Dragoncon free low cost improvements

Hi Team, I'm writing to share a few low-cost, high-impact suggestions for improving the attendee experience. Many of these come from community discussion and can be implemented with minimal budget. Logistics & Crowd Flow · Keep the 2026 Vendor Queue System: The four-group split entry worked well. Make it permanent. · Stagger Badge Pickup by Time Slot: Free timed-entry windows could spread Thursday crowds without extra staffing. · Redesign Panel Room Signage: Smaller paper, bigger font, mounted higher so signs are readable from 10–20 feet away. · Hybrid Printed Program Booklet: Slim single booklet with essentials + QR codes for full descriptions, presenter contact, and resources. Comfort & Weather · Extend Water Refill Stations to Badge Lines: The parade stations were great, but badge pickup lines still stretched outside in extreme heat. · Pop-Up Canopies for Outdoor Queues: Cheap canopies or loaned hotel awnings would prevent heat exhaustion. · Mail Weekend Badges: A 2026 petition argues this prevents hours-long waits in extreme heat. App & Tech · Fix App Crashes: Persistent freezing and crashing is a top complaint. Stability updates would solve a major headache. · Improve App Usability: Low-contrast menus, hard-to-share schedules, and friends lists that reset annually. · Rate Panels in the App: Organizers read the "?" icon feedback to decide what returns. Use it. Accessibility & Safety · Use the Hub Route: Peachtree Center's indoor Hub eliminates all hills between hotels. · Improve Sidewalk Infrastructure (Long-Term): Interiors are ADA-compliant; outdoor sidewalks between hotels are "decidedly non-compliant." · Enforce Cosplay Rules: Stricter checks for 9 PM+ "After Dark" panels after reports of minors present. Food & Budget · Promote the Consuite: Free food resource to stretch budgets. · Bring Your Own Snacks/Drinks: Downtown CVS and liquor stores jack up prices significantly. Where to Send It: · Official Contact Form: Go to the main Dragon Con website and use the "Contact Us" form. Select the appropriate department from the dropdown. · Dragon Con Office: 404-669-0773 (M–F 9am–5pm EST). · Media Relations: mediarelations@dragoncon.org. Where to Post for Community Feedback: · Dragon Con Official Discord: The official server has ~19,000 members discordbotlist.com/servers/dragoncon/join · Reddit r/dragoncon: Active community with frequent feedback threads. · Facebook Groups: Search for "Dragon Con Connection" or "Dragon Con Rooms" — both are active for attendee discussion