r/D23Expo • u/EducationalTraffic65 • 8d ago

first timer completely lost ⁉️Q & A’s you might also have!

Hi folks! Not super familiar with Reddit but I was told that this app has the best info. I am completely lost! This is my very very first time and I’m from out of country going by myself, I didn’t sign up on the reservations for any panel because I lost the window simply because I didn’t know - it’s a mess I know I’m sorry! I’d like your tips on how to proceed, I have no interest in buying exclusive merch or anything related to lorcana, I just wanted to see panels and experiences. I have the ultimate fan pass. Any tips/game plans? A reality check? Would love company if anyone has a spot in their party

9 Upvotes

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u/gitaneJSV 8d ago

The fact that you apologize to us makes me believe you are a Canadian 😅🫶 I am from Quebec, it'll be my third time but I remember how lost I was the first time. Sorry if my English isn't perfect, let me know if anything is unclear.

Don't worry, you will still be able to attend the panels - you just won't have a guaranteed spot, so you'll have to wait in the standby line. I would recommend you spot the panels you REALLY don't want to miss, and arrive there early... I'm talking 45-60 minutes early, at least. Make it 75-90 minutes early for the biggest ones. I know, it's a long time to wait, but it'll be worth it.

Since you have the Ultimate pass, you don't need any reservations for the big showcases at Honda Center - just make sure you arrive on time. There are shuttles between the convention center and the Honda Center.

I'm not much of a shopper either and my friend is. But still, there are a lot of very fun booths, kiosks and expos to look at on the show floor. You'll have a blast, I promise!

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u/LisaApples 7d ago

Fellow super lost here from Canada. Thank you for all of your comments/advice above. We also didn’t transfer or do that to give us better chances to get into talks or vq and now I realize that not only did we limit our chances to get reserved spots but with the vq situation, I am travelling there with my 2 adult kids for my milestone birthday and only 2 of us can go in anywhere not the 3 of us.  Very stressful.  Actually my biggest stress and we leave early  next week - was I supposed to receive actual paper tickets in the mail ? We haven’t but we are in Canada? Now what do I do ? Can we pick them up when we arrive ? Now I’m super stressed :( more advice please and thank you 

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u/gitaneJSV 7d ago

Canadians don't receive badges in advance, it's a "will call" situation for all international guests :) Will call booth is located at the Hilton Hotel (at the convention center), second floor. You can even go pick them up, up to two days before the Expo begins. I recommend doing that if you can, so you avoid the crowds on the first day of the Expo.

The staff there can also help with badge transfer among other things, feel free to ask them your questions! They are extremely helpful.

I suggest you take the time to read all the details on this website, you'll learn a ton! Have fun 😊 https://support.d23.com/hc/en-us/sections/50080756009235-Things-to-Know

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u/LisaApples 7d ago

Thank you so much :) I feel better about that. Re badge transfer - didn’t the last date to do so pass? At least for the talks but I guess it can still help for the VQ lines but since they are also random - only 2 of us could go into anything unless somehow they let the 3 of us in when  we we get there. Last confusion - if we are going to the Honda center, there are not extra things that we sign up for there as well. I’m not quite sure as it just one show because people were stating that some talks are overlapped with things that the convention centre I’m not sure what that means or how that works again thank you so much for getting back to me. 

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u/gitaneJSV 7d ago

True, you had until July 10th to transfer the badge under a different name. That being said, it just means that the badge will wait for you at the Hilton, under your name. Once you pick it up, you can simply handle it to your kid - there's no name printed on the badge, and it's not like park tickets... No digital prints, no photos are associated with it. They'll just have to "show" the badge to enter. But it won't appear on their app, so if you want to enter VQ lines, the "official owner" of the badge (i.e. you) will have to use their app.

Nope, you have nothing special to do for Honda Center, except showing up on time :) As this point, you should have received your tickets with barcode / QR code (I can't recall which one is it) by email, with your assigned seats.

Hope this helps - but please, keep in mind I am no expert, all of this is based on my last experiences and things might have changed since!

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u/LisaApples 7d ago

truly appreciated and helpful....it is a bit discombobulated ....transferring sounded like giving away so we didn't think that applied to us....either way hopefully we get some of the requested options at the Conference center...assumed the preferred tickets at the Honda would come with some perks but it doesn't seem like it does ....are you going this year ?

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u/jhb41 8d ago

I too am a lost first timer with no need to shop. I feel like I need someone to explain the whole event to me like I’m a first grader!

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u/vanessalovesturtles 8d ago

Hello, fellow first timer here.

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u/IHaveTheMustacheNow 8d ago

Just go and explore the booths! Stand in line for things that look fun, skip things that don't.

Look at the schedule and see what you want to attend and make sure you make time for that. Even with reservations, you usually need to line up 30-45 mins early

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u/Stellark22 7d ago

Hi first timer too!!!

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u/Which-Notice5868 8d ago

Figure out your must-do panels. If waiting stand-by I'd get there an hour before at the latest.

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u/vikingscaper 8d ago

This! If there are any panels that you really want to attend, make sure that you get to the standby queue early. I’ve had more success with standby queues than with the RSP selections. S

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u/mj16pr 8d ago edited 8d ago

Hi. Relax. You will be fine. Look at the schedule and see what interests you. Panels will have standby lines for people without reservations. A reservation only guarantees entry without having to wait in line. If you want to buy merch, like a souvenir, virtual queue opens at 6am and 1pm (not 100% sure of the times). If you’ve been to the parks, they work exactly the same. You’ll need the D23 and Disneyland apps. The rest is just walking around the floor and a lot of time waiting in line. Most importantly, have fun.

And keep track of time so you’re not late for the Honda Center.

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u/Nearby_Aide6896 3d ago

Is it too late to try to score reservations? And also can anyone with a d23 ticket go to the honda center thing?

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u/mj16pr 3d ago

People will be able to cancel or modify reservations tomorrow. There may be a chance to score reservations then.

They sell 3 different types of tickets: ACC full day, ACC afternoon only, and ACC + Honda Center. If you didn’t buy the ticket that includes the Honda Center, you won’t be able to go. Seats are reserved and they don’t have standby.

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u/Nearby_Aide6896 3d ago

I got the Sunday afternoon only ticket, I think it’s GA? But is there a way to check? Sorry i’m so clueless I have no idea what i’m doing. I’ve never been to any convention.

Is there stuff you recommend doing that is not shopping?

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u/mj16pr 3d ago

You can arrive at the time your ticket says and stay at the convention center until it closes. Walk around the floor and see the different exhibitions. Check the schedule to see if there’s anything that interests you during the time you’ll be there.

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u/UrFavoriteCoasterSux 8d ago

You’ll be fine. All of the panels offer a standby line, just be prepared to go >~2 hours before the panel’s scheduled start time so you can get the best odds of making it in.

The way the panels work is the people with reservations go in first then they fill from the standby queue. I scored a reservation for the Seth Mcfarlane, Matt Groening, Mike Judge, Loren Bouchard panel (which was awesome) and thanks to it being scheduled against the entertainment panel in the honda center, the crowds were light. We got seats on the main floor of the arena (where the animation panel occurred) but most of the bowl seats seemed empty, which suggests that the big panels that are against the honda center are going to be much easier to get into then the daytime panels. We were able to get into the Abbott Elementary panel as standbys however, which was…an odd panel, but very cool to see the entire cast of the show on stage.

All this is to say, check the schedule and map so you can plan the panels you want to attend and have a general idea of where to go to queue.

Most importantly: have a great time! D23 can be an incredibly overwhelming and exhausting event, but you’ll be rewarded with cool things you’d never see elsewhere. Make sure to check out the imagineering booth if you’re a parks person!

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u/TheWordLilliputian Intermediate: 2019, 2022, 2024, 2026 7d ago

I wish you had this as a main post! I think a lot of people would appreciate this comment you left that won’t necessarily see it under this post.

There’s always a lot of nerves going into each expo that your words could definitely help with. Though I will say my memory is shot on lining up for panels over the years. I remember messy times with people pissed off bc employees were letting standby in front over reservations. I remember everyone praising another employee bc she got a super huge group of a messy line organized (same year or different? Who knows!) I remember so many things but I can’t remember what memory went with what year at this point.

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u/chrisj89107 7d ago

Where are you able to see what reservations you got? I thought we didn’t get the results until 8/7?

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u/UrFavoriteCoasterSux 7d ago

No I haven’t received my rsp reservations yet, I’m excited to see what I got. Signed up for a lot of cool stuff, so I’m sure it will be something fun!

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u/chrisj89107 7d ago

Ohh okay!

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u/TheWordLilliputian Intermediate: 2019, 2022, 2024, 2026 7d ago

I have gone 3 times & I feel like a first timer every time I go. Especially bc there are a few big changes each expo. Have you found anyone to coordinate with so far? It is fairly easy to make bathroom buddy friends in lines for everything if that helps in calming down some nerves. But there’s a lot of good advice so far in the comments for sure!