Hi -
My husband and I are currently planning to attend this year with our young child, she will be a year around that time and we did ask her doctor for the okay before planning anything. We had a hell of a year last year, including my almost death, so we were really excited to do something we love this year.
It would be our first gencon, but we're not unfamiliar with cons in general. I, being excited for the event, posted asking other parents what tips they had. Some were really helpful - babywear (which we do anyway) and to avoid a stroller in the exhibitor hall. The other comments though, not it - from threats to people DMing me to tell me I'm a terrible mom. & of course all the people saying I should refund my badge and stay in the hotel so my husband can go and enjoy himself and not have to worry about the baby. Wild thought, but we love including our child in our hobbies and enjoy being around her... we lost a lot of time with her already, we aren't looking to miss out on more. I was also met with hostility around bringing any child because people "use this event to get away from their children". I was under the impression all were welcome and this was an all ages event, so this kind of response is really disheartening.
Now, we've received our hotel time and realize we probably won't be able to book one through the block. At this point are we better off just to cancel? It's clear people think we don't have a place at this event and without a hotel we're kinda SOL anyway?
I'm sure this comes off as dramatic but I kinda feel terrible after these last few weeks of these messages and the general hostility and now I'm even more let down based on the hotel availability.
I just don't know what to do.
Kyosick,
Gen Con is amazing - you should go.
My first Gen Con was Gen Con XVI...and gaming was a much different hobby then. I experienced an amazing sense of euphoria at finding the tribe that I didn't know I was looking for.
It sounds like you're aware of some the challenges that you are facing, but the scope of those challenges is not to be understated. The crowds can be very dense. I've seen many problems with attendees bringing all manner of extra baggage and not being aware of what they are doing in the exhibit hall with their SUV strollers, carts, little red wagons, super-sized shopping bags, giant back packs...
Bringing an infant will pose challenges and limitations, but to me, even with those, the environment alone is worth that. Just seeing SO MANY people enjoying themselves and playing games, overhearing bits of conversations that that cover topics that you care about, is worth it.
The convention housing situation is not great - and my experience with it has been much worse - since Q-rooms took over. The last year I've gotten a time that would allow booking a downtown room on Housing Opening day was the cancelled COVID year. Dealing with it while managing an infant, adds an extra wrinkle. But rooms return to inventory all the time, so it is of value to keep an eye on the housing site. There's always a First Time Attendees thread somewhere full of good advice.
I’m just gonna endorse what has already been said. Though I will add that, without at all excusing the behavior, I suggest very much not taking the comments seriously. Anonymity and an audience brings out the worst in people.