grail's daily photo log

I've been going to the San Diego Comic-Con for 17 year now (I did miss on in 1991, due to the fact that I was on my honeymoon.  The sacrafices we make...).  Preview night is something the Comic-Con (CC) promoters started in about 1999 or so, and it's become a huge deal.  Only those who pre-register for the 4-day pass are eligible to attend, and, judging by this year, that's a huge portion of the overall attendance.

This year I took my 6 year old daughter with me for the whole con (she been to the last 3 CC's, but never for more than a day or so).  Getting our badges was a snap, taking all of 10 minutes, and most of that was walking through the vast hallways of the SD Convention center to reach the badge staging area.  We arrived a bit early, in order to get in line for the opening of the vendor floor, but found that line to be overwhelmingly long (not all that unusual, actually).  So, I decided to take Maddy out to the Gaslamp Quarter (downtown SD) and get some dinner. 

I should explain that the line for entrance into the floor is let in through the rear of the convention hall, and that the main entries are closed until the line has been fully let in.  At least, in theory.  From experience, I know that the front entries are opened within minutes of the line letting in, but it's very difficult to get into the front lobby and have access to those doors.  The security personnel are basically line Nazis, and force anyone loitering outside to move to the line or disburse.

So, we leave the line, but the way back to the street is blocked (it's the way that they will be letting the line into the vendor floor).  The secuity lady informs me that we have to back track all the way around the hall (we are on the second floor) and exit through the other end of the building.  Yeesh.  As most of you are not familiar with the San Diego convention center, it is HUGE.  That is one long trek.  The solution?  Have a cute 6 year old with you.  When Maddy looks stricken at the thought of walking all that way, the secuity lady relents and lets us use the elevator.  What she doesn't realise (I guess) is that the elevator at this particular spot, doesn't go to the first floor, instead opening on the Mezzanine level.  Maddy and I wander past closed office after closed office until we finally find a stairwell, and exit on the first floor, right next to the B Hall entry. 

The best part, we are inside the lobby doors where security are patrolling, and they don't give us a second look.  As there are tons of vendors and staff milling about, we don't attract any notice.  (There are a handfull of fortunates, like ourselves who have managed to find their way into the lobby as well.  I can only assume that security was too busy to chase us out).  So, we camp outside the entry, and slip in as soon as the floor opens at 6:00 for preview night.  Excellent!

The first half hour was great, as the massive line waiting to get in gradually trickled through the door.  We looked at a few of the highlights (the Sideshow Toy pavillion, the WETA workshop, and the HUGE Star Wars section), but as there were no alternative programming available (the CC has tons of pannels, autograph session, movies, etc.), the only thing to captivate everyone was the dealer floor.  By 7:00, it was wall to wall people, so Maddy and I said goodnight and got some dinner.