Comments on: San Diego Comic-Con 2011: The Biggest Disappointments http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/ The ultimate source for all things SDCC Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:24:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Phil http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-197438 Phil Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:16:28 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-197438 My first San Diego con was 1981 so let me tell you some stuff. There's a mass panic because no one knows the panel schedule. Tickets go on sale in fall and this year didnt go on sale till February. So we get hordes of incredibly desperate fans of tv shows or movie serials who buy up four day passes and really only want to go to one panel. But then since they bought the 4 day they hang out and see other panels. I notice you didn't see any of the comic book panels. As a long time fan I hope Comic con cuts back on some of the non comics stuff. Glee? Really? Cartoons and scifi shows are fine. Video games? I wouldn't have them but I'm not in charge. Glee? Give me a break. At this point comicon has got to cut the fat. It's not as if people will stop coming! Also the organization was terrible! We got there well before the exhibit hall opened and saw two different lines. We had no idea what either was for. So we walk to the Sails pavilion to find out there's one person saying (with no megaphone) the outside line is for entry. So we gave to walk back to the beginning of the line at the far end of the convection center. In addition, people waiting outside for hall 20 and many of the halls weren't allowed to sit on the floor inside the building. No reason was adequately given. Fire code? Maybe, but after waiting four hours in line in the sun outside, making people stand when they get inside is literally torture. The overcrowding inside was more than a crush. I'm sure it was downright dangerous. There were lines for everything with almost no indication of where the lines began what they were for or the anticipated wait time. So I skipped them. The artists alley is at the opposite end of the hall as the comics! What sort of pervert does that? They used to be next to each other. There werent enough tables or chairs anywhere. There was one food court area with no tables at all on the exhibition floor. If I sound upset, I am. After forty years and seeing how crowded it's become lately the organizers don't seem to have learnt anything. Other than that I had a great time meeting the artists and looking at the comics I can't afford to buy! My first San Diego con was 1981 so let me tell you some stuff.
There’s a mass panic because no one knows the panel schedule. Tickets go on sale in fall and this year didnt go on sale till February. So we get hordes of incredibly desperate fans of tv shows or movie serials who buy up four day passes and really only want to go to one panel. But then since they bought the 4 day they hang out and see other panels. I notice you didn’t see any of the comic book panels. As a long time fan I hope Comic con cuts back on some of the non comics stuff. Glee? Really? Cartoons and scifi shows are fine. Video games? I wouldn’t have them but I’m not in charge. Glee? Give me a break. At this point comicon has got to cut the fat. It’s not as if people will stop coming!
Also the organization was terrible! We got there well before the exhibit hall opened and saw two different lines. We had no idea what either was for. So we walk to the Sails pavilion to find out there’s one person saying (with no megaphone) the outside line is for entry. So we gave to walk back to the beginning of the line at the far end of the convection center.
In addition, people waiting outside for hall 20 and many of the halls weren’t allowed to sit on the floor inside the building. No reason was adequately given. Fire code? Maybe, but after waiting four hours in line in the sun outside, making people stand when they get inside is literally torture.
The overcrowding inside was more than a crush. I’m sure it was downright dangerous. There were lines for everything with almost no indication of where the lines began what they were for or the anticipated wait time. So I skipped them.
The artists alley is at the opposite end of the hall as the comics! What sort of pervert does that? They used to be next to each other.
There werent enough tables or chairs anywhere. There was one food court area with no tables at all on the exhibition floor.
If I sound upset, I am. After forty years and seeing how crowded it’s become lately the organizers don’t seem to have learnt anything.
Other than that I had a great time meeting the artists and looking at the comics I can’t afford to buy!

]]> By: vmcampos http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-194227 vmcampos Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:12:43 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-194227 I have been soured by pre-registration like Astrid. I've been attending since the early 90s and it's probably been a decade that I don't have a 4day+preview badge. I had to spend 4 hours in line to settle for 4 one-day badges. I enjoy my time at the Convention, of course. But now I'm dreading registration! I have been soured by pre-registration like Astrid. I’ve been attending since the early 90s and it’s probably been a decade that I don’t have a 4day+preview badge. I had to spend 4 hours in line to settle for 4 one-day badges.
I enjoy my time at the Convention, of course. But now I’m dreading registration!

]]> By: Angela http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-193111 Angela Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:16:36 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-193111 My husband got in line at 6:30am on Sunday, and got tickets. I am not sure why people even camped out. He still got 4 day with Preview. It took him about three hours to get the passes. I hope they don't go to all online sales, and I hate the idea of a lottery. One thing I wish they would do is not let people camp out. I don't know how that would be accomplished, since people would find somewhere to congregate to wait to get in line. I am happy that I have passes for 2012. I will worry about 2013 later. My husband got in line at 6:30am on Sunday, and got tickets. I am not sure why people even camped out. He still got 4 day with Preview. It took him about three hours to get the passes. I hope they don’t go to all online sales, and I hate the idea of a lottery. One thing I wish they would do is not let people camp out. I don’t know how that would be accomplished, since people would find somewhere to congregate to wait to get in line. I am happy that I have passes for 2012. I will worry about 2013 later.

]]> By: Erik Rogers http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192992 Erik Rogers Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:07:55 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192992 The line for next years tickets was the worst. There has to be a better way to handle the demand for tickets. It might be harsh, but I would say everyone who attends each year has the right to an equal or downgraded badge for next year. Only one though and no upgrading. All remaining capacity goes to the online sale system. That way there is no rush to try and get tickets for next year or worry about selling out for a badge type, there can be no more sold than were allotted for this year. You don't even have to have a line. Simply set up an online site to allow for us to go access it for something like 30 days after the Con to enter our current badge ID and get our ticket for next year. No 3:30 AM camping for badges and those long term Con attendees get their badges. The line for next years tickets was the worst. There has to be a better way to handle the demand for tickets. It might be harsh, but I would say everyone who attends each year has the right to an equal or downgraded badge for next year. Only one though and no upgrading. All remaining capacity goes to the online sale system. That way there is no rush to try and get tickets for next year or worry about selling out for a badge type, there can be no more sold than were allotted for this year. You don’t even have to have a line. Simply set up an online site to allow for us to go access it for something like 30 days after the Con to enter our current badge ID and get our ticket for next year. No 3:30 AM camping for badges and those long term Con attendees get their badges.

]]> By: Chris http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192925 Chris Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:13:13 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192925 Well pre-registration won't be an issue next year at all because….. 'Yturralde says Comic-Con has a solution for 2013': “There will be no pre-registration.... All sales for the 2013 convention will be done online." http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2011/jul/26/stringers-will-sleep-floor-comic-con-2012-tickets/ I guess that's what you call a solution to the problem, just don't bother! LOL Well pre-registration won’t be an issue next year at all because…..

‘Yturralde says Comic-Con has a solution for 2013′: “There will be no pre-registration…. All sales for the 2013 convention will be done online.”

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2011/jul/26/stringers-will-sleep-floor-comic-con-2012-tickets/

I guess that’s what you call a solution to the problem, just don’t bother! LOL

]]> By: Astrid http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192824 Astrid Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:56:19 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192824 As someone who has been attending Comic Con over 25 years, I was saddened by the pre-registration situation this year. This is the first year since the early 90s that I don't have a pre-registration 4 day pass. I don't wait in lines so long it becomes camping. My time is worth more than that. So now I have to enlist my family members to try and win the SDCCI ticket lottery in hopes we can attend in 2012. This is not a very happy circumstance. Will this be the coffin nail and make the decision for me in attending future cons? As someone who has been attending Comic Con over 25 years, I was saddened by the pre-registration situation this year. This is the first year since the early 90s that I don’t have a pre-registration 4 day pass. I don’t wait in lines so long it becomes camping. My time is worth more than that. So now I have to enlist my family members to try and win the SDCCI ticket lottery in hopes we can attend in 2012. This is not a very happy circumstance.

Will this be the coffin nail and make the decision for me in attending future cons?

]]> By: Nina http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192791 Nina Fri, 05 Aug 2011 04:32:37 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192791 Speaking as someone who shoots and posts on Youtube, since I was there for specific panels in Ballroom 20, I didn't have the luxury of spending time in line for next year's tickets. Also, the fact they set limits of two per person, when I have six people hoping to attend next year, dissuaded me from even attempting to wait in line. I wish they'd at least allowed limited ticketing on preview night like last year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for online sales. Speaking as someone who shoots and posts on Youtube, since I was there for specific panels in Ballroom 20, I didn’t have the luxury of spending time in line for next year’s tickets. Also, the fact they set limits of two per person, when I have six people hoping to attend next year, dissuaded me from even attempting to wait in line. I wish they’d at least allowed limited ticketing on preview night like last year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for online sales.

]]> By: Paul http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192774 Paul Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:39:56 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192774 All the panels are on You Tube within 2 days, So I dont even bother to stand inline for 3hrs. The Biggest disappointment was Gerard Way turning down fans for a picture. Your really gonna try to lauch a comic soon and yet turn down comic con fans. Your not that big of a star and your music sucks. George Lucas took a pic with a fan and it made nation news. Check your atitude at the door Gerard way. All the panels are on You Tube within 2 days, So I dont even bother to stand inline for 3hrs. The Biggest disappointment was Gerard Way turning down fans for a picture. Your really gonna try to lauch a comic soon and yet turn down comic con fans. Your not that big of a star and your music sucks. George Lucas took a pic with a fan and it made nation news. Check your atitude at the door Gerard way.

]]> By: John http://sdccblog.com/biggest-disappointments/2555/comment-page-1/#comment-192761 John Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:17:05 +0000 http://sdccblog.com/?p=2555#comment-192761 The lines for pre-registration were crazy. I, like many others, left early to get in line at 5am. By the the time we got there there was a line past the boats in the marina. Luckily I was still able to get in and I was the 581st person(that was the ticket #) Then we all had to wait till 8 am for the staff to be at the ticket register. Negatives once we were inside: Once people were able to buy the tickets the SDCC staff made an announcement to everyone that they did not accept Discover Cards, or you needed to have that day's SDCC pass, if you did not have a 4 day pass already. The cash only line got backed up pretty quick and those in Cash only were at risk of losing out on the Preview night's passes. Postives: Making new friends in line, water stations were set up at around 7:30 am, they let you go to the bathroom, and the coffee station was opened around 6:30 am and Starbucks was within walking distance. The lines for pre-registration were crazy. I, like many others, left early to get in line at 5am. By the the time we got there there was a line past the boats in the marina. Luckily I was still able to get in and I was the 581st person(that was the ticket #) Then we all had to wait till 8 am for the staff to be at the ticket register.
Negatives once we were inside: Once people were able to buy the tickets the SDCC staff made an announcement to everyone that they did not accept Discover Cards, or you needed to have that day’s SDCC pass, if you did not have a 4 day pass already. The cash only line got backed up pretty quick and those in Cash only were at risk of losing out on the Preview night’s passes.
Postives: Making new friends in line, water stations were set up at around 7:30 am, they let you go to the bathroom, and the coffee station was opened around 6:30 am and Starbucks was within walking distance.

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