6:10 Anime Expo is the largest anime con in the country, but the largest geek con in general is San Diego Comic Con which also holds number 1 for the entire planet.
I have been going for AX for a while now. The reason why it seems that there's no order has to do with their con design philosophy. Other big cons will have empty spaces on purpose to facilitate the flow of traffic and extend lines if necessary. With AX, they will try to use every single available space for vendors, displays, and special events. Some of the vendors probably will be in the hallways this year. Is as if almost every empty space is a revenue opportunity that cannot be missed. I may be wrong, but that is the sense I got over the years.
Always wanted to go but the horror stories always hold me back. However, I heard it was better this year! People who went this year, what do you think??
Good Video!! I was there in line day 1 at 7 am. Got in around 11 30 am, doors opened last year at 10:00 am, only ADA and staff were able to enter earlier. 3:10 - 4:53 + 27:00 This crowd was only here on day one around 12 noon to about 12 30. This spot in particular was an intersection, and since there were two entrances that required you to walk through this intersection to get to artist alley and exhibit hall, it makes sense that the line of tens of thousands of people trying to get in and to the other side of the convention and not knowing that there is alternate routes didn't help the situation. And even then it was still flowing, and you could AVOID that intersection by going upstairs, or walking outside. And like you said, just know how to navigate and you will be fine. Really the crowds aren't nearly as bad as people think. Where it gets rowdy and crowded is artist alley and the initial 1st day line. AFter that, I attended days 1-3, and the con itself flowed smoother and better as people got familiar with the convention center, as well as staff figuring out better ways to manage the choke points. 20:48 You are allowed to bring in food to the con, we always pack a lunch snack since its so expensive. I think trying food from the food trucks is good for a day or two but it does add up quick. However, if you don't have a hotel thats onsite or offers shuttle service, I would not leave to go drive somewhere for lunch. (Uber eats maybe, but probably gonna be the same price as the food there). The two big underground structures nearby are 35$ a day, and you have to pay that parking fee AGAIN to re enter, and thats if theres even space left. Same goes for smaller parking lots, If you leave, you may not be able to park that close again, and even if you can, you more than likely will have to pay money again. 35$ plus whatever ur lunch turns out to be, better to just walk or buy more food at the con since you will be spending that money in time, gas, and parking fees. For those who don't want to or can't bring in food, either eat a good breakfast and tough it out til dinner, or be prepared to fork over some cash for food at the con. And I am glad at 29:52 , yes they did change the hours and thankfully so, opening at 9am is so much better than opening at 10. Even when we got there at 7 am, the line was still super long. And last year vendor halls were open when they opened the doors at 10 am. 31:12, there were 3 entrances last year, the back exit over by the tori gate and food trucks was an entrance, used it on day 2 and 3 as it was not well known about and only had a very short 30 min line to get in at opening. Really enjoyed ur video, I'm glad to see someone who actually understands the crowds and I agree with you that yes, capping tickets is not the answer to the problem as most people think it is. You could have half the attendees that you had last year at AX and still have the same issues regarding crowd flow, congestion and choke points. The staff were definitely not prepared to handle the crowd day 1, but by 1 pm on day one the staff figured out how to manage their crowds, and kept refining their management as the days went on. Hopefully this year they know how to handle them off the bat, but since the con starts on the 4th of July and is on a thursday, they should have ample time to figure everything out before the biggest day which will probably be saturday the 6th, crowd wise. Last year I went with just my brother and sister, and this year we are going again. But I have 7 friends flying in from out of state and country, and I am looking forward to them enjoying the convention like we did last year. Hope you enjoy this year's ANIME EXPO experience too !!!
Never knew Anime NYC capped on sale day that's crazy as someone who bought AX tickets in June because I finally caved in after seeing the guest/panel announcements
To me it is specially letting other use my prop for photos if they are the same fan as me. I went as a tank dempsey and brought my wunderwaffe prop. To me it was more meaningful letting people hold my prop bc i was once them and wanted that prop since the longest so my inner child just gets happy.
Now that you explained everything about Anime Expo thank you for your articulate speech because I'm about to go to an Anime expo this year to meet the voice actors and ask them questions on the board about their previous works if the convention is okay with that, but I think its going to be the best experience since I turned 20 years old this year.
6:10 Anime Expo is the largest anime con in the country, but the largest geek con in general is San Diego Comic Con which also holds number 1 for the entire planet.
I have been going for AX for a while now. The reason why it seems that there's no order has to do with their con design philosophy. Other big cons will have empty spaces on purpose to facilitate the flow of traffic and extend lines if necessary. With AX, they will try to use every single available space for vendors, displays, and special events. Some of the vendors probably will be in the hallways this year. Is as if almost every empty space is a revenue opportunity that cannot be missed. I may be wrong, but that is the sense I got over the years.
Always wanted to go but the horror stories always hold me back. However, I heard it was better this year! People who went this year, what do you think??
I'll be making a video about this soon!
@@lookingnerdy glad to hear it! Looking forward to your video!
I heard it was better this year in terms of the crowding.
Good Video!!
I was there in line day 1 at 7 am. Got in around 11 30 am, doors opened last year at 10:00 am, only ADA and staff were able to enter earlier. 3:10 - 4:53 + 27:00 This crowd was only here on day one around 12 noon to about 12 30. This spot in particular was an intersection, and since there were two entrances that required you to walk through this intersection to get to artist alley and exhibit hall, it makes sense that the line of tens of thousands of people trying to get in and to the other side of the convention and not knowing that there is alternate routes didn't help the situation. And even then it was still flowing, and you could AVOID that intersection by going upstairs, or walking outside. And like you said, just know how to navigate and you will be fine. Really the crowds aren't nearly as bad as people think. Where it gets rowdy and crowded is artist alley and the initial 1st day line. AFter that, I attended days 1-3, and the con itself flowed smoother and better as people got familiar with the convention center, as well as staff figuring out better ways to manage the choke points.
20:48 You are allowed to bring in food to the con, we always pack a lunch snack since its so expensive. I think trying food from the food trucks is good for a day or two but it does add up quick. However, if you don't have a hotel thats onsite or offers shuttle service, I would not leave to go drive somewhere for lunch. (Uber eats maybe, but probably gonna be the same price as the food there). The two big underground structures nearby are 35$ a day, and you have to pay that parking fee AGAIN to re enter, and thats if theres even space left. Same goes for smaller parking lots, If you leave, you may not be able to park that close again, and even if you can, you more than likely will have to pay money again. 35$ plus whatever ur lunch turns out to be, better to just walk or buy more food at the con since you will be spending that money in time, gas, and parking fees. For those who don't want to or can't bring in food, either eat a good breakfast and tough it out til dinner, or be prepared to fork over some cash for food at the con.
And I am glad at 29:52 , yes they did change the hours and thankfully so, opening at 9am is so much better than opening at 10. Even when we got there at 7 am, the line was still super long. And last year vendor halls were open when they opened the doors at 10 am.
31:12, there were 3 entrances last year, the back exit over by the tori gate and food trucks was an entrance, used it on day 2 and 3 as it was not well known about and only had a very short 30 min line to get in at opening.
Really enjoyed ur video, I'm glad to see someone who actually understands the crowds and I agree with you that yes, capping tickets is not the answer to the problem as most people think it is. You could have half the attendees that you had last year at AX and still have the same issues regarding crowd flow, congestion and choke points. The staff were definitely not prepared to handle the crowd day 1, but by 1 pm on day one the staff figured out how to manage their crowds, and kept refining their management as the days went on. Hopefully this year they know how to handle them off the bat, but since the con starts on the 4th of July and is on a thursday, they should have ample time to figure everything out before the biggest day which will probably be saturday the 6th, crowd wise.
Last year I went with just my brother and sister, and this year we are going again. But I have 7 friends flying in from out of state and country, and I am looking forward to them enjoying the convention like we did last year. Hope you enjoy this year's ANIME EXPO experience too !!!
Never knew Anime NYC capped on sale day that's crazy as someone who bought AX tickets in June because I finally caved in after seeing the guest/panel announcements
To me it is specially letting other use my prop for photos if they are the same fan as me. I went as a tank dempsey and brought my wunderwaffe prop. To me it was more meaningful letting people hold my prop bc i was once them and wanted that prop since the longest so my inner child just gets happy.
Now that you explained everything about Anime Expo thank you for your articulate speech because I'm about to go to an Anime expo this year to meet the voice actors and ask them questions on the board about their previous works if the convention is okay with that, but I think its going to be the best experience since I turned 20 years old this year.
Were you able to?
@@liberdelta yeah
So well spoken about our experience!! So excited to do this again with our group in a couple months! ❤😊
The problem with AX is that over the last decade, they’ve been intentionally overselling tickets. One day it’ll will bite them in the ass.
I’m gonna go by myself fri & Saturday if a group or someone alone will allow me to hang with them just to not be a loner there :)
Same here 😅 no one wanted to buy a ticket from my friends
If you think that’s crazy try New York Comic con