A Newbie’s Guide to Fan Expo Dallas

I was a little nervous to visit Fan Expo Dallas. I mean, I’m a fan of Marvel, Star Wars, and other geeky things, but here I knew there would be FANS. I’m lost in the world of Anime and even comics in general. I was a bit intimidated. Y’all know I like a good costume, too. But from what I had seen online, there are some COSTUMES.

I decided to just play it cool, borrowed my husband’s Coulson Lives t-shirt and knew my people would find me and know what the shirt meant. (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, anyone?) I also brought my 11-year-old as my sidekick, because everyone needs a sidekick. We went in as Fan Expo/Comic Con virgins, but came out as Jedis!

My first tip is to scour the website. Here is where you’ll find information on tickets, location, hotels, etc. And the important stuff like who is going to be there and how you can meet them. Different actors and personalities charge different prices for autographs and photos. The photo sessions have scheduled times, so I recommend buying it online so you get your time and can pay with a credit car.

Also, although the event might end at 7 p.m., that doesn’t mean the talent will stay that long. I made the mistake of shopping for too long and then went back to stand in line for Chloe Bennet’s autograph. Well she had already left for the day. Whomp whomp. Oh and bring cash. They only accept dolla dolla bills for autographs.

Hey sensory overload on the main floor, but it was so cool! It was set up just like a running expo, so yeah I knew how to navigate the map like a pro. RunDisney expo champ over here. Oh yeah, get a map and schedule. You can find out where your favorite vendors are and find their booth by their number. And then when you see a signed Chris Evans Captain America Shield you can walk by the same booth over and over while drooling and calling your husband explaining why you NEED this.

I was pleasantly surprised at the Q&A sessions. If you get lost, ask a volunteer. They were so helpful and pointed me in the right direction. I was able to attend some of Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and John Cusack’s Q&As. It was a love fest at both of them. They both took questions from the audience, and it was awesome to see them interact with fans. I gotta say, Anthony Daniels is hilarious. Those Brits are funny. He was candid and not afraid to say what he thought. Ahem, I agree Natalie Portman was dull. Sorry, not sorry.

The earlier you get in line, the closer you are to your favorite celebrity and a better seat. Since I had my daughter, I wasn’t going to subject her to waiting for a long time, but in the future, my line-waiting game will be strong. The panels are a great chance to see your favorites as real people, not just their characters. But you can still squee on the inside at seeing your favorite characters! Am I the only one who squees?

If you’re a fan of anything really, I highly recommend checking out Fan Expo Dallas. There was something for everyone including meeting celebrities, writers, cosplay, anime voice artists, workshops, panels, etc. Tons of photo opps. So many creative people and costumes. All of them were so kind when we asked to take a picture with them. It was geek heaven in there, and it was nice to feel welcomed.

I won’t live in Dallas next year, but I’d love to come back. I felt like the event was organized, communication was good on Twitter if you had any questions, and I was fan girling everywhere with a permagrin on my face. Oh, hey there, Weasley twins. Stan Lee! Chloe Bennet! I mean even walking by their booths was an adrenaline rush. I was super bummed to not be able to make it the next day for even more panels, because there were some awesome ones.  My daughter also had a fabulous time. I think she’s still in shock, though, that Oliver and James Phelps don’t have red hair like their Harry Potter characters.

I better start planning my costume for next year, because it’s on! Groot, I’m coming for you.