Even me saying I'd appreciate fewer people--that's not an advocating of just telling them no. Rather it's a wish just that fewer people wanted to attend.

I will say that if it were me, I'd consider early hotel reg for people with documented mobility issues. Or at least have a bank of rooms set aside for mobility impaired folks to apply for. There's a block of GM rooms, to account for the facts that A) GMs make it so that there are games to play so they are important and B) GMs have stuff they need to carry around for those games. And that's awesome and excellent. But it would be similarly cool to have some rooms set aside for people with mobility issues. Me having to come in from an outlying hotel is much less of a problem than someone in a wheelchair having to do the same.

I believe there is a special block of rooms for people with disabilities.  I know one of our judges (wheelchair bound) got a room that way a few years ago.

It would be much better if you could filter the hotel search to only show accessible rooms.

I would love it if there were a way for people with documented mobility issues to get closer hotels or downtown rooms. My partner uses a cane, and while he can walk a fair bit, it actually takes a toll. The Staybridge is close and walkable by my standards. It was a long walk for him before the con even started, then combined with the walking in the actual convention center, he was hurting at the end of the day. Right now, we’re further out with plans of ridesharing to and from the con and hotel. I’m hoping it will be easier on him. If he had mobility issues that made ride share unsuitable and caused problems with driving and taking a shuttle, being closer would be helpful. From GenCon’s management perspective, they would have to have some sort of verification process where you upload proof of need when you purchase your badge. Then they would either need include people with documented problems in the VIG housing portal access time, or give another time for them to access the portal before the housing lottery opens. Barring that, they would need to block out rooms for people with mobility challenges like they do for gms. 

Either way it is an extra logistical challenge for GenCon.

 From the housing page:  "ADA ACCESSIBLE ROOM REQUESTS
ADA-compliant Accessible rooms can now be requested when selecting rooms within the online housing portal, and on opening day all users are required to select rooms using the online housing portal. Once a hotel and room have been selected for check-out the system will prompt the user to enter guest information. Guests desiring a disability-compliant Accessible room should select the “Accessible” checkbox located below the guest information fields to place a request.
Within two weeks of housing registration opening, Q-rooms will review the Accessible room requests on file and confirm availability with hotels. As Accessible room assignments are confirmed, guests will receive updated acknowledgments indicating change of assignment from a standard room type to Accessible room type (e.g. standard double/double to Accessible double/double).
In the event Accessible room requests exceed the capacity of a particular hotel, Q-rooms will fulfill the Accessible room requests in the order the room requests were assigned by the online registration system. Q-rooms will address any shortages by soliciting alternative Accessible rooms at comparable nearby hotels and obtaining guest consent prior to changing their assignment to one of the Accessible rooms available.
Important: Federal ADA legislation requires all hotels to meet minimum accessibility requirements, and hotel location is not applicable to ADA criteria. Requesting an Accessible room in the Gen Con block has no bearing on hotel location relative to the convention center and does not improve one’s chances of obtaining a downtown room assignment."

It is possible there is an interesting discussion to be had on this topic, particularly whether enlarging or shrinking the V.I.G. program is the right direction (though something tells me they think very hard about this every year), but for as long as the badges sell out I imagine there is not much reason to make major changes.  PLUS the potential for several new downtown hotels opening over the next few years will certainly only help.

Mike Boozer
Customer Service & Event Team Manager
Gen Con LLC

Access to the room.

It used to be you could call for an ADA room.

they stopped that program.

I agree I'll go and have a great time, but I think Gen con needs to work with these hotels that are farther out to make them more ideal.  I am also aware that Lyft has special deals, but you only save a few extra bucks here and there.

• Just before leaving for work
  
• At meal break
  
• Just before leaving work to return home
  
• Just before bed 
  

Using this approach, I have found rooms usually in the June timeframe.  I see more dedicated hotel hunters post about finding them much earlier than that.
 
Good luck! I hope you're able to get a room that makes your Gen Con experience even better.