Help me plan for Bonnaroo!

[CTdeadhead]

Hi folks, I've been kicking myself in the ass since I missed the 2006 show that has now become so infamous.  Now, with the late night announcement, I am sure this will be another for the history books.  I have a little vacation time, and so I bit the bullet, I just bought a ticket and I am going to my first Bonnaroo.  Probably traveling alone so I'll be hoping to hook up with some folks from this board.  

Anyway, I have a few questions for those who have been to previous yrs.  Should I rent a car or just take the shuttle from the Airport.  I was thinking of renting a mini van in case it pours I wont be sleeping in mud. Plus camping requires hauling a ton of shit, let alone air travel.  I'd be paranoid my things are going to get stolen if  not locked in a vehicle.  Do I park on the campground?  Or do I park, walk and then camp?  Will I regret having a vehicle?  Or will I regret not having a vehicle?  

Should I arrive on Wednesday?  Is there a local campsite anyone can recommend if I do, I see you can't get in to the festival grounds until Thursday?  I ask, because I have had horrible experiences at some huge events.  The last Phish show in Maine left me stuck in traffic for 12 hours trying to get in, I would have sold my soul to have been on a shuttle.  

Anyway, any advice anyone has on anything I should know would be appreciated.  Its going to be one hell of a week, as Radio City is only a few days later!!!!   Come on JUNE!!!!!!!!

[EC]

i think there is a thread about this somewhere from the past...  give me a day or so to try and dig it up. :)

[blainesanders]

I think I can help you out!  i've been to the following Bonnaroo's: 02, 03, 05, 06
i've had a "2 on 1 off 2 on 1 off" pattern with Bonnaroo since i started going, and now i'm ready for 2 on!!

i was in love with Bonnaroo from the get go.  that first year was so special!!! it's honestly just gotten better and better with age!  I'm a big fan of eclesticism (sp?) in music, so it's a wonder of a place to be for me!!  You're gonna absolutely love it!!!  this farm just turns into this big crazy city (sorta like amsterdam with stages instead of canals... but i wouldn't mess with hookers in Bonnaroo).  in this city... the night time is the right time!! and day time is the time to pace yourself and find as much shade as possible!

first of all... you should rent a car.  it's not YOUR car, so you don't care if it gets dirty.
i would get a cooler and ice and stuff at Wal-mart (or wherever), after you pick up your car.  if you can pack your tent, bring your tent. (i also like to have a canopy over my tent, that way i can sleep a little bit later, then i can drag my sleeping bag out on my tarp and what not and usually catch a few winks in some shade now that my tent is a green house).

be prepared to do a lot of walking, so you want to bring TENNIS SHOES.  sure, sandals are great, but what happens when you bust your toe or something.

it usually rains, sometimes DOWNPOURS... it's worth it to bring a hat at a rain jacket you can stuff somewhere.

GET A CAMELBACK!!!!!! probably the best advice i could give you. bring your own water to and from, and you always have it with you, you will want to drink a lot of water during the day, and it's a 'safety net" if you like to participate in extra-curricular activities, i like to get ice from vendors and put it in there later too..plus it's nice to store extra smokes and stuff in there!!!

be prepared for a ton of fun!!!  i usually spend all day on saturday just running around by myself getting drunk and squirting people (usually the ladies) with a water gun.

best time ever!!!

but yeah dude, rent a car, buy a cooler, bring LOTS of water, get some shade, GET A CAMELBACK!!, see as much music as you can REGARDLESS of what band it is (people will surprise you at Bonnaroo), and HAVE FUN!!!

SEE YOU KIDS IN JUNE... THE JACKET WILL BE EPIC AS ALWAYS.... BRING BACK THE SQUALLIS PUPPETEERS!!!!

[Penny Lane]

BRING REALLY GOOD RAIN GEAR and CANOPY---ENSURES a good time

[TEO]

Gather at the Wal-Mart parking lot on Wednesday night for the ripple effect word to be heard that the gates are open and go in then for a 5 night stay.

[CTdeadhead]

This is a gross question but do they have actual toilets there or just port-o-potties.  

[Taterbug]

This is a gross question but do they have actual toilets there or just port-o-potties.  

you may want to consider bringing your own Slop Jar  to carry around with you  :)

[jrat]

i bought a self-applicable catheter so i wont have to leave the shows AT ANY TIME! it came with a 3 litre bag with shoulder straps and a drainage plug. hope its easy to hook up.

[Penny Lane]

for porta potty concert standards--they're not bad--they hose them down once (or twice) a day--BUT by the end of the week....eek....my advice: save your pennies for VIP camping--air conditioned bathrooms!!

[CTdeadhead]

for porta potty concert standards--they're not bad--they hose them down once (or twice) a day--BUT by the end of the week....eek....my advice: save your pennies for VIP camping--air conditioned bathrooms!!

if they sold them in singles I would have but since Im traveling alone I didn't go VIP.  But fortunately, Im a man who likes to sweat when I go to the bathroom.  Kidding aside, if there is anyone who knows of a single VIP please let me know, I would be interested.  

[blainesanders]

a single VIP is gonna be tough to come by... good luck!

as far as using a catheter, i don't think you'd HAVE to use that.  i've never found it a problem just to kneel down, pull my wang out the bottom of my shorts, and let her go.
i drained the main vein on the corner of the soundboard at Jacket late-nite 2006.  just get your buddies to wrap around ya, and let it loose.  it's really not a huge problem to take a piss, it'll mainly be beer/water anyways, so no one should be "pizzed".

[Penny Lane]

does anyone know when the cut off date for VIP tix is? i haven't gotten one yet and am still up in the air--i know they get sent out may 28th, but was curious if you could buy them after that?