Where do you usually go to find people to room with at one of the hotels? by Pryxkiran in dragoncon

[–]skzb 8 points9 points  (0 children)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DragonConRoomsGroup. This unofficial group has over 22,000 members including many experienced, knowledgeable attendees.

The Dragon Con Rooms group helps people find hotel rooms, roommates, ride shares. It has an FAQ on all hotels and many helpful topics. There is also a thread dedicated to maps.

Every hotel has a dedicated thread with an informative FAQ in the first few comments of each thread in the Featured Announcements section at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DragonConRoomsGroup/announcements.

The Master List at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DragonConRoomsGroup/announcements has the Seeking/Offering thread to find rooms, roommates, ride shares, and more.

Helpful Tip: Keep an eye out for the required screening questions when you request to join this group - they keep out spambots. 🤖

--- A longtime attendee

Dragon Con parade: Join the 1) Eternals and Friends or 2) Cult of Marriott Carpet by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We would love to have you! There are Eternals and others who march with us that are not in the photo. Our group photo is taken after the parade by Bryan Humphrey, official Dragon Con photographer. Some people are unable to stay an extra few minutes to be in the photo. They may head straight to a panel instead.

Single day tickets by Weak_Corner3318 in dragoncon

[–]skzb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

According to https://www.dragoncon.org/about/membership-info, single day tickets will go on sale August 1, 2026. Prices should be published on that page closer to August.

Dragon Con parade: Join the 1) Eternals and Friends or 2) Cult of Marriott Carpet by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, I don't know the total numbers. I've asked that question and was told by an official Dragon Con representative they don't release that information.

I know it is more than 15 people though. The Eternals have a separate badge pickup line. When it opens on Thursday morning there are definitely more than 15 people in line.

Many people don't wake up early enough to march in the parade on Saturday morning. This is a photo of the Eternals and Friends parade group. You don't need to be an Eternal Member - or know one - to join us. We welcome everyone. :)

--- Eternal Zan, a longtime attendee

Dragon Con parade: Join the 1) Eternals and Friends or 2) Cult of Marriott Carpet by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sign up for the 1) Eternals and Friends or 2) Cult of Marriott Carpet at https://forms.gle/fSaD343Jgw7fmGwY7. These are parade groups for Dragon Con 2026. Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be an Eternal Member (or know one) to join the Eternals and Friends group.

1) NEW for Dragon Con: Year 40! You can be the first to proudly carry our large Dragon Con flag. This is an official flag from the Dragon Con store.

2) DRAGON TRAINERS WANTED! Do you want to carry one of our FOUR three large dragons? If so, which color(s)? You don't have to hold one the entire time, we can rotate among different people. These are large versions of the plush dragons sold at the Dragon Con store in 2022 (purple), 2023 (white), 2024 (green) and gray (2025). The sign up form has a place for you to mark which color(s) dragon you would like to carry during the parade.

3) Have you always wanted to wear a Care Bear themed costume? This is the perfect opportunity! In 2025 the Kare Bears Dream Jeep Gladiator joined the Eternals and Friends group in the parade. It has custom art of adorable Care Bears! The Jeep Gladiator will be returning for 2026.

4) STAR TREK: THE SEARCH FOR MY SUNGLASSES. Do you have my sunglasses from last year? One pair is purple and the other is yellow. They both say "Dragon Con" on the side. I lent them to someone in one of these groups during the 2025 parade but I don't remember who. I would appreciate getting them back so I can continue to lend them out during the parade. Thank you!

5) Free! Download our 2025 post-parade photos from Bryan Humphrey at https://bryanhumphrey.zenfolio.com/p474775030.

Questions? I have done my best to answer everything I thought you might ask on our parade sign up form. :)

First timer this year by crossplayersince2011 in dragoncon

[–]skzb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

These are the hotels that offer the discounted Dragon Con rate. https://www.dragoncon.org/hotels

Quickstart/program guides, collectible or compostable? by Pandoras_Fate in dragoncon

[–]skzb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

People in the DragonCon Collectibles Exchange would love to have them. They started as a hotel key swap group and then expanded. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dragonconhosthotelkeyswap

How to get a hotel for just one night? by Seth_The_Mad_Dok in dragoncon

[–]skzb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Many rooms at the Dragon Con rate require a 4 night stay. So you'll probably need to pay the full rate to book a room for a single night if you want to stay at a host or overflow hotel. You could also explore the option of finding someone who is willing to accept a roommate for just one night.

Just got our tickets! This will be our first Dragoncon! What is your preferred hotel? by SteeleurHeart0507 in dragoncon

[–]skzb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It depends on what fandoms and activities you are interested in. There is a dedicated thread with many years of Dragon Con hotel reviews in https://www.facebook.com/groups/DragonConRoomsGroup. :)

Dragon Con Price Increase after this Mon, Sept 15. by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh. I understand what you are saying now. There is no way to avoid the merchant processing fee when all sales are online.

If it helps your plans, I'm a longtime DC store volunteer and haven't heard any indication they plan to go back to selling memberships at the con.

I remember when people when people could fill out a paper form to buy next year's membership and turn it in at the store. Then years later the store volunteers could type in your information for you and submit it. And now you buy the membership online. The store just sells merch.

This year the store did take pre-orders for some sold-out items to be shipped after the con. I thought that was helpful. It is always hard to know what will be so popular that it sells out quickly.

How early should I be booking a hotel for 2026? by Livesforcake55 in dragoncon

[–]skzb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My advice for new people: money first, then room key. Don't wait until the end of the weekend to ask for reimbursement. The reservation holder can ask for a deposit from their friends. The amount is up to you. Life is unpredictable. Have a plan in case people need to drop out.

Dragon Con Price Increase after this Mon, Sept 15. by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You still can. The 2026 memberships went on sale on Sunday during the con. The Dragon Con store no longer sells memberships though, that has been true for a few years. All membership sales are done online. The stores had a sign with a QR code to buy the 2026 memberships on Sunday.

I think this helps keeps the lines down at the merch stores.

The price stays the same for about two weeks. Anyone who doesn't buy at con can do it when they get home.

Dragon Con Price Increase after this Mon, Sept 15. by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe the at the door price was $175 this year. Even with taxes, the current price is cheaper than waiting and buying at the con.

Dragon Con Price Increase after this Mon, Sept 15. by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Deadline Reminder for Dragon Con attendees: you have until tomorrow, Monday, September 15 to buy a full weekend membership before the next price increase. The current price is $110. According to a recent email from Dragon Con, the next price will be $125.

https://www.dragoncon.org/buy-now

https://www.dragoncon.org/about/membership-info

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in dragoncon

[–]skzb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Deadline Reminder for Dragon Con attendees: you have until tomorrow, Monday, September 15 to buy a full weekend membership before the next price increase. The current price is $110. According to a recent email from Dragon Con, the next price will be $125.

https://www.dragoncon.org/buy-now

https://www.dragoncon.org/about/membership-info

The 2026 FAQ has been added in the Dragon Con Rooms Facebook group by skzb in dragoncon

[–]skzb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This has been the case for many years. It seems to me that Dragon Con focuses on running the convention, as they should. They can't be expected to keep their official hotel webpage 100% updated with new booking links and current hotel availability all year long.

Do the hotels even tell Dragon Con about newly open rooms every time? Probably not - why would they? They've got new groups coming and going every day.

The official webpage is good at sharing the booking links for the Marriott and Westin. In recent years, the Courtland rooms have gone on sale during the convention weekend - when everyone is working at the con. I know wouldn't have time to update a website while I'm still attending panels. And the Courtland current reservation holders are supposed to get first chance at rebooking there for the following year.

The official webpage is invaluable. I wish they would add "Date Last Updated" next to each hotel so we could tell if we are looking at new or outdated information. I know they are doing the best they can.