FAQ
WordCamp Dallas is attracting a lot of bloggers from outside the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and a lot of them are asking questions because they’re unfamiliar with the area, so we thought we’d help out by providing some answers.
Q. Is it WordCamp Dallas, or WordCamp Frisco?
A. We’re calling it WordCamp Dallas because the city of Dallas is the largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area and consequently the city most people are familiar with. Our event takes place in Frisco, Texas, a quickly developing suburb city, if you will, located North of Dallas along the Dallas Tollway. Besides, WordCamp Frisco sounds too much like WordCamp San Francisco, and we didn’t want to confuse anybody needlessly.
Q. Why Frisco? Why not locate the venue within Dallas?
A. Frisco is gaining a reputation as a technology hub because of the large number of technology companies basing their headquarters and offices there. And, John Pozadzides scored us the sweet digs at City Hall.
Q. [Insert online map site here] shows the venue in the middle of a field. What’s up with that?
A. They need to update their satellite images. The George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, Pizza Hut Field and the entire city hall square area have been there over a year now.
Q. Which airport should I fly into? DFW International or Love Field?
A. It’s up to you, really. They’re nearly equidistant to Frisco, DFW being about 30 miles away, Love Field being about 25 miles. Either is a good 45 minute drive on a good day.
Q. Where should I stay? Where is everybody staying?
A. The Frisco area is sort of a more affluent area and nearly everything’s brand new, so hotel prices tend to run a little higher than other parts of DFW. If you get a room closer to, say, Grapevine near DFW International or the I-635 loop (commonly referred to a “LBJ” since it’s named after President Lyndon B. Johnson) you might save money on the room, but you’ll spend more time and gas traveling to the event. Your choice.
Below is a list of some of the hotels in the area:
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 4220 Preston Rd, Frisco, Texas 75034 [map], (972) 668-9400
- Holiday Inn, 3400 Parkwood Blvd, Frisco, Texas 75034 [map], (972) 668–5959
- Hampton Inn & Suites, 3199 Parkwood Blvd, Frisco, Texas 75034 [map], (972) 712-8400
- Embassy Suites, 7600 John Q Hammons Dr, Frisco, Texas 75034 [map] (972) 963-9178
This list is provided merely as a helpful guide, and is not an endorsement or advertisement for these companies.
Q. Will I need to a rent a rental car?
A. We believe you should, yes. There is really no mass rapid transit in Frisco, and really, the DFW area, unlike other large cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, etc. DFW is a car town, and nearly every hotel is at least a few miles away from the venue.
Q. What is there to do in Frisco?
A. Well, if you’re into shopping, Stonebriar Centre is a ginormous mall containing six major department store anchors (Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Sears), a 24-screen movie theater and an NHL size ice arena. For restaurants, anything you could want, from pizza to Thai is minutes away. If you’re a coffee fanatic, there are several locations of a certain Washington-state coffee company nearby, or you could stop in at It’s a Grind Coffee House for some fantastic coffee in appreciation for their sponsorship of the event.
Q. Why aren’t you doing this true BarCamp/unconference-style?
A. The one-room venue sort of dictates that we skew toward a more conventional conference style, plus we wanted to have a publishable schedule of speakers and topics to attract attendees. Don’t worry, it’ll be fairly relaxed after that.
Q. Why are you charging $20/person?
A. Honestly? Because it helps cover the costs of the t-shirts, name badges and other incidentals. Also, being about the cost of a large pizza, we thought it low enough to not discourage anyone from attending while providing reasonable assurance that people would show up. If a local blogger registers and has spent some of his or her hard-earned cash, they’re more likely to be in attendance come Saturday morning.
Q. Will you be providing child care?
A. No. We encourage attendees to leave any children needing adult supervision at home or with a sitter. There is an area in the adjoining library meant for children, but you’d end up having to stay with them and miss the event.
Q. If we don’t show up in person to pickup our t-shirts, will you mail or ship them to us afterwards?
A. No. Any t-shirts that haven’t been claimed after noon on Sunday will be given away on a first come, first serve basis or otherwise discarded.
Q. If I don’t want or don’t claim my t-shirt, may I have that portion of my attendee fees returned to me?
A. No.
Q. If I’m vegan or have dietary requirements to consider, where may I eat, and may I have that portion of my attendee fees returned to me?
A. There are restaurants within walking distance of the auditorium that should be able to accommodate your dietary needs. And no, once paid, we will not return your attendance fee.
Q. I’ve heard rumors there’s going to be an informal get-together at a local restaurant/bar Friday night, is it true?
A. You know, I’ve heard those rumors, too. I’ll investigate them, and post the results when I find them, so check back here before March 28th. 
Q. Will there be more events like this in the future?
A. We certainly hope so.
Do you have a question about WordCamp Dallas that wasn’t answered here? Send it to us and we’ll attempt to answer it here.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Besides the Frisco hotels, another good area to look is McKinney (my home town). It’s just east of Frisco, and there might be some good deals there.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Other entertainment options are the new Frisco Bar, http://www.thefriscobar.com/
Ditto on It’s A Grind coffeehouse. My singer/songwriter pals, Mosey, are at Prince Bistro that Saturday night, http://www.princebistro.com located Eldorado & 423. Coach Joe’s http://www.coachjoes.com/ has good live bands and also Lochran’s Irish Pub at Frisco Square. Then those interested in church Sunday am check out http://www.prestontrail.org/ on Main Street just east of Preston Road. It’s high-tech, creative, rockin’ presentation of genuine message and you’ll feel right at home in your Wordcamp t-shirt.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
A great place to find out all about Frisco is http://www.Frisco-OnLine.com.
If you go to http://www.frisco-online.com/restaurantguide.cfm you will find an exahaustive list of area restaurants, including ratings and feedback from those who have visited the establishments.
The interactive calendar, found at http://www.frisco-online.com/calendar.cfm details local attractions, and is constantly updated. That weekend shows several sporting events, including Texas Tornado vs. Roadrunners Topeka (hockey) Friday evening and Frisco Thunder vs. Fairbanks (Intense Football League). If the football game is of interest, a $5.00 coupon can be found here: http://www.frisco-online.com/allcoupons.cfm
Hope that helps!
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Glad this event is coming to my adopted hometown of Frisco! It’s a great place for an event like WordCamp 2008. The Municipal Complex/City Hall is really a first-rate facility. Welcome!
Bob
http://otisburg.wordpress.com
March 26th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
[…] WordCamp Dallas FAQ has location information, driving directions, and information to help you get from the airport, […]
March 28th, 2008 at 2:20 am
question - is there wifi (free or otherwise) available at City Hall?
March 28th, 2008 at 2:37 am
[…] WordCamp Dallas FAQ provides attendees information such as driving instructions, local hot-spots (Can you say..Dave and Busters?!), restaurants and hotels, but since I only live about eight miles from the Frisco City Hall where the event is being held, I know exactly where I’m headed first thing Saturday morning. I’m so excited! […]
March 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
According to the library there, yes, free Wi-Fi will be available. Go to the “Ask Us” desk and request the code to login.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:37 am
[…] WordCamp Dallas FAQ has location information, driving directions, and information to help you get from the airport, […]