8 DOS AND DON’TS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF STAR WARS CELEBRATION CHICAGO

Posted on by

Via Starwars.com:

GOING TO THE WORLD’S BIGGEST STAR WARS PARTY? HERE’S THE INTEL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

Can you feel it? There is a tremor in the Force, as if everyone will be converging on a single place to celebrate all things Star Wars very soon. Star WarsCelebration Chicago is coming up next week, and this veteran of nine Celebrations can sense that this is the time that fans are looking at all the ways to get the most out of their convention experience. Whether you are attending for a solo day, or will be coming for the entire five day extravaganza, I’ve got some tips on what to do and do not to maximize the awesome — when it comes to Celebration, there is no try!1. Do: Scout Ahead

By now, you probably know which days you’ll be attending, and have hopefully sorted out your travel and lodging accommodations. Time to start making a rough game plan for the convention! If you will be in Chicago before April 11, consider picking up your badge in advance! Watch the Celebration site for information on where and when to pick up your badge on Wednesday, April 10, or earlier on site at McCormick Place — get it out of the way, pick up a print programming guide and get a feel of the convention center. Not only will you be saving yourself valuable time on the days that you’ll be attending the convention by having your badge in hand (or rather, around your neck), you’ll be more familiar with getting to the convention center from where you’re staying, and of course, where the convention entrances are, and how to reach the exhibition floor, panel programming rooms, restrooms, dining options, and more. And if you’re not attending Celebration until Saturday or Sunday or even Monday, it is still a good idea to get down to McCormick Place a day ahead to pick up your badge and save yourself that effort on your first day of Celebration.

2. Don’t: Make Just One Plan

Fans who’ve attended the bigger pop culture cons know that when it comes to picking which panels to attend, not only do you make Plan A, but you also might make a Plan B and Plan C. With Celebration being nothing but Star Wars all the time, everywhere, there’s going to be more panels and programs to attend than even Jedi Master Luke Skywalker can possibly be at. When it becomes available, download the Celebration app and use it to make your own custom schedule. Whether you use the app, the paper programming guide, or write on the back of your hand, make that schedule with backup plans. Be sure to use the new LIGHTSPEED system for panels and the store. Also factor in that it does take some time to walk around a crowded convention center compared to an empty one, even more so if you might need an elevator to get from floor to floor.

Click below to read the full article.