SWC19 Star Wars Celebration 2019 Hotels

Good to hear! Just looking out.

 

Assuming the next US Celebration is held in either Orlando or Anaheim, I am probably gonna go ahead and book a hotel outside the convention block...

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I had a hotel book in Anaheim before they announced it was Chicago. I got the right weekend, but the wrong city!

 

Do they announce the location on the last day?

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They didn't last time.

 

They did for a while, but I think the last one they did that for was when the announced London in Anaheim's closing ceremony. Orlando was announced and on sale before London started so there was nothing to announce in London. Then in Orlando they just announced 2019 without a location.

I just booked the Anaheim hotel because in 2015 it was said that they were planning on alternating US celebrations between Anaheim and Orlando, and this seemed to still be the case after Orlando. Plus it was cancel without fee so I had nothing to lose.

 

I was amazed at how few hotels there are surrounding McCormick.

As far as Orlando and Anaheim go, within one mile in almost every direction there are plenty of hotels to choose from. So it really isn't a big concern.

 

Staying on / near Michigan Ave (the hotels that are roughly 3 miles away) is really not that bad
While is is not super close to the convention you are in the heart of the City. Tons of shops, places to eat, super close to the lake and also Mil Park and Navy Pier
Hopefully the April weather is decent. Can be 30s or 70s. Flip a coin. A great city though with plenty to do

 

I guess if your doing other Chicago stuff it will prove to be alright.

But I completely immerse myself in conventions, especially Celebrations, so it's really important to me to be within walking distance and have the closeness to it, both for practical purposes but to also just feel like I'm living it. I get super into it. @star_wars_is_good is right, I am weird, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

With these prices for the event and hotels, and long queue lines to get in the venue, it is a waste of money not to fully participate. But I also totally agree that the feeling is great; being surrounded by awesome art, news and enthusiastic folks all day is a rare opportunity that I want to fully appreciate. It's also probably more relaxing to explore the city on a day before or after the con.

 

Must admit, now I've looked more at transport links for my days outside of Celebration I can see that the L train offers good links even if you're not walking distance. But I'm glad to be close. Like @MotivateR5D4 says, you just get immersed in that Celebration bubble and it's fantastic!

 

Well, I arrive on the 8th and have also the 9th and 10th to do some sightseeing. The Navy Pier is close enough to my hotel for walking distance so hopefully the weather is decent...

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I wound up bouncing around to a few different hotels in the area but eventually decided to just get one about 20 minutes away or so. I love driving, and it's quite a bit cheaper that the ones close to the con for still quite a nice room. will I miss out on some of the atmosphere? Eh, maybe, but I still think I'm going to have a good time.

 

If you are driving I recommend finding and figuring out parking and allowing extra time for traffic
There are some parking apps that you can book in advance
We are driving in and booked our parking in advanced and it will save us a fair amount of money
We used ParkWhiz

 

yeah I'm a Spothero myself and I've lived a few decades in Chicagoland so I'm well familiar with the trials and tribulations of I-55.

 

Nice

 

I changed my booking from the Hyatt (the one 3 miles away) to the Wyndham. Got the same nights, same kind of booking, at $20 less a night, and much closer (2-3 blocks) to a train stop than the Hyatt.

 

Just cancelled Chicago South Loop. So they should now have 1 room/2 double beds available for all of SWCC. It's about a mile walk to McCormick.

 

Did you find another place?

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I managed to get the last 2 nights I needed direct with Marriott Marquis a couple of weeks ago. Just got round to cancelling South Loop today.

The direct nights were pricey, but the nights I have with OnPeak balance it out so it works out a little cheaper than South Loop did, plus it's connected, which I'm really excited for. Not stayed in a connected hotel before, looking forward to being in the heart of the action.

 

So you are staying at another hotel, and then your last 2 nights at Marriott Marquis?

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No, all nights at the Marriott. I had the first 3 and last 3 already sorted via OnPeak, so when the middle two nights became available directly I grabbed them.

 

Next Celebration I am probably gonna book directly through the hotel...

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Next Celebration will hopefully have a bigger selection of hotels within walking distance.

Booking via the convention/OnPeak gives better rates. What people tend to do is book directly when the location is announced so they have a room secured, then if they can get a cheaper rate/better hotel via OnPeak they cancel their original booking.