do--get a host hotel possibly, because it made things so much easier when I had to change into different costumes in the span of one day--and just convenient overall. Though a block away wouldn't be too bad either I suppose.

I have friends coming from the West Coast, so it should be nice staying with people I actually know for next year

[E. Hyde]

Originally Posted by mdelgiorno17

Brandon Sanderson signed my slightly worn copy of Elantris, the book that got me hooked on his writing. He seemed very appreciative of his fans and was very sweet. !

Brandon Sanderson was great! My husband and I were there in our Mistborn costumes and he took a picture of us and shared it on twitter, which was awesome. And later on he was playing Magic with a bunch of fans. Timothy Zahn was also very nice in person, I think meeting those two authors was definitely one of the high points of the con for me.

[GlassCannon]

If you want to book a room in a host hotel for next year, the best thing to do is to join the dragoncon livejournal community (dragoncon.livejournal.com). Most of the host hotels will release rooms sometime in October, but last year the Marriott completely sold out within a few hours. The exact info on what day, what hour, and where the rooms will be available for booking (usually online now) will be posted on the LJ comm ahead of time, so if you don't want to miss out, that's definitely the place to watch.

FWIW, it's easy to transfer both a room and a badge to people who will jump at the chance come next summer, if you decide you can't go, so there's really no reason not to book your hotel as soon as it goes up, and pre-reg for your badge as soon as the store opens up.