2017 PonyCon Dates and Venue Announcement

[lightingflash]

May 5, 2017 17:54:43 GMT JD and Micro said:

Hi everyone,



The venue announcement comes as very bad news to me. To attend in costume at any event I require either the event to be held at a hotel or very, very close to one so walking to event and back from hotel room is practical. I use the hotel room as a base of operations. With it being a quiet place to cool off, a lockable place where my costume or clothes will be safe, a place with unlimited water so don’t pass out and a place with a shower (in costume I like to have a very quick shower every couple of hours of use ish) It being held at a location where the nearest accommodation is about 15 minute walk along busy roads means this doesn’t look even remotely possible to me to do. I promised a lot of people I would be attending at last year's event and I feel very, very sad to be letting them all down but I see no way this fox can attend at this venue in costume (I’m sure it’s probably a lovely place for others but for me the impossible difficulty of using my costume there just wouldn’t make it fun and the cost to go to the other side of the country is too high to be worth it to me without being able to do that).



If it had been at or next to a hotel as it sometimes is I definitely would have been there as I had planned (no matter where it was in the country) but, given where the event is, I just want to say a sincere sorry to all those I promised last year I would be there that I will not be attending this year. I truly was looking forward to going more than anything and feel very, very, very sad to be saying this (especially as it’s now too late in the year to arrange any other holiday I want to go to). Still, I want to give my thanks to everyone involved in setting this up for the hard work I’m sure they went to on our behalves but I understand venue can’t always be ideal for everyone and sadly I feel it couldn’t be much worse for me as far as I’m concerned.



I’m now off to draw some art of my favourite pony Fluttershy  cuddling a fox to cheer myself up, that always works  Sorry everyone again who I promised I’d be there, I hope to see you all again at a future year’s conventions and I hope you all have a wonderful time at the convention this year.



JD

that is sad news if it helps I would of been happy to drive you to and form the hotel a couple of times 

[JD and Micro]

Many thanks for the offer but I don't think it would help. That isn't all I am worried about. It's just too far really from the hotel room to the convention and after giving it a lot of thought I've decided I can't do it really. At all previous cons, I had a hotel room I could come and go to as I pleased all day long, numerous times for numerous reasons. Even if I paid someone to ferry me any moment I wanted to and from the hotel, it would be a massive pain for me and them. For example, everytime I need the loo I'd have to go back to my hotel room as my costume requires taking off nearly totally and this is impossible in public toilets. Also, I have to get back to my room in order to shower on a regular basis all day long. Also, I go there almost every hour or so just for a quick brief break to cool off and take on water. I make use of my hotel room dozens of times a day to be comfortable and happy to do this during previous cons. Again thanks again for the offer but I don't think it would work really. It's not all bad, I can use the money I would have spent going this year to get a really nice thing for the charity auction next time I do manage to go  

[pinkkittywinks]

Tickets bought! I just need to sort out a hotel

Love pkw xxx

[Juliepants]

Same for me, got my tickets, need to book a place to stay. Excited!!

Love Jules xx

[Juliepants]

Is the parking at the venue free? Just working out best options. Might stay in Bristol centre so hubby has something to do and then drive up or get those 70/71 buses someone mentioned.

Jules x

[Loganberry]

May 6, 2017 23:02:09 GMT Juliepants said:

Is the parking at the venue free? Just working out best options. Might stay in Bristol centre so hubby has something to do and then drive up or get those 70/71 buses someone mentioned.

Jules x

That someone was me! The 70/71 buses run through the night, but if you're only there in the daytime/evening there are some more options, eg the X14 express bus between the campus and the city centre. (It's mainly aimed at students, but non-students can use it.) I'll try to get something written up in the "Travel and Accommodations" section in the near future.

[bp_serene]

Yeah definitely avoid the 70 and 71 if you're coming from city centre, I used to live in Bristol and study at UWE and those buses take forever as they have a very long route through all the residential areas! I would leave hubby to explore the city on foot and take the car to the venue.

[Brightstar]

Yes buses are a PITA!
I'm coming from Yate and we need to beg hubby to give us a lift down and back as the busses are useless and take an hour or so travel wise and my 4 year old get's VERY restless on the bus that long. That's if the bus turns up at all

At least you have more options from the center or Filton.
If you can drive, or even cycle then that would be the best option.

[chompermay]

It says the park and ride is not far away. Is it walkable?

[Loganberry]

May 7, 2017 8:45:26 GMT Brightstar said:

Yes buses are a PITA!
I'm coming from Yate and we need to beg hubby to give us a lift down and back as the busses are useless and take an hour or so travel wise and my 4 year old get's VERY restless on the bus that long. That's if the bus turns up at all

At least you have more options from the center or Filton.
If you can drive, or even cycle then that would be the best option.

Oh believe me, I know... I have family in Bristol and I've known the city since the days when the buses were green! Unfortunately my epilepsy means I'm not able to drive, and Bristol has a very poor local rail network so I'm reliant on buses a lot of the time. I just wish they gave a better service.   


As for the 70/71, the one point they have in their favour is that they run 24 hours a day. I know there are better options in the daytime, certainly.

[snorkmaiden]

May 6, 2017 10:26:32 GMT JD and Micro said:

Many thanks for the offer but I don't think it would help. That isn't all I am worried about. It's just too far really from the hotel room to the convention and after giving it a lot of thought I've decided I can't do it really. At all previous cons, I had a hotel room I could come and go to as I pleased all day long, numerous times for numerous reasons. Even if I paid someone to ferry me any moment I wanted to and from the hotel, it would be a massive pain for me and them. For example, everytime I need the loo I'd have to go back to my hotel room as my costume requires taking off nearly totally and this is impossible in public toilets. Also, I have to get back to my room in order to shower on a regular basis all day long. Also, I go there almost every hour or so just for a quick brief break to cool off and take on water. I make use of my hotel room dozens of times a day to be comfortable and happy to do this during previous cons. Again thanks again for the offer but I don't think it would work really. It's not all bad, I can use the money I would have spent going this year to get a really nice thing for the charity auction next time I do manage to go  

I really hope you'll make it next year. I'm a big fan of yours.

[daffydilly]

Parking is free, but UWE can't confirm at this point how many spaces we'll have available to us.

UWE advised for people to look to park in 22 and 23 - top right. They look like reasonably large car parks

www.ukponycon.co.uk/downloads/frenchay-campus-map.pdf

[Cubey]

May 7, 2017 19:29:23 GMT daffydilly said:

Parking is free, but UWE can't confirm at this point how many spaces we'll have available to us.

UWE advised for people to look to park in 22 and 23 - top right. They look like reasonably large car parks

www.ukponycon.co.uk/downloads/frenchay-campus-map.pdf

Thanks for useful link! I will be drive a car to there.

[Brightstar]

May 7, 2017 17:44:47 GMT Loganberry said:

May 7, 2017 8:45:26 GMT Brightstar said:

Yes buses are a PITA!
I'm coming from Yate and we need to beg hubby to give us a lift down and back as the busses are useless and take an hour or so travel wise and my 4 year old get's VERY restless on the bus that long. That's if the bus turns up at all

At least you have more options from the center or Filton.
If you can drive, or even cycle then that would be the best option.

Oh believe me, I know... I have family in Bristol and I've known the city since the days when the buses were green! Unfortunately my epilepsy means I'm not able to drive, and Bristol has a very poor local rail network so I'm reliant on buses a lot of the time. I just wish they gave a better service.   


As for the 70/71, the one point they have in their favour is that they run 24 hours a day. I know there are better options in the daytime, certainly.

Sorry to hear that.
That's good that they run 24 hours though

Our 82 bus that runs to Southmead past UWE and to the mall is that bad it's been in the papers and local news and the MP is trying to get a better service.  

I can't drive either due to my health so have to rely on the buses or beg hubby for lifts at the weekends.

Hopefully the Metrolink will improve everything when finished.

[Carrehz]

Ordered my tickets yesterday!! I'm so excited, eee.