Due to the fact that we now have a time schedule for the Breaking Dawn panel on Thursday, we know that there will be panels before and that “camping” will be required.  We’ve been asked a few times about advice for camping because we have camped out in years past.  However Comic Con has changed up the rules somewhat and we want to make sure that those of you who are going are planning accordingly for that long line into Hall H.  This information can be found on the Comic Con official site.  

For safety issues we cannot allow anyone to line up in the Park until ALL tents, canopies, stanchions and work is completed at the Park. This also includes areas adjacent to the park, so please no waiting nearby for work to be completed. We anticipate that all work will be finished sometime Tuesday morning (July 10), however this is not a guarantee.

Because this is a safety issue, we have been told that anyone waiting in the area before all work is completed will be asked to leave regardless of time of arrival or length of time they have been waiting.

In an effort to accommodate as many people as possible with the least amount of impact for all, please follow the rules below:

• Camping is not allowed.
• No tents, canopies, inflatables, cots, beds, furniture, large coolers, heaters, large fans, large umbrellas, chaise lounges, open flames, or anything of similar size of any kind as determined by the Convention Center.
• You are allowed to have one chair per person of relatively normal size. You may use a sleeping bag or blanket as well, provided it is only taking up the space of one person. No facilities or services will be available in the Park, so plan accordingly.
• Restroom access will be available in Lobby G of the Convention Center from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM each night starting Tuesday, July 10. No other access to facilities will be available. Please respect the grounds and dispose of trash in trash receptacles.
• Please do not leave any trash or waste behind.
• No “saving” a spot in line unless it is only temporary, such as a restroom break.

How does this differ from years past?

Back in 2009, I’ve seen tents and canopies and inflatable beds and all kinds of things that make sleeping out much easier. However last year in 2011 those were no longer allowed.  It sounds like they aren’t allowing for any accommodations for protection from the California sun given that even large umbrellas are banned(no idea if this means golf umbrellas or beach umbrellas), however it does sound like they are putting up the same protective canopy that they did last year and they need time to put it up without people being under it as that would be an obvious safety hazard.   Add to it no large coolers and you’ve got a problem storing food on site.  Also, if you’ve gone as a group and left one person in line while the others go get food or go back to the hotel to shower, it doesn’t appear that will be allowed either. There will be random badge checking going on, but I’m not sure how they plan on enforcing the “no saving places” rule. Also, take note that you officially can’t start lining up until all the roping and work on the area is complete, which they hope will be done on Tuesday. It will make Comic Con a very different experience this year, that’s for certain!

We just got this in from Summit: 

We are happy to announce that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 will be the opening panel in Hall H at ComicCon® International in San Diego on Thursday, July 12, 2012. Summit Entertainment will present a sneak peek at the highly anticipated conclusion of The Twilight Saga films. This is a must-see for fans interested in the story’s final chapter, who will be shown exclusive footage from THE TWILIGHT SAGA BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session providing details on the epic finale. In addition to the panel, BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 will also be present at the Summit Entertainment booth on the convention floor. Those who stop by will have the chance to attend autograph signings, participate in contests and collect free giveaways all weekend long.

Variety is reporting what we have all long surmised.

 

Sony and the merged Lionsgate-Summit, meanwhile, are understood to be planning a presence inside the San Diego Convention Center’s biggest space…Summit’s “Twilight” franchise has never missed the show – which has had fans camping out annually to secure a seat in the same room with their beloved thesps – and they’re expected back for the Comic-Con finale. Lionsgate will bring “The Expendables 2” to the Con, where Sylvester Stallone charmed the finicky masses two years ago.

What we don’t have a clear picture on yet is what are the other events in Hall H with Breaking Dawn. Last year was terrific because Breaking Dawn part 1 was the first panel of the day and the items that followed were more of the cult following type of thing, rather than a studio blockbuster. Camping out wasn’t so much requited as it was fun. Back with New Moon it was a challenge because New Moon was the middle panel on a day that also featured Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Avatar where camping was 100% necessary!

It is likely but not officially confirmed that Breaking dawn will be there on Thursday as it has done every other year. The one thing we do know is that Warner Brothers is doing their highly anticipated The Hobbit on Saturday so there should be no conflict there.

Comic Con just put out the following notice to those who registered using their new ID  system. This pre-registration system closed on February 28th.

You had to register with them and have an ID in order to purchase a ticket (very different than previous years).  Also please note that a Comic Con ticket buys you access to the Convention Hall, not a guaranteed admission into any specific panel or presentation. For that reason it’s first come first serve and sometimes sleeping outside for days at a time is required.

Please also note that though the Twilight films have typically been at Comic Con on a Thursday, there is no guarantee that will happen again. It’s up to the Comic Con staff who do the scheduling and now Lionsgate to bring them there. Do we think they will be there? Yes! We’re betting on it. Are we sure on the day? No.  Especially since the same studio now has Twilight and The Hunger Games who knows what they will want to do to maximize that PR. It’s also probably worthwhile to note that almost no movie or TV outlet has confirmed their presence at Comic Con at this point, nor will anyone have anything specific about dates(under Comic Con not studio control) until a month or so out.

If you did follow the procedure and preregister and have an ID you ABSOLUTELY NEED TO READ THIS DOCUMENT! Yes it’s long but trust us you want to read it. It covers the finer points on how the registration system work and what to expect in regards to wait time, what browsers to use, what email addresses work best, etc. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/reg/cci12_helpfulhints.pdf

As this article in the LA Times notes, last year the ticketing system went down several times and when they finally resurrected it, it sold out in 24 hours. So, even if the wait is long, you want to login to get your tickets on the first day, or there will likely not be any left.

The below photo was in Comic Con Annual that just came out. You can of course go for a hotel room not in the convention block, but they are more expensive or further away. For instructions on the new registration procedures for Comic Con see this post. The post also includes info about the con (They give you admission to the four-day event, but they don’t guarantee you admission to any given panel, so camping out may or may not be required) Tickets have not gone on sale as of yet.

No official announcement has been made yet by Summit/Lionsgate (or any movie studio), but we think it highly likely that a Breaking Dawn II panel will be there.

Comic Con has just changed the way people register for their annual convention. They now have a preregistration where you have to create an account (different than before) in order to be registered in their system with a unique name and ID. Then when they have registration a couple of months down the road, you apparently log in using that newly created ID in order to get your convention passes. Yes, I know that this is a little confusing, but that’s their system.

Now Summit has not announced yet if they will be at Comic Con (nor has any other studio for that matter). However, we would believe that it would be highly unlikely for them skip Comic Con since it’s the last hurrah for Twilight. Also since they tend to be marketing creatures of habit, we also think it highly likely that they would be there on Thursday since that is what they have done every single year that they were there.

So in short:

1. Go here and create an account using the big red button in the right column.

2. Once you have this account when they actually start offering event passes you can buy them. They have not as of yet announced the on-sale date of these passes

Please keep in mind the following:

Registering for Comic Con does not guarantee you a seat in any panel. It’s first come first serve seating, and if other popular things are in the hall that day sleeping out on the street is likely necessary.

Comic Con is not run by Summit Entertainment. Summit does not set any rules here, Comic Con staff does in conjunction with the security force at the convention center.

99% of the Twilight fans in the past have been able to see the Q & A panels. Roughly 3,000 people fit into the big hall (AKA Hall H) Some lucky ones on a lottery ticket system in the past got autographs from some of the stars. Last year some stars (not Rob Kristen or Taylor) stopped by to bring breakfast over to those of us waiting outside.

As soon as we know more we will announce it.