I agree with Arei on the first year of Akon being good. It was good my first year, and maybe possibly my second, but EVERY SINGLE year after that, the con just blows. I mean, there's plenty of amazing cosplayers, I've ALWAYS heard the panels are ass, the cosplay competition is run by a bunch of retarded idiots as far as I could tell, now I think they actually GASP screen the skits before they let them go on stage, but before they did that their cosplay contests were ALWAYS a disaster. They NEVER start their concerts on time so I just gave up trying to attend them. They used to have the cosplay competition set up so you could watch it in your room since there's NEVER enough room for everyone to fit in their small cramped space, but lately I haven't even noticed them doing THAT. You guys can make fun of Animefest ALL you want, but it is BY FAR the most enjoyable con I've EVER been to. I dunno how you guys get bored and can't find stuff to do? My god..we could ALWAYS find stuff to do, we stayed up and chatted with friends we wouldn't see again for a VERY long time, took a million photo's, went around and met people, oh man, I am super duper sad I didn't get to go this year, i mean, I would of LOVED to go.
Also, I'm with Arei on this too.. I CANNOT WAIT to see if in 2012 when their contract expires they GET THE HELL out of that place =_=; It's too small, I HATE how they turn off the escalators THE ENTIRE CONVENTION. I mean.. WHAT THE HELL???? Do they not REALIZE that SOME of us wear very hard to walk around in costumes, and we appreciate ANY and ALL help we can get to not have to truck it up a million cagillion stairs? No, they don't. I think that's part of the hotels fault, but it's consistent and annoying EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I will give Akon props this year though, they FINALLY DEAR GOD fixed their annoying aggravating pre-reg problem. We got through SOO quick we actually had time to DO stuff after we got out of line. It was just.. amazing. I almost felt like I wasn't at Akon anymore.
Omni, as much as I hate and loath Akon, I will BE THERE if you're going!!! Totally. I do think you should give it a chance, I've had a lot of bad times there, but that doesn't mean you would! I'm getting the gist anyways only my sis and I have had the bad experiences, I think everyone else around here loves the crap out of Akon, nothing wrong with that, but I myself would rather go to Otakon again. I have NEVER had that much fun at a con before, Otakon was the best con EVER O_O Tokyo in Tulsa this year was pretty good too, but you guys don't go to OK cons, which is too bad, TnT was REALLY awesome, the cosplay competition was even pretty amazing!! I was shocked since it was such a small con!
all in all, we can all have our own opinions. I don't consider Animefest the 'Kiddy Con' by ANY means, but that's just how I feel, since I prefer it over Akon.
Also..all I've been able to think about is cosplay thanks to my sis XD She got me super pumped last night at work of all places xDD