The Weekend Before Celebration
Aug. 6th, 2010 09:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lazypadawanIf you're going to Celebration, you're probably tossing stuff into your suitcase as you prepare for your sojourn to O-town. You definitely need the following:
1. YOUR TICKETS
Don't forget your four day pass and any party tickets, including the small credit card-sized ticket for "Last Trip To Endor." Epic fail if you make it aaaaaallll of the way there and you realize you left everything back in Piscataway or Seattle or whatever. You can forget pajamas. You can forget your toothbrush. You can even forget your underwear. But DON'T forget those tickets. Pack them right now! (Note: If you're flying, take them in your purse or in your carry on bag. Do NOT pack them in your suitcase...if it gets lost, you'll be just as hosed if you'd left the tix at home.)
2. Comfy shoes
This is no time for stilettos or tight shoes. If you're costuming, make sure your costume shoes/boots can go the distance.
3. Poster tube
Get the cardboard kind you use to mail posters at Staples or Office Depot. Bring some rubber bands too.
4. Big reusable bag
These are invaluable for lugging around your loot. The sturdier the better. I'm using one I got for free at Comic Con (not the crappy one whose shoulder strap broke).
5. An umbrella and/or rain poncho
All day washouts are rare, but afternoon or evening showers/thunderstorms are common this time of year in Florida.
6. Techie accessories
Be sure to bring stuff to charge your cell phones, laptops, etc..
7. Sunblock and/or a hat
When the sun is out, it's out. Remember, you're closer to the equator and the sun is a lot stronger than it is up north or the Midwest.
8. Bug spray
The area near the convention center and the parks probably has been sprayed galore but as a native Floridian, I can tell you mosquitoes can get you even in the middle of town. I was an all-you-can-eat feast for scores of mosquitoes in New Orleans' Garden District.
9. Plastic file folders
These are great for holding small items and flyers and preventing them from getting bent. If you're getting autographs, bring some clear photo sleeves to protect your pictures.
10. Your survival kit: mints, gum, snacks, hand sanitizer, vitamins, bottled water
About Florida...
There's no way around it. August in Central Florida is like being stuck in Satan's armpit while he's sitting in Hell's sauna. Temperatures are generally in the 90s and humidity is very high. It's a tad more tolerable at night. Rain cools it off a little for the duration of the rain. Prepare to feel like a wilting flower so long as you're outside.
Inside is a different story. Every building's nuclear-powered AC is set all of the way up. My advice is to bring a jacket to wear in the convention hall in case it's too chilly.
Orlando has every chain restaurant known to humanity except for In-N-Out (sorry, California peeps). International Drive is chockful of places to eat for budget, as is Universal's CityWalk, which is nearish the convention center. If you're willing to venture out that way, Downtown Disney has a ton of restaurants, bars, and shops. Orlando has its own Medieval Times in case you're in the mood for jousting and mediocre grub at high prices ;).
But if you want something with a little bit more local flavor, here's my advice. Check Yelp Orlando for places the locals like best. For years, I loved going to Sonny's for its good old-fashioned politically incorrect Southern BBQ. As far as I know, it's still around but I can't speak now for its overall quality. My favorite fast food chain in Florida is the awesome Pollo Tropical. Every time I go back to the F-state, I make it a point to go to a Pollo Tropical location at least once. It's mainly Latin-style rotisserie chicken with Latin/Caribbean staples like black beans and rice, sweet plantains, and fried yucca ("yuca") but you can also find Cuban-style roast pork, ropa vieja (shredded beef), ribs, grilled shrimp, and grilled steak. The smoothies are permanently off my list, but I can tell you they are really good. Even the tres leches dessert is decent for a fast food joint. Oh, and you cannot come to Florida without having key lime pie. Well, I probably won't be having it but for the rest of you, it's worth a yummy try.
If you're flying in, check to see if your hotel runs a shuttle service (Disney's hotels have buses to pick up guests). If you have to take a cab, figure it's about $45-$50 in fare.
1. YOUR TICKETS
Don't forget your four day pass and any party tickets, including the small credit card-sized ticket for "Last Trip To Endor." Epic fail if you make it aaaaaallll of the way there and you realize you left everything back in Piscataway or Seattle or whatever. You can forget pajamas. You can forget your toothbrush. You can even forget your underwear. But DON'T forget those tickets. Pack them right now! (Note: If you're flying, take them in your purse or in your carry on bag. Do NOT pack them in your suitcase...if it gets lost, you'll be just as hosed if you'd left the tix at home.)
2. Comfy shoes
This is no time for stilettos or tight shoes. If you're costuming, make sure your costume shoes/boots can go the distance.
3. Poster tube
Get the cardboard kind you use to mail posters at Staples or Office Depot. Bring some rubber bands too.
4. Big reusable bag
These are invaluable for lugging around your loot. The sturdier the better. I'm using one I got for free at Comic Con (not the crappy one whose shoulder strap broke).
5. An umbrella and/or rain poncho
All day washouts are rare, but afternoon or evening showers/thunderstorms are common this time of year in Florida.
6. Techie accessories
Be sure to bring stuff to charge your cell phones, laptops, etc..
7. Sunblock and/or a hat
When the sun is out, it's out. Remember, you're closer to the equator and the sun is a lot stronger than it is up north or the Midwest.
8. Bug spray
The area near the convention center and the parks probably has been sprayed galore but as a native Floridian, I can tell you mosquitoes can get you even in the middle of town. I was an all-you-can-eat feast for scores of mosquitoes in New Orleans' Garden District.
9. Plastic file folders
These are great for holding small items and flyers and preventing them from getting bent. If you're getting autographs, bring some clear photo sleeves to protect your pictures.
10. Your survival kit: mints, gum, snacks, hand sanitizer, vitamins, bottled water
About Florida...
There's no way around it. August in Central Florida is like being stuck in Satan's armpit while he's sitting in Hell's sauna. Temperatures are generally in the 90s and humidity is very high. It's a tad more tolerable at night. Rain cools it off a little for the duration of the rain. Prepare to feel like a wilting flower so long as you're outside.
Inside is a different story. Every building's nuclear-powered AC is set all of the way up. My advice is to bring a jacket to wear in the convention hall in case it's too chilly.
Orlando has every chain restaurant known to humanity except for In-N-Out (sorry, California peeps). International Drive is chockful of places to eat for budget, as is Universal's CityWalk, which is nearish the convention center. If you're willing to venture out that way, Downtown Disney has a ton of restaurants, bars, and shops. Orlando has its own Medieval Times in case you're in the mood for jousting and mediocre grub at high prices ;).
But if you want something with a little bit more local flavor, here's my advice. Check Yelp Orlando for places the locals like best. For years, I loved going to Sonny's for its good old-fashioned politically incorrect Southern BBQ. As far as I know, it's still around but I can't speak now for its overall quality. My favorite fast food chain in Florida is the awesome Pollo Tropical. Every time I go back to the F-state, I make it a point to go to a Pollo Tropical location at least once. It's mainly Latin-style rotisserie chicken with Latin/Caribbean staples like black beans and rice, sweet plantains, and fried yucca ("yuca") but you can also find Cuban-style roast pork, ropa vieja (shredded beef), ribs, grilled shrimp, and grilled steak. The smoothies are permanently off my list, but I can tell you they are really good. Even the tres leches dessert is decent for a fast food joint. Oh, and you cannot come to Florida without having key lime pie. Well, I probably won't be having it but for the rest of you, it's worth a yummy try.
If you're flying in, check to see if your hotel runs a shuttle service (Disney's hotels have buses to pick up guests). If you have to take a cab, figure it's about $45-$50 in fare.
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no subject
Date: 2010-08-07 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-07 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:09 pm (UTC)One worry... I don't remember ever getting the Last Tour ticket in the mail!!! I'll be double checking my mail basket, because I may have left it there figuring it's the safest place for it. I know that's where my Celebration pass is.
I'm also wondering how much trouble it'd be to try and arrange an evening for all of us who know each other online to meet up someplace. I'd totally try to pull this together, if only I could get online at home!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-09 04:43 pm (UTC)