July 21, 2011
Okay last year was our first time going to Comic Con. Everytime the website said tickets would be on sale, the server blew up. Happened several times. Finally they kinda fixed the server and we were able to buy tickets for only 2 days. Thursday and Sunday. We bought the tickets in February. Last time we bought them in December. You have to get them right away of they sell out. You can't buy them from scalpers because the badge is linked to your name and it needs to match your ID.
We got going pretty quickly on Thursday. Last year we had a great parking spot, but it was a good walk to the convention center. We tried to park closer but needed to get there earlier, so we were back to our old spot.
We walked to the convention center and then walked up the stairs to get our badges. I went up first because Bridget didn't want to climb those stairs if that wasn't the way. I motioned for her to come up and got in line. The line started moving before she made it up the stairs. I got my badge first and then went back to her. "Thanks for waiting" She got in line to get her badge and the person noticed we had tickets for Sunday also. She gave Bridget badges for both days and then she gave me mine for Sunday. That was great luck as you will hear the story on Sunday.
In we went. There were a lot people in costumes and just a lot of people milling around. You get a great big bag to put your purchases and freebies in. We knew from last year if you really want to see something you try and get in the panel before. Last year we were only able to get in the smaller rooms so this year we were better prepared. We got in line for Ballroom 20. Twilight was in Hall H (capacity 6500) and people were camping out days in advance to get in. The line was starting to move, but it was deceiving just like Disneyland. We were outside and Bridget had to go to the bathroom. She went inside and asked a security guy if she could get back out there. No. The line did go back inside so she got back in there. We were in line a couple of hours before we got in. The Ballroom holds about 4200 people. Comic Con does not clear the room, so once in, its great.
We made it in for the Pysch panel. USA network show staring James Roday and Dule Hill.
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/psych/
We had not ever saw the show but the panel 7 actors, the creator and 2 executive producers were funny. And we saw a preview from the coming season. They gave us tickets to take to the fulfillment room. We didn't get that last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iWlFgoIrCo
Next up in Ballroom 20 was the panel from Ringer. A new show staring Sarah Michelle Geller. Bridget wanted to see that one. It's a new triller about a woman who witnesses a murder and assumes the life of her identical twin. There were 3 other cast members and the co-executive producers there. Sarah was funny (answering a question not really direct at her and then worrying about the next questions) and they showed scenes from the upcoming season.
http://cwtv.com/shows/ringer
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/21/sarah-michelle-gellar-talks-ringer-comic-con/#more-51383
We got another ticket. Whoo hoo.
I wanted to see the next panel even though I had not seen any episode from this show. Game of Thrones, the HBO series. The series is based on the books from George R R Martin and he was the moderator. They showed scenes from the series and now it made sense why the one lady had a dragon sewed to her dress. The fan base was very loud and supported the actors and the writer. They almost seemed fanatical. Jasom Momoa was there (the new Conan too) and he was quite in character. Peter Dinklage was using dry humor and body language. Emilia Clarke looked pretty, but her hair was brunette not the platinum blonde. Got another ticket. Yes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmQzGKIEV2I
We decided we should eat something finally. We had been in line since about 10:15 and got out of there at 4:00pm. Only had snacks and water. We walked over to the Hilton and ate at the Fox Sports Grill.
The exhibits closed at 7 pm so we walked over to the Marriott and entered the Fulfillment Room. Turned in our ticket for Psych and got a free T-shirt. Went over to the Ringer area and we got a stool (3 legged one). The Game of Thrones was the best with a backpack, T-Shirt, paperback book by George RR Martin,
Games of Thrones, a map and a mouse pad.
We walked back to the car. Bridget was so tired I had to carry her bag too. We need to rest up for tomorrow.
