CE16 Celebration Stage wristbands & queueing (was: How to get in to Hamills stage show)

Last year I lined up at 9pm the night before the opening panel and don't regret it at all, even considering that people who showed up within hours of the panel still got in. It was a great time and part of the whole experience for me. I've waited in line for Star Wars before, but never a truly dedicated overnight stay like that. I figured why not this time. Got in a few cat naps throughout the night. I didn't consider it necessarily a badge of honor, rather, just something I'm glad I did to experience the whole of Celebration and be one of the first to get in. There was definitely an atmosphere of camaraderie among everyone there, everyone cheering when one of the horizontal metal barrier posts would fall on the ground (anybody remember that?), discussions abound concerning all things Star Wars that I've never had in my life, then, finally once the chutes started moving one guy yelled out "First transport is away!" and everybody cheered like they did in ESB. In my adult life I don't think I ever felt more comfortable and at peace with where I was or what I was doing than being amongst everyone there. The chills I felt during the initial sequence of the trailer, then the eruption of applause once we all heard "Chewie, we're home", all after that night of waiting and knowing what's about to happen over the next four days. Guess you had to have been there. Changed my life.

Granted, I was 28 at the time and went by myself, so lining up was easy to do. And indeed, no matter what, there will always be a queue for the actual queue, so might as well give people a safe environment to do that in.

I understand the frustration someone might feel if they are not able to do that, but to get all bent out of shape and act like the rules should be adjusted so they can be accommodated is ridiculous. And the language some people are using, not just about the lines but also the schedule, prices, layout, people saying they are "gutted", swearing off Celebration as a whole, wanting refunds and going on tirades about it, just being overly dramatic about it. People need to get over themselves. It is what it is.

 

It's that sense of self entitlement "I want to do everything without paying or putting in effort because I bought an entry ticket"

The whole event is special but perhaps it depends on how much Star Wars has meant in your life? Either way I'm gonna struggle to sleep tonight!

 

Me too! And that's pretty damn cool! Have an awesome time everybody!


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In the queue. It looks busier than it is, 2 rows full for Rogue One but everyone's quite spread out and we'd probably all fit in 1 row so far if we weren't all sitting/lying down (Mark Hamill queue is about 1/3 of a row so far)

About half way down the first row, sitting with some great Celebration veterans and hearing some great stories of previous events.

 

We're looking to get to the RO queue at about 5am. Earliest we can manage. Hopefully it won't be full by then.

 

The odds of you getting into the RO panel are 4.200 to 1... but I have been known to make mistakes....from time to time...

Oh dear...oh dear.

 

Likewise

 

Well damn, seeing reports on Twitter of a repeat of last year's pizza stunt from Kennedy!

 

Yep just had pizza courtesy of Kathleen Kennedy! Having an awesome night.

Queue is up to 3rd row but really spread out so plenty of places left! Still people coming in (and more pizza, they ran out of dough!) but only a few, think there will be plenty of wristbands left at this pace but we'll see what the morning brings.

 

Got here too. There's excitement in the air! Will probably join queue in an hour or so

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Queue started to be condensed about half an hour ago, they're doing a count now.

 

I'll be there around 0530. Hope it's early enough

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My completely free unscientific and inaccurate guess would be around 1,000 people so far. So if it holds 4,500 as people have said then the worry was for nothing!

 

In the queue now, it's not too bad. I'd say about 1500 people.
Not so bad, the Hamill queue only has maybe 50 people right now

 

Just got in the queue.

 

Do you think it's already full?

 

Not yet.

 

Yeah about 1500 at most in the queue. It really started to pack from 4:30 onwards. Everyone flooding to the Hamill panel now. They'll probably still be tickets though at 7 or 8 but maybe not 9am. Who knows how many seats are reserved.

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Result!

 

Got bands for Hamill & Rogue One. What was the fuss about? Ha

 

Got in the building about 6.15am, and out by 7.00am with both Hamill and Rogue One. Thankfully I live close to the venue so I'm off home for a shower and coffee!

 

Seems the people who waited overnight kinda wasted their time.
Bit at least KK gave them free pizza

 

My bus into London was delayed so I only arrived in the city at 6:40. Rushed (as fast as the tube allows one to rush) to the Excel, panicked at the prospect of Queues and sold out wristbands and... I got a Rogue One & New Hope band. That was easy. My fears of poor organisation have been allayed. Now I'm really excited for the weekend..

 

I'd love to hear from anyone who gets there after 7 to see how they get on with wristbands. Call it 'research' for the FF panel on Sunday. I am heartened by the fact that the demand doesn't seem anywhere near as heavy as people feared. I feel like I can be reasonably confident about getting a proper sleep and a panel wristband now!

 

It's 8am and the board is showing three panels green and one yellow so there's wristbands for all still available.