Botcon 2015 - Chicago June 18-21

[fatbot]

To all members: We have not put a link for the general public at BotCon.com yet so you will need to click this link: http://www.botcon.com/BotCon2015/

After this goes out to the members and they have first shot at the rooms we will roll it on the main site.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BotCon is headed back to the Midwest in 2015, show to be held in St. Charles/Chicago, Illinois June 18th – June 21st!

Fort Worth, TX – October 23rd, 2014 – Fun Publications, Inc., licensee for Hasbro’s official Transformers Collectors’ Convention BotCon, announced today that next year’s award-winning convention will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort June 18th thru June 21st in the great city of St. Charles, right outside of Chicago. In 2015, fans from the Midwest and across the world will be able to celebrate another exciting year of the Transformers brand at this amazing event! You can make your hotel reservations now at BotCon.com.

In the coming weeks, pop culture enthusiasts from around the world will be able to register for BotCon 2015 through the BotCon.com online registration system. Fans and collectors who register for BotCon as a Primus package holder will receive a five-figure convention set, admission to the Friday private sales room experience, priority seating at all panels and seminars throughout the weekend and admittance to the Saturday night Casino Night and Awards party. Finally, Primus package attendees will also receive a special bonus Transformers figure to go along with their convention box set. General Admission for non-registered guests will be available on Saturday and Sunday only.

For all the information regarding the BotCon show activities, hotel updates and the exclusive figure offerings, remember to stay tuned to BotCon.com. And for a sneak peek at this year’s convention set theme be sure to check out Transformers Timelines Issue 10, on comic book shelves this December!

About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company's world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company's Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling around Hasbro brands across television, film, commercial productions and short-form. Through the Company's deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." Learn more at www.hasbro.com. © 2014 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Fun Publications
For 20 years, Fun Publications, Inc. has been a Hasbro licensee offering fans and collectors of pop culture memorabilia news, exclusive product and family events through different print offerings, websites, collector clubs and brand specific conventions such as GIJoeCon and BotCon. Located in Fort Worth Texas, Fun Publications reaches a large audience, serving the United States and many other countries such as Japan, Great Britain, Brazil, Australia and Canada. For more information visit TransformersClub.com, GIJoeClub.com, GIJoeCon.com, and BotCon.com. BotCon is a registered trademark of Fun Publications, Inc. © 2014 Fun Publications, Inc. All rights reserved

thoughts? comments?

[Krayt]

Registrations soon?

He'll I haven saved up for another iacon pack this year!

[MayzaPrime]

As my wife just said 'if the planets align we will be going'

I have been hanging out for a Botcon in Chicago for a number of years.

[griffin]

Typical...

I don't get up until 11am this morning, and do cleaning around the house until about half an hour ago, then find that my phone had run out of power during the night so didn't get the 9am txt from UltraMarginal.

So seven hours after it was announced, I check the reservations site, and only two days are still available (15th & 16th - which means Wednesday onwards is already sold out).
And neither of the Resorts phone numbers are working to phone in a reservation (maybe too small to have a phone manned during the middle of the night).

Perfect, all the wrong things aligned in the universe again, for a second year in row.

(Did anyone here book a room, just in case you go... and would just cancel it if you didn't need it? It's a good thing to do, being too early to decide, and is why the rooms book out so fast.)


Looking it up, this resort is about 45kms west of Downtown Chicago.
According to google, it would take about 52 minutes by car to drive there (64 kms by road), or 2 hours by public transport (bus/train).
Also, the main airport (O'hare) is 40 minutes by car - due to being 50 Kms by road.

Okay, looking up google maps, it isn't as remote as I was expecting.
Across the road is a Hilton, and a block over to the west is a Country Inn. At least if this Pheasant Run stays booked out, there are two other options within 500 meters.
Also a block to the west is a Walmart and a Target... so two of the three main toy sources in America (TRU being the third).
Both stores will have an extensive grocery section, so "real" food won't be a problem... and as for "faster" food, at this retail precinct there is a McDonalds, IHOP (drool), Chili's (American franchise), Olive Garden (another franchise), Chipotle (Mexican themed franchise), On The Border (yet another Mexican themed restaurant - rather odd for a northern state).
A bit of a walk further (about a Km or two), is Panda Express (Chinese), Subway, Papa Johns Pizza and DeGeo's Burgers & Gyros.


I'll give them credit - they've given us an extra two months notice to recent years (usually it is a Christmas announcement)... but the location is very unusual and "remote" compared to previous years (not close to an Airport or a CBD). I think they are going to struggle to get a lot of people to attend, let alone get many walk-ins. They usually struggle to get Americans to travel more than a couple states, so a central state like Illinois may look like a great idea, but for some reason it puts off people in the most populous states of California and New York. (and people will weigh up the added cost and time getting to the Resort from the nearest airport, which is also referred to as the most expensive in America - higher fees mean it costs more to fly in or out of there)

(I haven't read comments on the global fansites yet, as I'm still investigating things from my end... and try to get a reservation.)

I'll try ringing up the Resort again in a few hours when it is dawn over there... and will book a room at the Hilton or Country Inn as backup.


If I go, I will probably try to get in there on Monday 15th and check out the two department stores before other fans start arriving... then spend the entire day in Downtown Chicago on Tuesday sightseeing/exploring (it will be 12 years since I was there last... and I can look for Movie locations used in TF3 & TF4), before the Convention activities begin on the Wednesday.
I also want to do something else before I get to Chicago... so might spend 2-3 days somewhere on the way, which could allow me to arrive early on the Monday and get to the stores first.

[griffin]

For those wanting more info about the Pheasant Run Resort, their website is here.

It doesn't look very big, with its main feature being a golf course, plus a Wellness/day-spa type thing and three pools.
It houses several themed restaurants (the New Orleans one sounds interesting, with All You Can Eat options), plus a couple of live theatres for entertainment.
Wireless Internet throughout the resort seems to be a key marketing element as well. (probably only to hotel guests though, so inconvenient if you have to stay elsewhere)

Their constant usage of the words "near" and "easy access" when referring to Downtown Chicago and O'Hare airport is misleading. They note that it is "less than an hour" into Chicago.... at 52 minutes in average traffic, I wouldn't be boasting that when they are also using the word "near".

Their FAQ and contacts page for future reference for people.
It also mentions how to get to or from the airport or Downtown Chicago.

[MayzaPrime]

I plan to try to get in on Tuesday, and then check out on Sunday and head into downtown Chicago to stay a few nights with a friend.

If we can and if everyone wants to... I would like to try and organise all of the Aussies to stay in the same spot.

[griffin]

Staying in the same hotel would be nice. With the main Resort selling out, if they don't release more discount rooms, I'm likely to be at the Hilton across the road if it is cheap enough. It sucks that it isn't the adjoining hotel, but this year I was able to work with it, and it was a bigger distance than between these ones.

I'll go look at rates of the other two hotels in a minute, to see what prices they were. (and try to find out how much PR Resort was charging at the BotCon rate, and their normal rate)


I had a thought...
What if FunPub have chosen Chicago for next year, to put off people travelling to Chicago again a couple months later for TFCon. I was actually thinking about going to TFCon next year if BotCon wasn't nearby, but now I don't know if I'd want to go there twice in one year.
And the timing of the announcement is also to compete with TFCon, which is on this weekend from today... so if there is any announcement of a TFCon for 2015, FunPub have snuck in with their announcement to make it look like TFCon are copying them instead of the other way around.

[griffin]

The two nearby hotels, in case the Resort stays booked out, or one of these proves to be cheaper...
Hilton (north, across a major road though) - US$129 per night (plus tax)
Country Inn (west, a bit further away) - US$129 per night (plus tax)
Both have cheaper "advance purchase" rates, but they are non-refundable... so you'd want to make sure you go, and the dates are exactly what you want.
Looks like Pheasant Run's cheapest rate (the Resort Rooms) is also US$129 (plus tax)... but this appears to be from a "three for the price of two" deal, making the regular rate (if you don't book in lots of three) as US$193 per night. (ouch)
I was able to work out the BotCon rate, which is US$114 per night. Heaps less than the regular rate, but only $15 less than the "deal" rate. (it all adds up, so I wouldn't say no to at least getting two of my nights at the BotCon rate if I can - which will require a phone call to book a room at two different rates)

Looks like Pheasant Run has a Resort Fee (like Disneyworld had, and I think the San Diego "resort" had). Looks like $11 per day, which would probably be covering the Internet access and maybe priority access to their on-site restaurants and shows... but I couldn't find any details of what it actually covers. The resort fee makes it the most expensive of the three hotels, at US$140 plus tax. And tax appears to be just a fraction over 10%.


I also just looked up some things to do in Chicago, for anyone else thinking of going...
Viator Tours website (I use this site often when travelling, as they have a good range of tours, and not just their own)
Chicago Trolly/Bus circuit tour (hop on hop off type)
Chicago movie tour - includes Transformers 3 locations (only AU$35) (or book direct from this site)



Hehehe...
I finally had a read of the TFW topic, and it is amusing to read some of the comments. (looks like I wasn't the only one who thought it was suspicious timing and location, now that TFCon is a fan-favourite rival to BotCon)


Looks like FunPub started with a tease 24 hours before the announcement, by revealing their 2015 logo on Twitter and Facebook. And I totally missed it - it wasn't on the TFW news page, and I didn't scroll down enough on the Ozformers twitter feed when tweeting some news last night to see their Tweets.
Damn... I had 24 hours to know about it before it was revealed. (not that anyone would have ever expected FunPub to actually release the info a day later... so I may not have been too vigilant on the TFW discussion topic to catch the announcement, but I would have logged in when I got up this morning to check out the comments to then see it 3 hours earlier than I did)
Now looking at the TFW topic, the BotCon rooms sold out by 11am Brisbane time, so I would have missed out anyway. It sounds like regular rooms might still be available, at $129 per night (which isn't too bad, as that's usually the BotCon rate at other hotels). Since the two phone numbers aren't being answered ATM, I might have to wait a few more hours until someone is awake to answer it.


Anyway, about 3am Friday Brisbane time the logo was released, and at about 1.30am Saturday Brisbane time the location was announced... with some suspicions already circulating at the timing (just before TFCon started today) and the location (TFCon's likely location next year).

First the Logo was released and people were guessing locations...

Find it funny they announce this the weekend of TFCon ???

One member appears to post a "benefit of the doubt" reply...

I see no issues there. Unless, perhaps, the location reveal turns out to be Chicago.

But later quotes himself, and adds...

Well... Uhhh... Look at that....

And then the sceptical comments started...

Forty-five minutes from TFCon... hmm...

Butthurt much, FunPub?

That sure is convenient timing.

Shots fired.

The location itself, ignoring the TFCon element, is being well received by those yet to be burnt by FunPub. After the last four years being California and Texas, this is a nice change in location... especially for long-distance travellers who are more inclined to do something else while in America.


In some respects I feel sorry for FunPub, in that they can't seem to maintain momentum when they finally do something good. Now they are going to be perceived as openly competing with the fan-run TFCon instead of just focusing on their own Convention as the "Official" one. If TFCon had ever tried to openly target BotCon by announcing the same city/location and a slightly earlier date, they'd be seen as underhanded and sneaky to under-cut BotCon's attendance. It sorta looks like FunPub have acknowledged that they can't compete for fan support, so now have to force people to choose between the two.
(I hope TFCon announces their attendance numbers for this weekend, just to see how much of a rival they now are.)

[griffin]

It took me 26 minutes on the phone to a Chicago phone number, but I finally got two linked reservations for the Resort. First two days at the BotCon rate US$114, and the last five days at the regular rate US$129. (all plus $70 resort fee and Tax)

One thing that doesn't make sense on their reservations site is the "buy 2 get 1 free" deal. If that means the standard rate of US$129 is free for every third day, that would equate to US$86 per night... but each time I tried adding days on the website, it would keep charging the full rate, and there was no option before filling out the payment details to add the free rooms on.

I might have to make another phone call, to find out how the 3 for 2 deal works, or if it is automatically adjusted when you check-out. They really should say something on their site about how it applies. If I can get a couple of the nights converted to free nights, that would save me US$258 plus tax.
(since only two nights are available at the BotCon rate, it will actually be cheaper to cancel those two nights and pay the full rate just to qualify for a second free night out of my seven)

EDIT - I did a new reservation, at the full rate for the seven days, and selected the "3rd day free" deal, and all it says in the email is "discount applied after second night".
So, it looks like you check-in, they put a hold on the full amount on your card when they swipe it, and then after the second paid night, your bill gets credited with a free night.
Why can't they just give you the discounted total in the email confirmation... so I have no idea how much it will all cost after tax, and after resort fees (which they'd still charge for the free days). In other words, I have no idea which reservation will work out cheaper, in order to make sure I cancel the right one.


Always so much hassle with these things... it is so frustrating that it is never easy or straightforward or ever perfect. Always something to spoil the fun.
I hope other people have an easier time with their reservations.

[fatbot]

It took me 26 minutes on the phone to a Chicago phone number, but I finally got two linked reservations for the Resort. First two days at the BotCon rate US$114, and the last five days at the regular rate US$129. (all plus $70 resort fee and Tax.

Out of curiosity, do you want a roommate? I'm Calling up about flight costs tomorrow & trying to swap my holidays so i can work a budget and try to go