Hi. Stupid question. It is my first time to GenCon. I've been to other cons that let you bring in coolers with your own drinks in them. I'm talking water bottles, sodas, beer, etc. Can you bring in your own cooler of stuff to GenCon?
Technically they do not allow outside food and drink into the convention center. Now, normally they will turn a blind eye to a lot of it, but you really shouldn't make it super obvious that you are doing that because they CAN decide to enforce the rules.
Small (lunch box size) cooler you could probably get away with. Camping size cooler you'll likely need to leave that in the car or your hotel room.
Best bet I think if you really want to carry more then one water/soda bottle around is an insulated bag that can be carried as easily as a backpack or shoulder bag can be. Not only due to the no outside food/drink rule but also because the convention halls are really crowded for most of the day and lugging a cooler around is asking for frustration when you're sharing limited walking space with other con goers, cosplayers, convention staff, and parents with strollers.
Like soulcatcher said if you have to have a lot of drinks on hand your better off keeping the large cooler in your car and just stopping by and picking up a couple of drinks when you drop off merch or game supplies through out the day. Most people it's just easier to bring a water bottle and if you don't want just regular water to bring some Mio or other water flavoring items in with you and just refill at the water fountains around the convention center.
Yeah, I'd definitely go the sneaky smuggler route rather than the big, obvious cooler route.
Thanks guys! I'm not trying to break rules, so I appreciate it. It's always when I think you can't that I find out you can...and I wished I had checked earlier.
As for it being a nuisance for others, it wouldn't be. I'm doing nothing but GMing all weekend and camped out in one spot. I am aligned with a gaming group, though, and I heard that they have an HQ with water and such there. I think I'm good!
Maybe a small cooler for a couple of beers? Can you drink there?
Pretty sure you can't drink alcohol on the convention grounds. But I don't know for sure.
Yeah? Oh, well.
Yes, and they're strict about it, too.
If a GenCon staffer sees you with a bottle of beer, they're going to ask you to leave, and if an Indianapolis police officer sees you with one, they'll write you a ticket.
Best bet is to stick to water & soft drinks.
Well, I'm not one to really do things I'm not allowed to do. Not really a big deal. I'm just used to Cons that allow.
I backed a kickstarter for a backpack that has insulated side pockets to hold multiple containers. These will either be used for water/soda or baby milk for our 2 month old.
Last year we had water bottles with us. You can find lots of places to fill up. Its your best bet.
And use Nivo or crystal light in those bottles. You are set!
He's going to bring beer.
Likely time have changed, but several years back I offered to DM a D&D game for a group in the Segway Ballroom (?). They were a great group of guys...anyway...one guy in the group rolled up with a fully stocked cooler and offered to mix whatever I wanted to drink as a "thanks" for DMing. It was a blast.
I not sure if it's frowned upon, but a large cooler would be harder to lug around. If you're camped in one spot? Don't know. Is it in one of the hotels? That may be easier than on convention grounds. Personally, I don't mind playing an RPG with a DM getting his buzz on (especially if you share, HA!). You do you.
Thanks guys! Knowing is half the battle.
Hubs and I plan to bring a small one so we can have a few cold Soylents on hand. Cuts down on time spent waiting for food, ensures we will actually consume something, and ensures we will be getting actual nutrition.
He ran stuff nearly non-stop last year and didn't have time to eat, and I have trouble eating when hot/tired (which is pretty much non-stop during the con) so we are planning to do better this year.
Will either take his small lunch bucket, or pick up a small soft-sided dealie-bobber before we leave for Indy.
The other problematic thing would be, where are you planning to go with your cooler. There are many parts of the convention center where the crowds are thick enough people will be tripping on it and getting very angry with you.
there was a drunken D&D event last year. I;m not sure where it was held, but the entire point was to drink and play
The Legendary DrunkAssParty VII
____________________________________________________ Alec Usticke, Unofficial Gen Con Indy Facebook Discussion Group
Also... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deely_bobber ?!?