Celebration II experience; 2002

This is pretty much as I wrote it 3 years ago, with only minor editing for cleanliness.


FRIDAY
4:45
Back at the hotel writing.
WOW.
We got in here at about almost 9:00, get in our room, then go down to the place. The place is HUGE, and the line is almost as big! It wraps almost all the way around!
It moves pretty fast, though; and we get in
We’re going out to dinner. Write more later.

10:00
Finally back from the restaurant. We had dinner at a beer bar, served by an effervescent Autumn. They brew their own, so didn’t have anything for me to drink L But I even tasted some of the samplers, but eeww. After dinner we went downstairs to shoot some pool. Had a lot of fun, and a shot of Jagermeister at the end.

So; we waited in line to get in for only about an hour. It went fast. Lots of people in costumes; many kids, many young couples with babies. Made me think of my kids of course, and want to share this with them for III, perhaps. Wherever it might be, I think it would be a fun family trip! They have lots of kids’ activities – crafts, Jedi training, etc. But also kinda busy for little ones.
The line to get in wound around the hall/dome – three sides of it!! Unbelievable. No problems, though, everyone was friendly.
“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtroooper?” Heard this one a few times, addressed to costumed attendees. We heard many a tale about Celebration I and the disaster it was – outside lines, rain, and not enough space, etc… Not a problem here; wonderful weather and plenty of indoor space.
Well, we get in, follow the throng, somehow figure out that the opening ceremonies are upstairs – just in time, too – they stopped letting people up just after we go on the stairs. Another line. Dudes showed us their lightsabers – one of them light-jobbies that attach and glow, one home-spun aluminum.
There are many costumed people!! Stormtroopers mostly (volunteer help?) officers, Fetts, Sand People (!), females too.
Saw many women – a bit surprised at that. Many in costumes, many with kids, etc.

I thought the Opening Ceremonies would be too full by the time we got to the door. I looked at our program and saw the size of the place though. It’s huge. We finally got in – line a bit slower than the outside one, - sat about 2/3 of the way back, music blaring till the start. There seemed to be many open seats to our right. We didn’t have to wait long! The lights went down. Steve Sansweet came out, gave a bit of an intro of stars who couldn’t be there, then showed their footage! Wonderful. George, Pernilla, Sam Jackson (kicking some major but with his “Violet Light”), Natalie, Ewan, John Williams, Lee, - all very cool.
Not sure of order here. They showed the new music video. He introduced the Marketing president, they introduced the original teaser trailer from 1976 for Star Wars! Film quality was horrible! Still cool though. Then, he talked about marketing and competent with Spiderman – he wanted to show us the new trailer for Spiderman to give him ideas on how to make ours better. Well, the Spiderman text came on, then it was YODA. Fucking Yoda kicking Dooku’s butt with the lightsaber, dancing all over the place!!!! The place went nuts, chanting “one more time, one more time” after it was over. WOW.
Steve introduced Anthony Daniels, who was very funny. Had the audience do the Ewok “OhWoah” chant while he came back out again. He singled out 2 fans, one went on stage, and the other said “I want to see you levitate first.” WooHoo! He was flabbergasted, but was very funny about the whole ting. Then Daniels brought out McCollum, who was overweight and joked about it. He talked about digital projection and how to get it in your area, how amazing it was, and how he was going to show 8 new minutes of II digitally over the weekend. A must see that we’re planning for tomorrow. Then Daniels introduced Hayden. Very articulate young man, humble and intelligent about his field, yet excited about being in Star Wars. I took some decent pictures during this. Very cool intro.

We went out of this place, made our way outside for smokes, and then decided to try for the gift shop. Ha! The line was a mile long for that! Instead we went to the exhibit hall, wandered that for a few hours. Little to no free stuff! Lots of toys for sale and display, masks, cards, all kinds of collectible dealers. The Kenner booth was amazing! 3 vinyl cape jawas!!!!! Very crowded again. Saw many carded figures, going for 2-600 bucks! Ones that I had as a kid!!
No one rude, though. If bumped ya got an apology. Getting hot in there though. Didn’t get to look at the card game yet. Missed Daniel Logan playing Richard Garfield!!

Well, after uncertainty, we decided to try for the store again. The line is longer, but we discover that it stretches around the corner! Ugh. By now it is close to 4 and we’re all pretty tired, sore, and hungry. So we make our way outside again, talk about what to do next, if anything.
We talk about tonight’s possibilities, and plan to get up early tomorrow. Finally decide to head back to the hotel at least for a drink, and find some place to eat. That’s when I started this, as noted above.

We want to get to the McCallum thing tomorrow. I’d like to see the Fetts. Also, there are autographs to get, the concert to get ticks, maybe, and more to look at in the exhibit hall.
Then there’s the gift shop!

SATURDAY.
1:48
Just got done eating Wendy’s. Really hit the spot. Watching the Red Wings.
Well, we got up at 7:30, got outta here a little after 8, and then got stuck by the marathoners! More than 30000 runners! After about 30 minutes, we got to the site, the line only down around the first corner. Talking to guys from Missouri. Lotsa costumes again. We see 2 other lines forming; one for those without tickets is as long as ours!! Good luck folks. Finally, a bit after 9, people start going in. The line moves smoothly, once it starts moving, but we get inside and it’s nuts! There is a line forming for Carrie Fisher already – even longer than the store line yesterday. We go down that hall and get in line for the store. After 20 minutes someone tells us the center line is for the store the left lane is for the exclusive figure-cash only. Well it takes an hour to get into the hall where the stuff is, then an hour to get to the end of that line to pick stuff! WOW. I pick up 2 figures, 2 pins, a keychain, and have to order a t-shirt. I don’t know what to get Jen and the kids,-they don’t even have kid’s size or women’s size. I think Jen might like the keychain. I want to get the kids toys to play with. Actually PLAY with. The exclusive stuff was mediocre. Stamps, t-shirts, crappy looking posters, pins and key chains. Nice jacket for $275.
Quite an experience. 3 hours to spend 50 bucks. Still, everyone is cool, talkative, some guys talking about how they’ve gone back and gotten 4, 6 figures. They’re already on eBay!!
What’s next? We’re gonna go back and try for the McCallum thing, look in the exhibit hall more, try some other of the ongoing things.

We talk about what could be done better. Layout, more space, more stores, better flow. 2 different locations – one east coast, one west coast.
Gonna take off now. More later.

1:08 pm 12:08 central time.
Settling into bed, it’s been a while since I had the chance to write.
Whew.
We all went back, Jason and I went into the exhibit hall, about 2:30. We went straight to the autograph section and got inline. The line to get the tickets was about 30 minutes, then you go in and see all the stars, and form separate lines for them. Jason figures he needs 8 so I offer to buy the other 2 to get the cheaper pack. We go in, browse around; I decide to get inline for Dave Prowse, while Jason checks out the others. He gets a couple, then comes back in line with me. With about 15 people to go, Dave stops and signs a bunch of piles of preorders. It takes damn near an hour!! Well, while waiting I get some pics, talk to people around, and chat with Jason. I go down and get Bonnie Piesson’s autograph, on a whim ask her to sign it to Jackie. She’s cute and rather gracious. Get pics of some others. Billy Dee is sitting right next to Dave. He looks tired! He’s signing for a huge line, then starts on stacks of preorders! Stacks and stacks.
Then we see Warwick Davis walk through. Others ask him for pics and he politely agrees. We both get our pics with him. Very riendly guy.
Finally, Dave gets done and lets the real waiters get autographs. Get some good pics of him. He’s friendly but looks awfully tired.
By then Billy Dee opens again! We jump in line; Jason gets his, and some good pics. Then we go around for him to get Kenny Baker. The chicks are amazing. Shannon Baksa especially. She really plays it up, too. All for one picture on one game card. Oh well.
No idea what time it was. I hang out in the exhibit hall a bit. Just enjoying the ability to move a bit. Go look for the free book area – it’s not where it was on the map. Look at the card game area. No particular impression either way on that. Like to try it, but no one to play with. More money too. Browse more slowly through the dealer stuff. Look for free stuff, but there isn’t much. Finally I go outside. I see the lady from the card shop on Lasky. Talk to her a bit. Nice. I talk to her daughter a bit – reminds me of Jackie of course. Start thinking about what the kids could do here, but…They said the kid’s area was crowded too. Maybe when they’ll be 7 for the next one. Maybe!

We decide to try the THX room, as the line is rather short. We get about 7 people away and the cut off. But they say they’re gonna do 2 more shows. We sit about 40 minutes, get in, and the event staff give them a hard time, but let us do ours as the last show. This was cool - how they do sound, how many people it takes, how many tracks of sound; not to the mention the plethora of clips from all of Lucas’ movies. The sound system as set up is about $40K!

Jason heads back, I want to go back in and check out the looping films – fanclub and pop culture. Fanclub things are funny. Some of them welldone, some of them cheesy. Starting to get sleepy, though still no idea what time it is. I go up to the pop culture thing. They have a list of what’s playing. Includes the Fett animation from Holiday special, about half a reel away, so I try for that. See commercials, previews, and this very funny thing with Warwick Davis trying to find where he should be for his part as an Ewok. The main stars even help him out. Funny!
They stop at the end of this reel!! The Fett thing is at the start of the next, but it’s 9:45, so they wont’ start it again. Dang!

Well, I head back, find them at the bar having a white russian. I come up and call Jen. She’s upset that I didn’t call when I said I would. Understandable. I talk to the kids, too. Man, I miss them all.

Go out to eat at hard rock. Good burgers.
Come back and write, get in bed.
It’s now 2:00, 1 local. Good night.

Sunday 4:53
Wow.
Again.
We’re on the road now (ep II on the cd player!), just got done at taco bell. Hard to know where to start now. Very tired. Very missing Jen and the kids. Very happy. It was an unbelievable weekend. Well let’s start at the beginning of today.
Got up about 6:30 again. Jason got his fan club lanyard yesterday and wanted to get there early. We were outta there by 7. We checkout, dumbstruck by the cost of the long distance calls! We might lodge a complaint – Our shower was cold and the remote control didn’t work. Anyway, we get to the site; Jason goes his way to the fan club entrance (which the line is even bigger than ours.) Me and Chris get in line at about half the length as yesterday’s to get in - half way down the short side of the dome.

Just saw horses; making me think of Jackie and missing the family. A lot. Don’t look like we’re gonna make it by 8.

We have fun in line; actually get to sit at times. Over hear that Jake Lloyd was here, sneaking into presentations. This wait is long, though. We were there at about 7:30, the fan club line let in opened at 8:30; we didn’t start letting in till 9:30. Oh, and while waiting the 501st came out and formed up on the steps. Stormtroopers, guards, Fetts, Vader, Palpatine. Pretty cool. Apparently they are quite organized.

Well, it’s 11:06 now, Sunday night. The battery died! We just put the kids in bed, all very tired, watching the news.
It was good to see the kids again, and Jen is the most amazing wife ever. She’s been cleaning the house, got a job lined up for the summer. But damned am I tired!! J

Where was I. Well the line was moving to get it by now. Pretty quick too. Chris goes to try to get in the store line, I head back to the autographs to get tickets,. Big croud going upstairs! The Exhibit hall is pretty crouded. The line to get tickets is kinda short, but the line to get autographs is very long. Well to get Dave Prouse and Lando. I get in and get 2 ticks real quick, then make my way back looking for Jason. I don’t remember how exactly now, but I find him at the start of the SECOND line for Carrie Fisher. I get in line with him there; no one around minds, because they want me to get extra autographs for him. Again, everyone is cool, and it seems like a short line from here. We talk with all kinds of people around us. We move up quickly, to the next part of the line. It moves quickly, but we’re running out of time; Carrie is doing a talk at about 11:30. We get around the corner and she stops – they tell us she’ll be back around 2:00!! Damn!! W’re about 50 people away! Well, we settle in for a wait, still chatting. We play some Eucre. The cool girl shares some muffins with us!!

Long wait, got stiff. Finally they reopen the door and move along. Get in relatively quickly. They tell Jason to put the cap on his camera. Dang. They tell us she won’t do personalization, unless you impress her with wit. Well, I get up there, oddly nervous, barely say anything. She signs I say thanks, She says something, but I can’t remember! Jason is behind me and asks her to write it to Nicole! She does it! Kewl.

Well, we go back out and try to find Chris. Go into the Exhbit hall, somehow Jason and I get separated. Finally, we tire of searching for him in here and head outside. He’s there. Chris has been driving around town.! We get to the van and get out of town.
Wow.

WOW

Drive home is uneventful. Traffic is bad in Dayton. People wont’ get out of the left lane! Chris is driving fast, but but not uncomfortably.

Finally get home, Nicky very excited to see me! Show Jen all the cool stuff. Go get pizza. Give the kids a bath at 10:00 !!
Getting tired now.

wow