Okay since you're new, I'll cut you some slack.
I've been attending D-Con since 2003. In that time I've watched this convention go from huge to freaking gigantic!
So---
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There's different levels of dragoncon membership? and only the $120 runs through the event?
So I have to buy the $120 membership so I can attend DragonCon2011 in GA this Sept?
If you plan on buying your ticket at the convention it is $120.
Right now there is a pre-registration price of $105 until July 15th (after which it is $120). Pre-registration starts after the last convention finished. The price usually starts at $60 a ticket and goes up in incriments over the course of the year.
Basically this means buying your ticket in advance (such as online) which gets mailed out to you. The earlier in the year you buy your ticket online, the cheaper it is. At the convention you present your ticket (it is actually more like a postcard) to pick up your convention pass which you have to wear to get access to the dealers' room, stars autograph area (sometimes called the "Walk of Fame") and pretty much most of the convention.
If you bring a friend and want to take them everywhere you go- they have to buy a ticket too.
Now... some people might chime in that you don't really need a pass- that you could just hang out in the hotel lobbies and bars and still have fun. Technically you could. However security is becoming more strict every year that even hanging out in a hotel lobby, they want to see your convention pass. This started getting strict maybe in 2008-2009 (which was the last time I went), because of "football fans" who show up drunk and rowdy and generally act like jerkwads. They contribute
nothing to the convention other than taking up space and harrassing the female costumers.
So if you truly want to enjoy all aspects of the convention I'd say you definitely
need a ticket.
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Also need to book a hotel? Any recommendations?
Well I hate to be the one to break this to you, but all the host hotels (these are the four hotels the convention takes place in) have been sold out for months now.
Even the smaller overflow hotels are sold out. You would probably have to find a hotel several miles away at this point. Your only chance is to try and get a room off someone who has cancelled for the host hotels, but I'll warn you right now, expect to pay around $900 to $1000 for a 4 night stay at say the Hiton or Marriott (two of the 4 hotels- the other two are the Hyatt and Sheraton).
You're really late in the game as most of us start planning attending Dragon Con back in September shortly after coming home from last year's Dragon Con.
As far as weapons go- concealed carry license or not, the convention does not permit loaded airsoft weapons. Remember this is a private function with their own set of rules. Back in 2004 some idiot decided to shoot some guy dressed as a Stormtrooper from a hotel balcony with an airsoft rifle. This resulted in a TOTAL BAN of airsoft anything for the entire weekend! People who were just carrying guns around as part of their costume were told to put the guns back in their hotel rooms or leave the convention.
This also goes for knives, swords and general sharp objects that could accidentally (or intentionally) poke or cut someone. All weapons must be "peace bonded". This usually involves putting a zip-tie around the trigger of a gun in the fully pulled position. For real steel knives and swords they zip-tie them to the sheath so they cannot be removed from the sheath. No sheath- no knife/sword allowed. The zip-ties have to stay on the entire convention or you risk being banned.
There is supposed to be a security office that you bring all your weapons to for inspection, but they usually have roaming security who will randomly inspect weapons to ensure they have been peace-bonded if need be.
The convention can be a blast, so I hope you're able to secure a hotel room.
I'll let someone else take it from here.
Kevin