YuleLog Ornament Collector's Bulletin Board Forums Discussion Ornament Collecting Discussion 2009 HALLMARK Event!!

I think that the Fairfield Inn and the Residence Inn are in parts of town that aren't too bad. If you went to to the barbecue dinner with me last year you went by them since they're on Main. There are also some nice hotels near the Plaza (which is a nice part of town, to be sure since it's the crown jewel in places to take people from out of town). I think there's a hotel called the Four Seasons and a Marriott or something like that on Main and just up the hill from the Plaza. I'll have to look when I'm in that area the next time I'm there.

I can tell you that if you rent a car, parking is free starting at 6 PM Friday night at the Crown Center Shops parking garage. This is not the Westin's parking garage, which costs you whenever you park there and I don't know about in and out fees. If you park there before 6 PM Friday, you'll have to pay to park unless you buy something at one of the shops and get your ticket validated for 2 hours. But if you park before 6 PM Friday and leave after that your parking is free. That's a nice thing to consider when you look at the expense of having wheels.

I second that, Topper. I would imagine all the rooms being sold out by the time we get our For Keeps in California.


TIA --I'm not up on all the text talk, thanks Carol!



edit to add; I received my For Keeps today, much earlier than I thought I would!

Booked reservations for my sister and me; August 6,7,8 for $118.00 per nite with no problems. Already received my email confirmation. Sharon

We made our reservations this morning for Thur.Fri and Sat at the $118. rate.Appreciate the heads up about the event and are looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Sally & Bill

I booked my room

Thank you so much to those of you who posted later and said you were able to get Aug 6 again at the $118 rate. I called Westin back and was able to modify my original reservation to include Aug 6 at the discount rate. Someone at Hallmark must've negotiated for more rooms when the original block sold out.

I called to make a reservation and they said there were no rooms available at the $118 rate for any of the dates. So, I waited 5 minutes and called again. I was able to make a reservation for 3 nights beginning Thursday, August 6th. I have never been to Kansas City. Are there fun activities for boys ages 12 and 13 close by? Should we rent a car?
Thanks.

I would recommend you rent a car, especially if there are that many of you in your group. I know that 3 isn't a large number, and I don't know if there's a shuttle available to get you from the airport to the hotel (that's probably at least a 30-45 minute drive depending on time of day and the road destruction projects along the way). I figure if the shuttle costs as much as a rental car and I don't mind driving I rent the car and enjoy it the whole time I'm there. I posted earlier about the parking available and how to take advantage of the free parking in the Crown Center Shops garage.

I'm bumping up a post from Linda Wilson from last year about things to see and do in KC. She has a wide variety of options, and that's nice because you may have some different interests and the weather could also make a difference (like if it's going to be 95 degrees in the shade do you want to spend a day at Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun - an amusement park and water park respectively - or would you rather go to see an IMAX movie or Science City). A car also helps you get away from the hotel to eat at places that might fit your diet (my family has to consider the gluten-free and diabetic members when we eat out), preferences and wallet.

You might also want to get a map of KC (AAA or somewhere like Borders have good maps) so that you can look at where things are so that you can plan to head in one direction and use that as a guideline. If you have a particular kind of activity you're looking for let me and aren't sure if you see something that goes with it let me know and I'll be glad to help if I can.

Glad to hear that they seem to have added more rooms to the Hallmark block for Thursday night.

It seems that a lot of people will be staying Thursday night. Is there anything special going on?

Sue Ann, there is nothing special going on with Hallmark on Thursday.

Most people need that day to organize things. If they are sellers, they want to prepare their rooms for Room Hopping. Some want to make sure they will get there in case a flight is delayed (like me) and they will not miss anything on Friday if they have a dinner. Others, want to tour Hallmark. Depending on when they are arriving, Thursday might be a good day, leaving Friday for some other tour (like me again)

I broke down and decided to reserve a room this morning and I was able to get check in on August 6 and check out on August 9 for the $118 price for all three nights.

I am pleased to say that my mom and I will be once again attending the KOC event next year in Kansas City!!! We booked this morning for 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) and at the $118 rate which is a tremendous rate since the AARP rate was around $200.

Sounds like it'll be a great time for Yuleloggers to meet in in 2009. Am looking forward to meeting Carol from California, Susan from Florida, and Mary I am glad that you have booked a hotel room for Kansas City!!! It'll be fun!!

I was originally thinking that I would stay at my son or daughter's Thursday night, but after thinking about it, I called back and added Thursday to my reservation. Last year, my daughter came with me, and although she enjoyed two nights in the Westin, and was willing to stand in line with me for Artist Signings, I am not sure she will be able to attend with an 18 month old to contend with. Next year I may have to drag DH along, although the thought of a nice 3-day weekend on my own, has a certain appeal!

Since we have not yet seen a schedule of events, we don't know. I'm staying Thursday night in order to be there Friday morning in case Hallmark does something during Friday daytime. If they don't, then I will shop and nap. :-D

Duluth Collector, If you meant me, I am glad to see you are going with your Mother to. After ALL these years, it will be very nice to finally meet you.

Same here - plus, I'm coming from the West Coast and most of the flights will probably land mid-afternoon in Kansas City. I'd rather come in a day early and settle in before the event begins. I've never been to Kansas City before so I can always explore if there's extra time.

I could be wrong, but I have a feeling it was their preliminary plan to start the event with a Friday evening activity.

If for no other reason than the fact that there seems to have initially been far fewer hotel rooms blocked for Thursday night than the Friday/Saturday period. When I checked with reservations, they told me the block goes all the way back to August 3rd but I'm sure that was to accomodate those who might make a long vacation out of it.

Made our reservations yesterday for Thursday night through Saturday night. May extend it to Sunday, though, since my husband says there are some things he'd like to do. Didn't have any trouble getting the Hallmark rate for all three nights.

Tail-end Charlie here!

I was out of town for the holiday, so I'm back and catching up on computer stuff. I was able to add the 6th today after making reservations for the 7th and 8th a few days ago. Looks like Hallmark blocked out a few more rooms and thanks to folks for posting about it. I haven't received my For Keeps yet so I'd be clueless about all this (well, more clueless than usual ) if people weren't posting about the event here.

Bump.