The LeakyCon Express
Hello everyone. If you are taking a look at this blog it's probably because you're looking for a hopefully cheap and fun way to get to LeakyCon!
Please take a look and see if there is a station near you. You can also see who else is going on the LeakyCon Express closest to you. All the info is in the links on the right so take a look and message me if you need any help.
Thanks for all your support and ideas. I can't wait to see you all at LeakyCon!
Yea. Sorry it took so long to respond. I moved to chicago and have been desperately searching for a job but things are finally settling down lol. But anyway basically what happens is because of time changes and just the schedule of the trains it isn’t possible to make it to the 2nd train on the way back. On the way there it’s fine, the layover works out great and u get on the next train for the 2nd part of your journey. But on the return trip by time you make it to NY or wherever the layover is the next train has already left :/ So thats why the round trip doesnt exist. What bus are you all taking in case I get anyone else asking about it? Anyway I hope your trip and everything works out and maybe I’ll see you at leaky con! Good luck!
Hello to anyone and everyone following (or not). Here is an update and a bit of an apology.
I’m really sorry if you asked a question and I haven’t responded recently or I said I was going to make an itinerary for you and didn’t.
I have recently made the move from Southeastern Michigan to Chicago (it’s all very exciting :D)
So I’ve been pretty behind on everything but I am not in any way abandoning this project and as soon as I get settled here in Chicago I’ll be back to posting new itineraries and bugging you all about taking the train :P
So if you have a request please send it in and I’ll try to get it done soon.
Anyway I can’t wait to see you all at Leaky and if you live in or around the Chicago area and wanna meet up beforehand I’m all for that too!
P.S. - Also thinking about maybe doing a TLCE meetup/party cause I actually have a place now. It all depends on the roommates so I’ll keep you all posted on that too. Hopefully by time August comes around I’ll be a Chicago pro and be able to help you all get around :P
Hello to anyone and everyone following (or not). Here is an update and a bit of an apology.
I’m really sorry if you asked a question and I haven’t responded recently or I said I was going to make an itinerary for you and didn’t.
I have recently made the move from Southeastern Michigan to Chicago (it’s all very exciting :D)
So I’ve been pretty behind on everything but I am not in any way abandoning this project and as soon as I get settled here in Chicago I’ll be back to posting new itineraries and bugging you all about taking the train :P
So if you have a request please send it in and I’ll try to get it done soon.
Anyway I can’t wait to see you all at Leaky and if you live in or around the Chicago area and wanna meet up beforehand I’m all for that too!
P.S. - Also thinking about maybe doing a TLCE meetup/party cause I actually have a place now. It all depends on the roommates so I’ll keep you all posted on that too. Hopefully by time August comes around I’ll be a Chicago pro and be able to help you all get around :P
Name: Abby
Tumblr: abbylynne
Station: Utica, NY
Travel Details:
There - 8/8/12 at 8:44 PM, arriving in Chicago 8/9/12 at 9:45 AM
Back - 8/12/12 at 9:30 PM, arriving in Utica 8/13/12 at 12:42 PM
About Me: Well hey there =] I’m a 20 year old music therapy student, traveling with two of my good friends to my first LeakyCon! I’m a Hufflepuff, and they are both Ravenclaws. Even though we’re all traveling together, we love meeting new people and can’t wait to make lots of new friends in Chicago! Things I love:
Traveling from Truckee, CA to Chicago:
1946 miles
30 hours
$568 in gas + $32 minimum for total parking costs**
$600 for your traveling and parking expenses at the least. And I’m being really forgiving about parking prices. It will realistically be more like $32 a day not $32 for the whole week. But I’m giving LeakyCon the benefit of the doubt and sticking with their claim of an $8 a day parking lot. *I’m giving that tweet a whole lotta side eye. Just so ya know.*
**Calculated using current gas prices local in California and a car that gets 25 mpg. This price may go up or down depending on your circumstance.
By Plane:
Starting at $492 + $92 (taxi from Chi airport to hotel for both trips) = $542
(Plus baggage fees. This differs for every airline. Check before you book.)
By Train:
around 46 hours
$278.00 - $27.80 (LeakyCon discount)= $250.20
*parking fees unknown at this time*
*This itinerary is only an example and the times and dates can be changed. Just check out the Amtrak website and fiddle with it. If you need any help just stop by my ask!*
Conclusion:
Although the trip is quite a bit longer it’s cheaper and you can sleep the whole time if you really wanted to. You might even be able to cut out a night of hotel expenses depending on the time of registration.The parking is honestly going to be ridiculously expensive in Chicago. You will probably be paying more than the estimated amount above. I’m guessing closer to $20 a day than $8.
Last thing…there are some incredible reviews about the landscapes that you see while on this trip. You pass through the Rocky Mountains and the train goes places cars and planes don’t even have access to. Many people say it’s worth it just for the views. So if you can sleep in a recliner. It’s pretty much the same thing. You can walk around the train. There is a dining and lounge car and lots of people to meet. I’d give it a shot if I were you. People go on airplanes all the time. I think it’s pretty cool to say you crossed the Rockies in a train. Here is the website for this route.
If you live in or around Truckee, CA…
Come ride The LeakyCon Express!!!
The LeakyCon Express Amtrak Discount is now official!
(Thank you to Waltzy for the lovely banner!)
It’s official everyone!!! Amtrak has approved a convention discount for LeakyCon attendees.
Here’s the breakdown. The discount when applicable will take 10% off of your train ticket. That’s pretty much as simple as it gets. The departure and return dates can be set either 3 days before or after the dates of the convention and it doesn’t matter where you book your tickets. The main rules are you must book over the phone, it doesn’t apply with other discounts, and some trains are excluded. So be sure to mention the discount code to your Amtrak sales agent and ask if the discount applies to your route.
Also make sure you ask about any other discounts available. You might be able to get a different (not necessarly better) discount depending on your status. (i.e senior status, AAA member, just make sure you ask the sales agent.)
Here is the official info and the code. Make sure you read all of it. If you have any questions just go ahead and ask me :D I’ll try to help out best I can. Here is my contact info.
Special Amtrak Convention Fare Code numberX83I-940 has been activated for August 09, 2012 – August 12, 2012. Travel dates are three days prior to the convention start date and three days following the last day of the meeting. Meeting attendees who mention this code when making reservations will receive a 10% savings off the lowest available rail fare. (No other discounts will apply.)
Amtrak offers a 10% discount off the best available rail fare to Chicago, IL between August 06, 2012 – August 15, 2012 [for LeakyCon attendees]. To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1 (800) 872-7245 or contact your local travel agent.
Conventions cannot be booked via Internet. Please be sure to refer to Convention Fare Code X83I-940 when making your reservation. This offer is not valid on the Auto Train and Acela Service. Fare is valid on Amtrak Regional for all departures seven days a week, except for holiday blackouts. Offer valid with Sleepers, Business Class or First Class seats with payment of the full applicable accommodation charges.
You must call Amtrak in order to use the discount. You cannot enter it as a promotional code over the internet.
At this point it is official!!! Take 10% off of your ticket price for a train to LeakyCon!!!
As long as your ticket falls under the guidelines mentioned above the discount should be applicable to you. Please check with Amtrak to make sure the discount applies to you by calling 1 (800) 872-7245.
Thanks once again for all the support!
See you at the platform!!!
Thanks!
Ok everyone! There is apparently a metra stop (it’s the bus/train thing or w/e that goes out to the suburbs correct?)
That stops at the O’hare airport. I think there is one for Midway too.
So please take this into consideration when figuring out the cheapest way for you to get to Leaky.
I rather you are able to actually go to Leaky then to spend more on the train.
Again I am not the best person to ask about flight prices. I just used the cheapest flights I could find on expedia for my example flights. So, do your research! :D
I can find out pretty much anything about the Amtrak schedules/prices but I unfortunately don’t know much about Chicago transportation or flights :/ Sorry!
Name: Sammie
AKA (internet name): Lily
You might know me for… Snape/Lily Youtube Videos, Pottermore Slytherin chat moderating, or Harry Potter roleplay sites.
Tumblr: lilyofmyheart
Station I am leaving from: Amsterdam, NY with one stop in Buffalo, NY.
Trip Details:
Going to Leakycon:
Coming Home:
I haven’t decided yet! Probably on the 13th.
Looking for roommates? Yes! I have some people in mind, but they’re not 100 percent sure yet. So we may add them on to the room later. I intend to have more than 4 people in the room, just telling them that they’ll be 2 adults and 2 children (for the $179.00 a night rate)
About Me/Other Details:
I’ll be 20 when LeakyCon rolls around. I’m a huge Potter Puppet Pals/Star Kid/HP Books/HP Movies/HP roleplaying nerd. I also make YouTube videos that are fan-based and am a moderator on a Slytherin chat. So, as you know, that makes me a Slytherin. I’ll probably dress up most days - I have a full Slytherin uniform I got from the park. I’ll also be making my cream filled chocolate frogs and other snacks along for the train ride. I love to meet new people, and am totally for making this as Hogwarts-Express like as we can. Aside from watching some of the movies on my laptop to keep us occupied! I’m big into Harry Potter cosplaying, and have played Bellatrix Lestrange and Lily Evans in the past. I’m also into theater, my favorite role having been The Wicked Witch of the West.
I’m tiny! I’m only 4’11, so that and my baby face make people think I’m younger. I got my nickname “Lily” because I have red hair and green eyes, but since I’m a Slytherin, some people all me “SlytherLily”.
Name: Alyssa
AKA (internet name): addinhd
You might know me for… asking too many questions in people’s ask boxes
Tumblr: add-in-hd
Station I am leaving from: Coming from Toronto but getting on the train in Buffalo
Trip Details:
Going to Leakycon:
Depart: 11:59 pm, Wed, Aug 8, 2012
Arrive: 9:45 am, Thu, Aug 9, 2012 train 49 (I think)
Coming Home:
Depart: 9:30 pm, Mon, Aug 13, 2012
Arrive: 8:58 am, Tue, Aug 14, 2012 train 448 (again I think :P)
Looking for roommates? I don’t know yet. Still not exactly sure what’s going on with that :P
About Me/Other Details:
I will be 20 when leakycon comes around. I love Starkid, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and penguins. My friend and I wanted to make and sell wands in order to make money for leakycon but that didn’t really happen. We made a few good ones then got to distracted by other things and never continued, I still have about 6 half made wands sitting on my shelf, I should get on that. This is my first Leakycon! It would be great to travel down with a fellow Canadian or really just anyone getting on in Buffalo. I am so excited!
Name: Jordan
AKA (internet name): Jordan? Mostly? Greeneyedpirate is my most common alias
You might know me for… following you, probably. I’m more of a lurker than anything :)
Tumblr: greeneyedpirate
Station I am leaving from: Detroit, MI (or Royal Oak or Birmingham or Dearborn, not really sure at this point but somewhere in the Metro Detroit area)
Trip Details:
To Leaky: August 8, method still to be determined (train/car)
Back Home: August 12 or 13
Looking for roommates? Yes!…Maybe? Stop by my ask!
About Me/Other Details:
Hi! I’m Jordan and I’m totally awesome! I’m a 23-year-old Canadian transplant from Toronto to Michigan but I’ve lived in the Metro Detroit Area most of my life. Looks like there are plenty of other Michiganders planning to LeakyCon so we should all meet up! Or travel together! Or meet up before hand! I’m JUST SO EXCITED.
I’m super excited to go to LeakyCon for the second time because last year was AMAHZING. I’m just not over it, it was so much fun.
I get startled pretty easily. Especially by things that move. I think I’m a pretty good traveling companion, except for the singing thing. I’ll work on getting that under control if I drive with internet people :) Maybe I’ll post some youtube videos of me so you can decide if I’m too crazy to tolerate.
Speaking of things I’m a fan of.
As for LeakyCon trip details… right now my friend mrsronaldweasleyforever and I are registered Rockstars so we are for sure going. Beyond that, we’re still working it out. We’re still deciding on a method of transport - there’s driving (I mean, it’s like a 5 hour ride, I do that to Toronto on the regular it’s not that bad). There’s Megabus, which is totally cheap but kind of a crapshoot because you can’t book ahead very far so that’s kind of a last ditch plan in case driving doesn’t work out for some reason (for example, the fact that parking at the hotel is $43 A DAY, insanity!). There’s Amtrak, which is quite reasonable considering the 10% LeakyCon discount, so if we end up booking that I would love to meet up with people so all us crazies could ride together.
I’m just really excited to meet all of you and I think the best part of this is hopefully finding someone who has similar interests as me and might actually live within driving distance! Ashley and I can’t be the only tumblr addicts in MI, clearly.
So come hang out in my ask! Let’s get together and start a tinychat or w/e. I’d love to meet as many of you as I possibly can!
