Any tips for the newbie going to AX????

Goldknight · Post by **Goldknight** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:49 pm

This will be my first trip to AX. Not sure what to expect. I arrive Friday evening in Anaheim and leave early on Sunday. So basically I'm just there for Saturday. How late are they open each day? Do you recommend registering Friday night before going on Saturday? Is there usually a wait to get into the dealer's room like here in Denver? Are there certain hours for the dealers room? I was told it's a bit different than the cons here in Denver so I'm anxious to hear what to expect.

kymaera · Post by **kymaera** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:23 pm

The dealer's room is usually a 9-5-ish thing. The formal events will go till
about midnight with the big ones (AMV contest, masquerade, etc) with a
smattering of other panels and such till the 10-12 timeframe. They pretty
much play anime in the video rooms around the clock. I would recommend
registering Friday night if possible as the early morning registering lines are
the longest. It shouldn't be as bad if you're not there on the first day, but
who knows? There usually isn't a wait to get into the dealer's room after it
opens.

Tabbykitty · Post by **Tabbykitty** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:55 pm

I think the dealer's room runs 10-6, and opens at noon on friday. The biggest lines for it will be right when it opens...when it actually opens/a half hour or so afterwards you can usually walk straight in.

The main events usually seem to run until 10/11pm, with the video rooms going all night, as well as the dance until 2am, and I think the game room is all night? Can't quite remember.

It would definately be better to register friday-reg lines will be long long long, and it is easier to get an early start on con events saturday rather then spend several hours in the reg line

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:56 pm

Do you know the smallest lines for it will be right when it opens?

animeobsessed · Post by **animeobsessed** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:53 pm

Tabbykitty wrote:when it actually opens/a half hour or so afterwards you can usually walk straight in.

I'm not waiting in line for the dealer room this year. Last year waited for over an hour. I could have done something else and come back an 1/2 after it opened and walked right in, just like Tabbykitty said.

blueheaven · Post by **blueheaven** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:58 pm

Last year, the volunteers did a great job of getting folks in and out of events. Probably the smoothest year yet. For exhibit hall, bring plenty of cash if you are looking to buy. There are no ATM's inside the hall, and last year only a few booths had credit card readers(which didn't work half the time because the signal couldn't reach outside of the building). The hardest events to get into are masquerade contest, AMV, and dance.

Elfstalker · Post by **Elfstalker** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:18 pm

I waited 4 hours last year in the regular line. This year I'm pre-registering to avoid that insanity.

Once you register, you're given a bag of goodies. In that bag there's a schedule of events, places to eat, and other info. Use that to plan your schedule.

The Dealers' room will have a rack of plastic shopping bags to put your goodies in. You'll need 2 or three.

I recommend going straight to the cel booths before wandering around the Dealers' Room. There will be a crowd so just elbow your way in. Have a list of what you're looking for in your head since you'll be greeted by several dozens of cel books. Quite a sight!

As for food, there are some restaurants at the Hilton. A nice buffet like restaurant, a sushi bar, a Starbucks, and some others I don't remember. You can always eat out at one of the many restaurants nearby. Or you can order in pizza. We order pizza every year as per tradition.

Oh, bring a camera! TONS of pic opportunities to be sure!

AX also has a yearly t-shirt for sale. if you're interested. I like to get a shirt from every con I go too.

I think Shampoo is going to recuit you for Slugfest and the Beta party, so maybe we can hook up sometime before if you want. We plan to meet to take Naruto pics.

kymaera · Post by **kymaera** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:51 pm

Elfstalker wrote:I waited 4 hours last year in the regular line. This year I'm pre-registering to avoid that insanity.

I hate to break it to you, but if they don't change things, that's going to hurt.
Baakay and I were pre-registered last year and waited over five hours in
line. We literally saw people come in, go through the regular line and leave
while we were waiting. Was one of the biggest reasons last year's A-X was
a disappointment.

Keropi · Post by **Keropi** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:24 pm

It's always been a real crapshoot as to how long the registration and pre-registration lines are going to be when you get there. It's not uncommon for the pre-registration line to be a lot longer than the regular registration line. The line varies so much from year to year that's not very helpful knowing how the lines were in previous years. A lot of it just depends on luck. Everytime they think they have the long lines solved another type of problem pops up the following year.

But it's not always long. If you're lucky you might be able to breeze right through. It all depends.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:24 pm

How many it just depends on luck?

animeobsessed · Post by **animeobsessed** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:30 pm

I hate to break it to you, but if they don't change things, that's going to hurt.
Baakay and I were pre-registered last year and waited over five hours in
line. We literally saw people come in, go through the regular line and leave

Yep, I was in that pre-registration line too on Thursday evening. It was at least a 4 hour wait.

ReAnimator · Post by **ReAnimator** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:33 pm

Wow. So are you guys saying that if I want to get into the dealer's room first thing Friday (opens at noon) that I need to be there at 8:00am?!

Elfstalker · Post by **Elfstalker** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:01 am

ReAnimator wrote:Wow. So are you guys saying that if I want to get into the dealer's room first thing Friday (opens at noon) that I need to be there at 8:00am?!

Probably, since there are ppl always waiting in line to be the first in the door.

***

Hmm, last year I knew 2 guys who went through the pre-reg lines in 20 minutes. I guess they were extremely lucky. I better offer something to the god of luck since I'll probably arrive 9:30 PM that night.

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:05 am

Yup! Im gonna be there waiting at 8am friday morning

Look for the goofball dressed up as Kiba LOL!
:hitting:

Goldknight · Post by **Goldknight** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:14 am

So if I go to register friday night when I arrive....how late are they open to register????