Anime Expo Report

Wow, what an experience this was. We were up at 3:15 out the door and on our way to the LA Convention Center. After circling the Center, the line for registration had about 4/5 people in it and thought OK not bad.

We then pulled around back to the West Hall Parking about 5:15am and being 7th in line and opening at 530 things were looking OK. After we got parked, we walked down Pico and saw a rather large line which apparently was a line for Autographs. You will see a few pictures of this line and even someone with a portable hammock wow! At this point, took a quick shot of the front and there were about 15-20 people in front of that line who already registered ( I highly recommend going the night before you go and register) and said the registration line is over to the left.

Keep in mind by registering the night before you will cut done on one step of lines. Also, had we done this we would have been about 20-25th in line to enter the lobby at about 9-10am. So we waited in line for registration and were about 33rd in line so thought not too bad. This part of the building opened up at 7am and you MUST make sure you have your ID, and ticket or ticket on the app (Eventbrite).

One lady we were talking to in line forgot her License and had to go back to parking to get and come back. Once we were done with registration we walked out front and by now (7:15am) there were quite abit more people and lines forming behind several doors. This was a mess as no tape lines, and we were moved a couple times. But we settled about 40th in line behind one of the doors to get in so just waiting to get in. The line started to move, quick search of Stacy’s bag and we were in the main lobby.

By this time, we were hungry and the food trucks out front did not open until 9am. So we got a breakfast burrito at the café had a quick rest off our feet and looking for the next line to get in. Now we had two choices to line up. We could go down in the main lobby and was a cluster and heard that at 10am they start with the escalators and then open the stairs to get up which we thought could be a mess.

So up by the café there was a outside area we thought was a smoking area but was a Premier line and then another line for common folk like us to get and went that route. At this point, we were now about 80-100 in line but once all the premiere folks went in, and our line started move it was quick and we were in the main exhibit hall by 10:15 am. For the first hour or so it was busy but not too bad but as the day went on, was busier and busier and by the end of the day I was ready to get away from crowds.

Stacy and I started at one end and went isle by isle taking a few minute break every 2 hours as feet started to hurt. Met up with our friend Toni about 1-2pm and walked the entire Exhibit hall from between 10:15am and 5:45pm losing about 45 min for breaks. There is lots to see and do so make sure you know ahead of time what you want, check out vendors, see panels, autographs, as this is huge and lines and stuff everywhere so do your homework.

We hope you enjoy the pictures, and if you are wondering if we will do again likely not. There were some cools things so if you are big into Anime this is your show. For us we will stick with WonderCon, D23, D-Con and shows like that. Not to say we did not have fun, just was good for us to do once. Don & Stacy