Today, Comic-Con International (“CCI”) posted its guidelines for lining up for Hall H, which contained basically the same information they provide every year about what you can and can’t bring into line with you, and where you can use the restroom in the middle of the night. Also included in the article was CCI’s policy regarding the Hall H “Toucan Tracker” wristbands — and it seems to be mostly the same as last year, except for the distribution times.
This year will be the fourth year that CCI has implemented a wristband system for lining up for Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, having started doing so in 2014. The rules and details have changed slightly from year to year, but ultimately, it is meant as a marker to indicate how likely you are to make it into Hall H for the first panel of each day. You will be given a color coded wristband with the letter A, B, C, or D, with each letter indicating approximately 1/4 of the room’s capacity. So if you get an A wristband, you know you’ll be in the first 1/4 of people who get into the room, and likely get a close seat, whereas if you get a D wristband, you’ll be among the last 1/4 of attendees let in, and be at the back of the room.
Once you get a wristband, you can either 1) stay in line, 2) have someone from your party stay in line and then you can come back and meet up with them later (before 7:30am the next day), or 3) your entire party can leave and will be allowed to return to the end of the wristband line as long as you return before 7:30am. Which means that if you only care about being in the room, rather than having a close spot, you can actually sleep in your nice, comfy hotel bed, rather than on concrete! There are also designated times and locations for when wristbands will be handed out for the next day. Except for Wednesday night (when wristbands will be given out in the general Hall H line in Plaza Park), wristbands will be handed out at the Next Day Line (“NDL”), which is located behind the convention center, as seen pictured on the map above, along the marina. The distribution times and locations are as follows:
Wednesday, July 20: 9:00pm in the general Hall H line in Plaza Park
Thursday, July 21: 7:30pm at the front of the NDL
Friday, July 22: 8:30pm at the front of the NDL
Saturday, July 23: 7:30pm at the front of the NDL
Like last year, you may save space in line for no more than 5 people, whether you’re in line waiting for a wristband, or already have a wristband. Anyone you save a spot for must have the correct color wristband — so someone with a D wristband wouldn’t be able to join someone with an A wristband.
You can read more information on the Toucan Blog.
I remember when you just lined up for the panel that you wanted to see. Comic Con has gotten too big. Thanks Hollywood.