NDK 2021: Getting Ready

NDK is nearly upon us and after having to take a break due to covid it is a much-needed relief for fans. This is just going to be a quick review of what you need to know this year and how to get ready. This guide will be full of information for both first-time con goers and experienced ones. 

Covid:

The first thing on everyone’s mind right now should be safety during the con in relation to covid. Right now, masks are mandatory, but there are no present requirements about vaccines. I recommend taking hand sanitizer and using it often. Health precautions are good for everyone to take even without covid. There is a thing called con funk. A lot of people get it after going to a con and it has normal cold/flu symptoms. Precautions against covid should also help with con funk. Personally, this year I will be doing not only a mask but some cool face shields I found at a new store in Park Meadows.  Also, don’t forget to drink a lot of water. It has been very dry and your body needs water to stay healthy. 

The Hotel:

This will be the con's first year at the Gaylord hotel. The hotel has made rules and changes to group photos and where/where not pictures can be taken. If you have questions around photos please talk to a staff member. Parking is also still a question mark. The latest is that parking will only be $18.85 a day. My take on it is that is still very expensive and this hotel knows it can take people for money since it is in the middle of nowhere with no real public transportation options. They say there will be a shuttle between a light rail station and the hotel, but it only runs once every half hour and the run time each day is shorter then the con’s hours. This basically means that it is basically useless and even at best it can only hold 12 people. I also tried to call the hotel this week to get the 411 on parking and some other questions answered and they were no help at all. They couldn’t even tell me if there would be free wifi or not. The only question of mine I could get an answer to was that they did have handicap parking. To be truthful I don’t know what to expect of this hotel. I have never been to a con here before and my little experience I have trying to talk to them on the phone was useless. I just hope that NDK did not make a mistake by picking this place.

Food:

Then there is the food options…. I use options very jokingly here since you really don’t have any. Walking to get food at this location is not really an option unless you want a 2 mile hike each way. They said that besides the hotel’s restaurants there would be food trucks and Asian themed food stops. These means that you are going to need a lot of money for food. I would actually recommend keeping a cooler either in your car or hotel room so that you can bring your own food. Also, it is way cheaper to stock up with Asian snacks before the con for a fraction of the price that they will be in the dealer’s room. You also help local small businesses when you shop at all of the Asian markets around town. Personally, I have bought a whole bunch of different snacks that I will be putting in zip locked bags to help me fill in the gaps between meals. Granola bars are also a good quick breakfast. One lunch idea is the frozen PB&J sandwiches that you can get at the grocery store. The great thing about these is that you take it out of the freezer in the morning, toss it into your bag, and then it is good to eat by lunch. Going to a con on the cheap is possible, but it may take a little work before hand to get ready.

Disabilities: 

Besides knowing that they have handicap parking, I do not know how ADA compliant or friendly they are (they being the Gaylord hotel). Since this is my first time at the hotel I am hoping for the best. In the past NDK has had chairs near the panel doors for at least one person with disabilities to sit. NDK themselves have been good with accommodations and I hope they keep it up. This year I was able to get a little folding stool from Pacific Ocean Marketplace on Mississippi. They had a few different styles, weights, and prices ($7.99-20.99). I got one of the $9.99 ones that was middle ground in terms of height and plastic so that it would be lighter to carry. If you have special needs it is important to start thinking about them now and making sure that you have everything you need to be ready for the con. 

Cosplay:

Since masks are required this year you should be thinking of how to include them into your cosplay. Plague doctor masks could also be interesting…. As normal also remember that it can get both hot and cold at conventions so it is good to be prepared with clothing options. This also goes back to the drinking thing. It is easy to overheat in some cosplays so if you have a lot of layers or armor make sure to take time to drink. Also, be aware of the size of your cosplay. It is easy to knock people or objects over. I recommend spending a good amount of time in you cosplay before the convention so you can build a bodily awareness of your space.

 

You can get the latest updates about the con on NDK’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nandesukan .

NDK’s main website: https://ndkdenver.org/ .

Picture From: https://ndkdenver.org/