WestSideBilly

Per Raul's request, post your idea'rs here. I'll update this post with all the suggestions


Date:
- Quite a few of us thought that September 10-12, being just 3 days after Labor Day, might be a tough vacation to swing. The consensus among those I heard from was to push it back one week - September 17-19.
- The Mid-Atlantic crew has a baseball event on the 11th.
- There is a UT Football game the 18th. Knoxville + UT Football = Insanity

Lunch:
- I'm not sure who estimated drink quantity, but 100 people and 8 to 10 2-Liters of soda doesn't work, especially on a 75 degree sunny day. If the gift shop had been open, it may not have been as big a deal. I do want to thank the man with the Avalanche for escorting the food - it was the first time I was ever happy to see an Avalanche!
- Possible "catered" lunch at Deal's Gap
- Less time devoted to the whole lunch process (more organized?).
- Split lunch into 3-4 groups; permit the non-lunch groups to drive while the lunch groups eat.
- Devote more tables to lunch fixins; encourage people to share seating when they finish eating (non-issue if lunch is split up?).

Group Picture:
- Have a set time for the group picture (was listed in group packet - lunch ran well into the photo time, though).
- Better planning for where cars went (I think the MR2's occupied the intended location of the group photo)

Caravans:
- Split the caravan from the hotel into 2-5 smaller groups to reduce the problems associated with other cars.
- Caravan through the dragon (slowly) before letting loose.

Misc:
- Dramamine supply for the +1s (note: Dramamine is available in the gift shop at Deal's Gap)
- Maps/Road guides for those who'd rather explore
- Travel times listed on the schedule (i.e. 30 minutes from deal's gap to fontana dam).

cutter8376

About Lunch:
When we were heading out this morning from the Dragon, Raul was talking with the owner of Deal's Gap. They are opening up the sit down restaurant and repaving the entire parking lot and actually making the parking lot larger. He talked to him about doing the lunch there for the Dragonball run and said it would be no problem. It would be much more convenient to stop there for lunch instead of taking the food and everything out to the dam. Although I must say the drive and view at the dam was amazing, but anyone can drive out there whenever they wish during the weekend. I know that the Signature Inn helps us out alot and this community has a great relationship with them. But I was kinda hoping that it was a little closer to the Dragon than that. Other than that, I don't know if there is much room for improvement on the event.

FF2Skip

I want to be able to attend the next Dragon! This time was my first, and i still had too much tread left on my tires! Gotta "DO IT!" again soon. Raul, we have this going on September 11th.

I'd be in favor in the following weekend as well. I know you probably have other considerations that have led you to your dates that we are unaware. One might be not having it too close to FC '04.

Oh, one more suggestion: Have some motion sickness stuff for sale for newbies! I know one person that would have purchased some. Where ya at, _+1?

VOLGUY

Tennessee plays Florida that weekend, so you more than likely won't get a GOOD motel deal that weekend, if you want to stay in K-town again.
Plus K-town will be alot more congested that weekend.

Dewain27

I agree.... Better to have a driveable dragon....

WestSideBilly

This refers to the weekend of the 18th.

VOLGUY

Yes. The 18th. The next weekend is clear tho. But another home game Oct. 2


O yeah, It also seems to rain every time Florida comes to town .

E-Heezy

I thought that the Signature Inn was a nice improvement over the Jameson Inn. It was far easier to find and sits on I40. There are more and better restaurants within walking distance. The hotel itself was larger and nicer. Considering the fact that we had a police escort to the highway the distance to the dragon wasn't an issue for me. I hope that we can manage to stay at this particular hotel for many events to come.

WestSideBilly

Since I stay in Knoxville anyway, the distance is irrelevant, and I thought the Signature Inn was a marked improvement. The last time we used that hotel, we didn't have a police escort, and getting out of the lot and onto I-140 was a bit tricky.

One thing to consider - given the overwhelming success of this event, it's quite possible we may have over 100 cars in the fall. If the Knoxville police are willing to help out again -

w1ngman

I have a suggestion: w1ngman joins next time! !!!!