My solution to get more people to use the stairs then the elevator
I have a simple solution and it's fun!
What do you think of this idea?
enjoy and have fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw
didn't know where to put this either here or in general discussion
If I wasn't on the 12th floor, I probably would have used the stairs more.
Of course there is always that unfortunate trouble-making faction that think this convention isn't about exercise and con-going shouldn't be an exhausting experience. Some people actually take "vacation time" from work and think this is some sort of vacation. Hey! What do you expect for $140/day? And if I hear on more word about elevators I'll scream!
The elevators are the only way to get to the 4th floor workout/pool area.
*waits for screaming*
As I unpleasantly discovered one evening after they were closed. Getting back ON to an elevator was quite the challenge.
How can they get away with this from a fire exit POV??
There are stairs down from the gym, but it is a different stairwell, once that has alarmed doors. We don't like people going through alarmed doors.
Oh, about that...
I just now found this from a post earlier this year:
A stairwell that goes to the guest floors is accessible from the 3rd floor of the Westin (where the Anthrocon Zoo is located) near the escalators.
Can I suggest for next year that someone sets up a few big, fat signs leading to this stairwell? I was never aware of it before. The stairwell across from me on the 10th floor led outside. Signs on the way down made it very clear that floors 2, 3 and 4 were inaccessible. And when I got to the bottom the exit door indicated that it was alarmed.
EDIT: I see now where they are on the floor plan, but to be clear, I still think signs to this stairwell would be an immense help in getting some traffic away from the elevators. I managed to walk right past them for the last 5 years in a row. And I guarantee there are plenty of furries who are as oblivious to their surroundings as I am. 
I think I saw I couple of signs point to this fact, but that may have been a past con (these things kind of blur together sometimes).
There have been huge signs for a couple years IIRC - I definitely remember seeing them and thinking 'what a good idea!'
Indeed, they are big foamcore signs with huge letters that say "STAIRS TO GUEST ROOM FLOORS" and an arrow. They're also printed on our map. What more can we do?
Mind control?
SHHHH! The nonstaff aren't supposed to know about that!
D'Oh! 
As I unpleasantly discovered one evening after they were closed. Getting back ON to an elevator was quite the challenge.
Erika and I came across this issue, too. One needs to pick a time of day that isn't so busy... which is almost impossible. @_X;
I thought there was a solution to this? That you lean over the balcony and shout down to the DI operating the elevator, who in turn load up an elevator only half-filled so you have room to get on?
Was that plan abandoned?
I don't know. I didn't know any such plan existed. >v>
I heard it discussed on the boards here well over a year ago. Possibly as far back as 2008 or 2007. It sounded like a decent plan, if you were able to actually shout loud enough to be heard all the way down on the base floor.
Plan or not, it would have been worth the effort to try it out anyway. Even if no "plan" were in place, I'm sure a DI, upon hearing your "distress call", could oblige you some room on an upcoming elevator.
How about if you're on the 4th floor and can't get room on a car going up, you push the down button and either get on "down for up" if there's room, or ask the people there to tell the security crew that there's someone on the 4th floor and to leave room on the next car and push the button for 4 to make sure it stops there?
Normally "down for up" isn't allowed, and I saw the security crew force people to get off at the first floor when some tried it, but this would be an exception. You simply explain the situation and refuse to get off. At that point you're a hotel guest using hotel amenities.
I only was using the Down elevators, and even then it was pretty hard to get room. The thought of sending a message was something I didn't think of and will do if it happens again.
If you set that up, I will gather a bunch of people to play Chopsticks!
I, for one, ENJOY using stairs. Though I'm a bit childish about it and run up and down them. >.<
'Tis a pity I'm also afraid of falling down them.
They had a ground piano at the stampede this year, but the second I stepped on to play it, I was swarmed with kids, really all I wanted to play was "oh when the saints go marching in" is that too much to ask? no one else was at the piano until I stepped on. I suppose that's why half the keys were already malfunctioning, people weren't controlling their kids who were just randomly jumping up and down
cool as the idea is, it's not practical
Oh, now THAT is cool.
I'm surprised that hasn't shown up on the cheezburger network yet.
Seriously, if your legs work, use the stairs. We will be assigning elevator priority to non-con hotel patrons, the disabled, and to fursuiters (in costume, mind you.)
Besides. Exercise is good for you.