arisia | Some feedback

Here's some general feedback about the con. I'm reserving program participant-specific feedback for email, so this is the more general stuff. Quick caveat: some of this stuff may have been at the con, but I missed it. If so, sorry.

1. I'd strongly suggest putting "QUIET FLOOR" signs - large ones - outside the elevators on floors that have been designated as such. On Saturday and Sunday nights there were some very loud conversations - shouting back and forth along the corridors, actually - well after midnight, and the noise went on for some time in each case. I'm sure there was no malice behind it, but signs would probably have been a helpful reminder.

2. The management of elevators was a serious problem on Sunday afternoon. I realize that there isn't much to be done about the elevators themselves, but I spent quite a bit of time standing to one side and watching the elevators go up and down - we were, of course, waiting for an elevator. Apparently whoever was running them had decided that the "middle" floors should get little to no service, because over and over I saw elevators skip the 7th and 8th floors. And the buttons were definitely pushed, mind you! We waited over 25 minutes for an elevator, and when one finally came, it was full. This was a concern for us because my wife has a knee problem and could not possibly take the stairs.

We weren't the only ones who were stranded. One party was trying to check out, and after about half an hour or so they tried to take their luggage down the stairs. I'm told they nearly passed out.

And yes, some people - I don't know if they were staff or not - were rude about the elevators. But I saw much worse last year, so I didn't take it seriously. I mean, if someone wasn't abusing their authority it wouldn't be a con, would it? :D

In any case, if someone deliberately decided to isolate certain floors, I'd say that was a very bad idea. May I suggest working out a set of contingency service plans in advance, for situations when 1, 2 or 3 elevators are inoperative? Assuming such plans haven't been made, that is.

I'm also tempted to suggest some sort of "disabled member" system, but that could easily be a logistical nightmare.

3. Art show hours. For the second year in a row my wife and I missed the Art Show completely. We tried to go, but it was closed every time - or else the elevators were not available. I don't know if extending the hours is practical, but I know that a lot of people aren't able to make it to the show for the same reason.

4. Food cost. If a family of three (with one child) ate at the hotal restaurant for all three meals in a day, the cost would be $189. The cost for the entire con would be $680! I realize that the hotel sets the prices, but maybe someone could point out to the management that they'd get more customers if they offered a full menu in addition to the buffets - and that $32 each is a BIG stretch for dinner, for most of us.

The carts weren't bad, but I'll admit that even $5 for a hot dog kind of appalled me. Maybe I'm old-fashioned. We ended up making a supermarket run.

5. Things I miss from Arisias past: