I just came across a couple mentions of MOTD 08 starting a day earlier next year. Is this confirmed? Does that mean the welcome dinner will be Wednesday? I called Fontana and added an extra day to our stay without any issues, but I'd like to know if this is just rumor, or fact.

 

I, too, have heard the rumors. The person I heard them from said that they heard it from Mark. An extra day would definately be welcome!

 

It is confirmed. April 30-May 4. We don't have a tentative schedule yet but the goal is to stretch it out and slow it down (ie - not packing so much into each day that it overloads people). As I get more information together I'll post it. I'll also provide a more formal email/post about this as well.

Mark

 

I believe it was discussed at the post-Dragon debriefing for the organizers. Supposedly, Fontana is pushing to make the MOTD a weeklong event, but Mark F. doesn't feel that such a long event is warranted, but an additional day would be helpful to spread out the events.

I don't think this has been confirmed yet, but I've heard it's highly likely. FWIW, I've extended my reservations.

 

Its not that it wouldn't be warranted but I don't think it would be well attended for the entire time like it is for 3-4 days. If there is enough interest we could certainly do a weekend-week-weekend event (9 days) but I suspect it would be VERY difficult for a large number of people to schedule that much time away. Prove me wrong and we'll plan it . For now we just want to make a baby step by adding another day.

 

Sounds good to me. Time to change my Reservations.

 

The one day addition is a wise move for now. The benefit of a week long event would be that the large numbers could be spread out over the week (some attending early, some late) and lodging could be found for all.

 

Thanks for the (quick) clarification and confirmation, Mark .

Are we set now for 04/30/08-05/04/08 or is there any truth to the *other* rumor that MOTD6 might move to the following (Mother's Day) weekend?

 

MOTD6 is not moving past the first weekend in May. Count on 4/30 through 5/4.

 

With the addition of a day, it might also be nice to have some repetition so everyone has a higher chance of doing certain events. Maybe two nights of drive-in movie, two days of the same run (not that it would be the only run of course - such as the ice cream run).

Vendors should also work hard to provide proper estimates of install times and perhaps underbook slightly understanding that they'll most likely get a lot of "walk-in" mod requests.

 

I agree. Two movies might be a bit much, but two midnight runs would be a great idea. That way, the people who want to party at the beginning of MOTD can, and the ones who want a decent night sleep before their long drives home have an alternate night. Everyone is happy. And of course there would be people doing both runs. An early morning run would be fun to add too, like 7:00. Two Little Dragons events would be better for the kids having an extra day there, if it can be squeezed in, or maybe a pool party for the kids instead of more field games. Just ideas.

 

At MITM (MINIs in the Mountains, Copper Mountain Colorado, August 9-12, 200&) we do our "Midnight on the Mountain" both on Friday AND Saturday night, after the Sponsors and Vendors dinners. Since it takes a good 2 hours in our case to get to and up the Mountain, we leave at 9:30 and get back about 2 am.

Midnight on the Mountain goes from Copper Mountain Resort east on I-70 to Idaho Springs, then up Chicago Canyon to Mt. Evans where we drive up to 14,264 ft, on a fully paved road, at midnight, Nekkid. And yes, it is cold up there at that hour. Generally, windy. And depending on the weather, either clear as night or cloudy and foggy...you are actually right in the clouds at that altitude and it is cooler than snot.

JPS

Check out the pics here: http://aaamini.smugmug.com/gallery/1779806#P-5-15