[cosimo]

Anyone planning on going to the PCA Parade in Charolette? I just added up the cost and for the full length of the Parade it looks like $1600 including the hotel. A bit steep. That doesn't include the cost of driving. Not sure I want to spend that much money.

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[banditsc]

[quote name='cosimo' post='49024' date='Mar 11 2008, 11:11 AM']Anyone planning on going to the PCA Parade in Charolette? I just added up the cost and for the full length of the Parade it looks like $1600 including the hotel. A bit steep. That doesn't include the cost of driving. Not sure I want to spend that much money.[/quote]







If I can register on the site I am. You can find cheaper hotels in the area that will cut that price down. The registration and full food package is $375 then you can add on the costs of some of the tours. You don't have to do the tours if you don't want to. And you can go do your own tours, for instance the Biltmore tour is a bus ride out there and tour for $120. Some of the members in my region are planning on doing a the Biltmore tour ourselves, drving there with our cars and the admission for the tour is half the price of the PCA price.

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[968rz]

I'll be there (first parade), The cost of the Westin don't seem that crazy (with the PCA discount) the normal price is high. I'm thinking it will be an easy $1000 weekend.

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[cosimo]

I am talking for 2 people. Wife unit will be coming. So food package for 2 is $400 + $175 for regsitration. The $1600 was without any extras (tours). I could probably not stay for the full 7 days and cut down some cost. Anyway it seems the registration site is bogged down.

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[banditsc]

[quote name='cosimo' post='49027' date='Mar 11 2008, 11:40 AM']I am talking for 2 people. Wife unit will be coming. So food package for 2 is $400 + $175 for regsitration. The $1600 was without any extras (tours). I could probably not stay for the full 7 days and cut down some cost. Anyway it seems the registration site is bogged down.[/quote]

I have been trying to register all day without success. I plan on getting there on Sunday since there really isn't anything to do on Saturday and leave Friday morning, so it's only 5 nights in a hotel. I know some have found hotels in the surrounding areas like 5 to 10 miles away in the $70 range.

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[flash]

the site has been swamped - i talked to them - server down - site loaded - lots of problems



you'd think that, after all these years, they'd figure out they need more support on this day - many things about the registration process make no sense to me



why is there a limit? do they not think they would make more money, and attract more potential members if they opened it up to all who wanted to come?



why not get a venue big enough to handle everyone? why do they insist on doing it at hotels, when clearly no hotel (other than something huge in vegas) can handle the numbers - this really needs to be at an arena



why not allow the registration to be emailed? that would eliminate all of the cramming, and still maintain the "first in first out" tracking



why is there not a "day rate" for those who don't want to be there the whole time? this could also be extended to include a daily fee for non-members - this would have huge promotional advantage in attracting potential new members



why do they insist, year after year, on making you go to all of the stupid little tables? i don't need or want to talk to any of those people - just give me my package and let me be on my way



why do i have to pick up my package in person? why can it not be picked up by somebody else on my behalf?



when are they going to realize that the "waiver" they force you to sign is not enforceable?



the "church bake sale" approach has long since become outdated, and they need to step up to the level of membership



amateur hour for sure - makes me crazy - fortunately i have figured out back door approaches to most of the nonsense though - but, it just shouldn't be that tough

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[968rz]

Tell Us how you REALLY feel Bob. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[banditsc]

[quote name='968rz' post='49033' date='Mar 11 2008, 12:59 PM']Tell Us how you REALLY feel Bob. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]



Don't get him started.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[968rz]

[quote name='banditsc' post='49034' date='Mar 11 2008, 12:59 PM']Don't get him started.. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]

HA HA HA <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

roflmao - too late - i've just given up on them - i have a special bottle of cabernet waiting to soothe me on that one

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[banditsc]

Wait till you can actually register till you un cork it. It might be a while before you can register and in your inebriated state you may just volunteer for every job at the parade. I can see you in the hospitality area as a greeter..

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[968rz]

I really hope some/alot of you guys are going, I look forward to meeting other 968ers (it's so lonely way up here <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> )

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[banditsc]

I just managed to register, so it seems to be getting better.

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[flash]

ditto

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[banditsc]

[quote name='flash' post='49048' date='Mar 11 2008, 04:02 PM']ditto[/quote]



You volunteered as a greeter right... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[968rz]

He'sh not dond drunking hish whine yetttt.

J/K

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[RPM]

Vu just apologized and extended registration through Thursday.



Bob, I think a lot of your questions are legit. But I don't want Parade ot be significantly larger than it already is. Single day options and fixing server issues are really basic though. I coul dnever commit to a full week and find it bizarre that this is the expectation.



For this yera though my daughter's wedding is the next weekend - so I was forbidden to attend Parade. I am going to Hershey!



I'll probably drive down on Monday for the concours. Maybe I can meet up with some of you on that day.

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[banditsc]

[quote name='RPM' post='49053' date='Mar 11 2008, 05:04 PM']Vu just apologized and extended registration through Thursday.



Bob, I think a lot of your questions are legit. But I don't want Parade ot be significantly larger than it already is. Single day options and fixing server issues are really basic though. I coul dnever commit to a full week and find it bizarre that this is the expectation.



For this yera though my daughter's wedding is the next weekend - so I was forbidden to attend Parade. I am going to Hershey!



I'll probably drive down on Monday for the concours. Maybe I can meet up with some of you on that day.[/quote]



Concours is on Sunday..

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[coloradocab]

I'll be there, but no 968 or even Cayenne. We're flying this year.



Watch those registration comments - my wife is Parade Registrar for 2009.

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[flash]

i don't understand why being bigger would change anything in the negative for anybody



there would merely be more cars, less hassle, and potentially better accommodations, as removing the hotels as the "home base" from the equation could step up the level of hotel, as we would no longer be at the mercy of the "B" hotels that pca continues to choose



the individual events themselves would still have to have operational size limits, but some of them could benefit greatly from being bigger - the levels of events could range more, to suit different people desires and budgets - for example, you could have "A" "B" and "C" levels and charge accordingly - imagine what speakers they could get if there were more funding available due to larger crowds - there could be a race attached - there could be the national concours finals - there could be an auction - there are a number of events that could focus at this one time and place, rather than merely a floating regional convention of a smattering of members, resembling more of a local event than a national one



this should be something that every member strives to attend all at once - let the regional events limit themselves - this is the national one, and should reflect the level of enthusiasm of that stature



i all but blew off last year's event because of how badly things are run - thankfully i saw it coming, and avoided it - i went down for a morning and a lunch, and completely bailed on everything else - it was disappointing because this was in my back yard - but, it was so impossible, because of the way they set it up - they seem to think that everybody has no money, and wants to put up with second rate hotels and events - porsche is supposed to represent the very best of the best - why are we staying at red lions and such? why are we getting hotdogs for lunch? when did porsche become chevy? i understand offering that option, but why do we not have the better options too? since when do i have to downgrade my standards to attend a porsche event? why have they chosen to be so much less than they can?



a larger event means the opportunity for more and better organization, and less of the volunteer based confusion that always seems to accompany this event



it does require that they start using professionals - this will likely never happen though, because the people who run the organization have their own agendas to serve their Politically Centered Attitude - it's all about them, and not the members



maybe i need a ferrari

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