Monster Mania - March 2014

 
Monster Mania was Wiggle's first convention!  It was also his first big car ride and first time at a hotel.  We were there on Saturday, March 9, and Wiggle was three-months-old.  Monster Mania is a horror convention that happens three times a year.  Overall, while this is a fun convention, it is not child-friendly.  If Wiggle had been older and we were not nursing, I would have had my parents watch him for the weekend.

Hubby and me with Irone Singleton (T-Dog from The Walking Dead) at 2013 MonsterMania.

 We had been to this con once before in March of 2013 because they had a lot of Walking Dead actors.   This year we went back for the same reason.  This is a very crowded convention, so I opted to take Wiggle in our Ergo and not the stroller.  I spent a couple of weeks getting him used to it, but when it came down to it, he was not very happy in the carrier and spent most of the time in our arms instead.  I also was kind of nervous having him in the Ergo because people at this convention are not really paying attention to their surroundings.  I had him encircled with my arms to make sure no one was going to whack him.  Monster Mania is a very busy environment and I can easily see how mobile children could get separated from their parents and become lost.  In addition, there are lots of scary costumes and cosplays and other items... it is a horror convention after all.

Our convention began with a walk.  The parking lot of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where the convention is held, is not adequate for the amount of people who attend.  We parked probably a half-mile away and walked to the hotel, so wear comfortable shoes!  The lines for the celebrities at this convention are very long.  We were directed outside to wait for Chad Coleman who plays Tyrese on The Walking Dead.  Thankfully, it was the first nice day we had and was around 70 degrees.  Wiggle enjoyed spending time outdoors after the horrible winter we had and got to touch a tree for the first time.  We were kind of disappointed that we couldn't take a picture of Wiggle with Mr. Coleman because we got his signature... it would have been an extra $20.  Last year, the Walking Dead actors took pictures with us (except for Danai Gurira [Michonne] and Michael Rooker [Merle] because they were selling photo ops with them).  I had really wanted a picture with him for Wiggle's baby book, but no dice.

Wiggle and Hubby in line for Chad Coleman (Tyrese on The Walking Dead)

We did nurse at Monster Mania.  This convention is held in the Crowne Plaza hotel and they have a nice big lobby with lots of seating.  We found a secluded spot and Wiggle had lunch and took a nap while Hubby went through the lines to get signatures from Emily Kinney (Beth on The Walking Dead) and Ernie Hudson (Winston Zedmore of Ghostbusters).  Unfortunately, I had also left my lunch and my phone with Hubby in our backpack, so I just sat around and people-watched while Wiggle slept because I had told Hubby we'd be in the lobby and didn't want to wander around and lose him.

When we did get to go into the dealer rooms, they were hot and crowded.  Not very many people were paying attention to anything and we were constantly bumped.  In the larger room, it was so hot and crowded that I had to take Wiggle out into the hall and out of the Ergo because he was overheating.  There is no way that I could have gotten a stroller through that dealer room.  It was way too packed and close-cornered.

Hopefully, this review has helped you in your decision on whether to attend this convention or not!  I really don't recommend taking children under the age of 16.  It is simply not a good environment for them.

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