The Energon Pub

BF & I are planning to go to Botcon in June. I have a few questions for those of you who have been to Botcon before and also Disney World.

#1 - Would it be possible for BF to get the $300 Botcon ticket and for me to get a cheaper ticket? If so, what WOULDN'T I be allowed to do?

#2 - Do the tickets ever include food of any sort and if so what?

#3 - I'm thinking about NOT staying at the Dolphin and just staying at Pop Century the whole time. Is that possible? Can we get Disney transportation to Botcon from PC?

#4 - If I'm staying onsite, do I have to have WDW tickets for the days we're at Botcon if we don't plan on doing any of the theme parks those days?

#5 - If I don't have a meal plan at WDW, and no WDW tickets for the Botcon days, where will we be able to eat?

I know, tons of questions, and I'll have more later. I'm a planner, sorry

Thanks!

Jennifer

Hello! Welcome to the site!

MazingaspideysGirl wrote:BF & I are planning to go to Botcon in June. I have a few questions for those of you who have been to Botcon before and also Disney World.

#1 - Would it be possible for BF to get the $300 Botcon ticket and for me to get a cheaper ticket? If so, what WOULDN'T I be allowed to do?

Yes, If someone gets the 300 dollar package, they can then get an add on package for a friend that's under $100 (at least it was last year). You'll be able to do everything, however you won't get a box set with that ticket

#2 - Do the tickets ever include food of any sort and if so what?

Typically it would include entrance to a banquet style dinner one evening, but beyond that, you're on your own.

#3 - I'm thinking about NOT staying at the Dolphin and just staying at Pop Century the whole time. Is that possible? Can we get Disney transportation to Botcon from PC?

I'm sure there is a lot of transportation option to get from places in Orlando to Disney World, however they won't be set up specifically for the convention.

#4 - If I'm staying onsite, do I have to have WDW tickets for the days we're at Botcon if we don't plan on doing any of the theme parks those days?

Highly unlikely, but full details have yet to be released

#5 - If I don't have a meal plan at WDW, and no WDW tickets for the Botcon days, where will we be able to eat?

I'm sure there'll be a lot of things to eat there, but since it's Disney World, don't expect it to be cheap.

I know, tons of questions, and I'll have more later. I'm a planner, sorry

Thanks!

It's better to plan now then panic later

MazingaspideysGirl wrote:#3 - I'm thinking about NOT staying at the Dolphin and just staying at Pop Century the whole time. Is that possible? Can we get Disney transportation to Botcon from PC?

We stayed at PopCentury last November, and were able to get to the mini golf area near the Swan and Dolphin fairly easily. They're within walking distance to Epcot.

MazingaspideysGirl wrote:BF & I are planning to go to Botcon in June.

#1 - Would it be possible for BF to get the $300 Botcon ticket and for me to get a cheaper ticket? If so, what WOULDN'T I be allowed to do?


Jennifer

Last I saw, the expensive package that allows a second person at a reduced rate had to be an immediate family member. I tried to go as someone else's friend (Minicon package) and the Botcon folks would not let me do it.
It is best to send the Botcon people this question if it is not posted on their FAQ page in February.

Anybody can go as your Minicon. I took my now-ex the past couple years. As long as the first person buys the Primus Package and includes the Minicon info on their registration form, there should not be a problem. I've seen lots of people bring "Minicons" who were not immediate family, or even family at all.

MazingaspideysGirl wrote:#3 - I'm thinking about NOT staying at the Dolphin and just staying at Pop Century the whole time. Is that possible? Can we get Disney transportation to Botcon from PC?

With the discount for the convention at the Dolphin, it is cheaper to stay there. Plus, you are right there at the convention center. If you do stay at another hotel that is tied in with Disney (like the Pop Culture) you can take Disney busses everywhere you need to go.

Dolphin/Swan may be more expensive, but you are gonna end up paying a lot to park at the convention center if you stay somewhere else, unless you take public transit, but then you will be subject to their schedules, and the convention tends to have some crazy hours, especially all the hanging out and buying/trading in the hotel rooms in the late hours.

and, of course, there's the alcohol.

Ah yes..I hear great stories of these botcon parties...I'm planning on staying off site since I have so many freinds who live outside of orlando, just easier IMO..I wanted to stay on site but man the $$$ was killer..I found Flights, hotel rooms and rental car packages on orbitz(travelocity etc etc...) and such for way cheaper..Plus I used to live in orlando So I know my way around...Can't Wait!!!!

LiKwid wrote:Ah yes..I hear great stories of these botcon parties...I'm planning on staying off site

Me too!

20 Minutes away from the convention center and Grandma's cooking.

Counterpunch wrote:

LiKwid wrote:Ah yes..I hear great stories of these botcon parties...I'm planning on staying off site

Me too!

20 Minutes away from the convention center and Grandma's cooking.

Grandmas have the best cooking!!! The hotel I'm going to be staying at is actually one Ive stayed at before..I will be living off of dominos and taco bell for the week

LiKwid wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

LiKwid wrote:Ah yes..I hear great stories of these botcon parties...I'm planning on staying off site

Me too!

20 Minutes away from the convention center and Grandma's cooking.

Grandmas have the best cooking!!! The hotel I'm going to be staying at is actually one Ive stayed at before..I will be living off of dominos and taco bell for the week

I trust you will be showering twice daily then! Because you are going to be sweating beef...

Counterpunch wrote:

LiKwid wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

LiKwid wrote:Ah yes..I hear great stories of these botcon parties...I'm planning on staying off site

Me too!

20 Minutes away from the convention center and Grandma's cooking.

Grandmas have the best cooking!!! The hotel I'm going to be staying at is actually one Ive stayed at before..I will be living off of dominos and taco bell for the week

I trust you will be showering twice daily then! Because you are going to be sweating beef...

I rocks only lean white meat chicken on mah tacos..But yes 2wice a day min..Don't suppose that some of Gramma's leftovers would be too much to ask Many shots await for said leftovers

Counterpunch wrote:I trust you will be showering twice daily then! Because you are going to be sweating beef...

How many showers did you and your group take after the great White Castle visit of 2008?

Delicon wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:I trust you will be showering twice daily then! Because you are going to be sweating beef...

How many showers did you and your group take after the great White Castle visit of 2008?

Ahhhh White castle..

What does a guy whose never been to BotCon, and may be going for the first time ever, need to know about it ahead of time?

Particularly, in terms of money and food.

There's usually decently-priced and expensive food very closeby. Cheaper food tends to hide, especially at a place like Disney that's full of tourists. You may need a car to find a McDonalds.

Don't skimp on registration. You're going to want a Primus Package. If not now, then trust me, you will once you get to the Con and see people with their awesome boxed sets. I speak from experience. You'll still have a great time with a Protoform Package, but envy will make you wish you'd sprung for Primus.

Bring more money than you think you need. You will find untold amounts of things in the Dealer Room that you will desperately want to buy. Bring a minimum of $500. Most people will tell you to bring double or quadruple that. At the least.

Savage wrote:There's usually decently-priced and expensive food very closeby. Cheaper food tends to hide, especially at a place like Disney that's full of tourists. You may need a car to find a McDonalds.

So, they won't have food there? Bummer. Well, I know of were there's a McDonalds in Disney anyway.

Savage wrote:Don't skimp on registration. You're going to want a Primus Package. If not now, then trust me, you will once you get to the Con and see people with their awesome boxed sets. I speak from experience. You'll still have a great time with a Protoform Package, but envy will make you wish you'd sprung for Primus.

Register? What's this about registering? I gotta join something to get into BotCon?

Savage wrote:Bring more money than you think you need. You will find untold amounts of things in the Dealer Room that you will desperately want to buy. Bring a minimum of $500. Most people will tell you to bring double or quadruple that. At the least.

Ha! $500+ dollars! Ha! Yeah, that's a good one. We're not all made of money, here.

Besides, I doubt I'd be buying anything toy-wise that I'd be allowed to haul back home anyway. I may pick up a few things, but nothing outrageously high-priced. I may be a completist in some ways, but I know my limits.

I'm another possible first-time attendee with questions.

This would be a major expense for me, and I'm still not sure I can pull it off, even though I'm only a couple of hours out of Orlando.

What should I expect to spend simply getting into Botcon (with and without exclusives)? What about staying at the hosting hotel? How many days should I stay?

What is the process and reason for registering? When does it begin, and is there a deadline? Is there a limited number of exclusives, as in first-come first-serve...or does everyone who opted for them get a set?

I'm basically clueless...and if I do this, I want all my bases covered. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sabrblade wrote:

Savage wrote:Don't skimp on registration. You're going to want a Primus Package. If not now, then trust me, you will once you get to the Con and see people with their awesome boxed sets. I speak from experience. You'll still have a great time with a Protoform Package, but envy will make you wish you'd sprung for Primus.

Register? What's this about registering? I gotta join something to get into BotCon?

You do not have to join anything. But you must register to attend the convention. Registration forms will be available online within the next 2-6 weeks. There is a slim chance of online registration this year. If that does not get set up in time, you will need to print out the registration form, fill it out, and fax or mail it in along with payment.

Savage wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Savage wrote:Don't skimp on registration. You're going to want a Primus Package. If not now, then trust me, you will once you get to the Con and see people with their awesome boxed sets. I speak from experience. You'll still have a great time with a Protoform Package, but envy will make you wish you'd sprung for Primus.

Register? What's this about registering? I gotta join something to get into BotCon?

You do not have to join anything. But you must register to attend the convention. Registration forms will be available online within the next 2-6 weeks. There is a slim chance of online registration this year. If that does not get set up in time, you will need to print out the registration form, fill it out, and fax or mail it in along with payment.

And why exactly must one register just to get inside? I mean, couldn't one just get in line and by a ticket at the entrance or something?

Sabrblade wrote:And why exactly must one register just to get inside? I mean, couldn't one just get in line and by a ticket at the entrance or something?

You could pay a drop in fee on the weekend, but I think that only gets you into the dealer room.

It's more than just entrance into the dealer room, they need to allocate the number of box sets that need to get made, estimate line sizes, appoximate buffet food amounts, allocate space and probably other things which escape me at the moment. Stuff that needs to be planned ahead for and not at the last second.

Got another question.

Could one park their car at a location like, say, Downtown Disney, and then take a Disney bus over to the hotel to attend the convention; and then take the bus back after it's over?

Sabrblade wrote:Got another question.

Could one park their car at a location like, say, Downtown Disney, and then take a Disney bus over to the hotel to attend the convention; and then take the bus back after it's over?

I suppose it's possible, but you would be dependent on the Disney bus' schedule. So you may end up going and coming earlier or later than you desired. Plus, regardless of where you're parking, you are still going to be paying to park your car somewhere.

I guess it depends on whether you want to pay to park your car at the Swan/Dolphin, or pay to park elsewhere AND pay to take a Disney Shuttle. Bear in mind, the Swan/Dolphin Complex is outside the Disney Gate. So I have no idea if you would be taking a Disney Bus or a Hotel Shuttle or what.

The question then becomes: Is downtown disney parking + bus fare < Swan/Dolphin Parking ? For that, you'll need to know prices, which you'll have to look up on your own (FunPub usually doesnt provide that kind of info). If you're really interested in finding out, you will have to call the hotel and Disney. Disney may have bus fares on a website somewhere, but you'll probably have to call the Swan/Dolphin to get theirs. At least, I didnt see it on their site.