There’s something to be said about the time honored traditions of every convention, because there are a few that never change no matter what convention you go to. Some things will always be the same.
Dragon Con is no different, other than the scale on which everything is amplified by 10. Every convention is a victim of lines, this is the oldest tradition you will see at every single convention you go to (especially the big ones). Though I do have to say that I am still impressed with how long the lines got this year, I mean one of them wrapped around a whole city block twice! Twice!!!
As someone who has been attending multiple conventions throughout the years, I’m used to the lines. The only thing to do is to have patience and be friendly, you can make some of the best people and new friends while waiting in line. I have many people that I’m friends with after waiting in line together, one of them I met 11 years ago (which is nuts). Again, Dragon Con was no different. I went on a little adventure on my own on the second day to check out the exhibitor hall and pick up some gifts for friends who couldn’t make it to con. Right off the bat, well right off the shuttle I met a group of people who I spent the next couple of hours waiting in line with and getting to know. All four were wearing Hawaiian shirts, shorts, sunglasses and had mustaches or drawn on mustaches. Obviously, I had to ask what they were all cosplaying as and from what. I gotta say the answer was one of the best I have ever gotten. Apparently, the two men came down to the lobby that day to find their wives cosplaying as them (using their old Hawaiian shirts too). I was stunned for a moment before breaking down laughing, it was the perfect cosplay. What made it better was that it was the wives first time ever cosplaying and being at a convention! This sums up how cosplayers find the cosplay they love to dress as, even if others don’t get it. But I think this made it all the better for this group, and where else would you even see this cosplay (or people who would think it up!).
It was a blast getting to know these couples in line and I hope I get to see them again at another con!
But, back to the lines. No matter the time, you could always find a line. I remember walking on the skybridges over the streets and seeing the lines for the parties each night, and walking past the crowded panel lines as well. It’s not all bad as I was saying before, it can be pretty fun as long as you’re patient. You can meet some cool people in line, you get to people watch and that’s not a bad thing to do at Dragon Con. With how much cosplay is happening, meetups, and little cosplay setups for people to take pictures at. It’s a great time to watch everything going on.
Although, I gotta say. If you need to move between the different hotels, do yourself a favor and go outside to walk to it (as long as it’s during the daylight hours). The slow and long tedious lines to cross the skybridges suck. There are people working them to make sure they keep moving, but people always stop to take photos of cosplays and clog everything up. There are also those people who will drive you crazy by shoving you to get in front and also blowing smoke from their vapes. Not a very fun line to deal with, and it gets hot in them as well. The only one I’d recommend is the skybridge (one of two) to the food hub.
When you’re waiting in line during con, try to make the most of it and have fun because no matter what you have to wait to get where you want to go. Hopefully in the end, the line was worth the wait or what happened while in line made up for it.
Were you at Dragon Con 2024? What were your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Twitter/X at @TheConCollectve, Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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