My #SDCC2016 Attendee Open Registration Experience..

NO, I wasn't able to buy a badge.

But I came very very VERY close to getting one.  It was like my emotions were being toyed with BUT you know what - I am still grateful for the experience.  Hahaha!!  So let me share what happened.

I'm an Instagram addict.  When I am doing nothing, you will catch me looking at my Instagram feed.  I can't explain it, but I find it addicting.  Hahaha!  So one day last July - I was so shocked and beyond happy for Stacey (a family friend) when I saw him post that he was in the San Diego Comic Con 2015 #SDCC2015.  I was bowled over that he was actually there in San Diego.  I mean, WOW!  So when we met months after that post - I bombarded him with questions.  Hahahaha!!

I am not one who used to appreciate and like these kinds of things.  It was only when I met my Panget that his geek-yness was rubbing off on me.  So since 2003 until now - my knowledge and appreciation for geek-y stuff has greatly updated and improved.  Hahaha!  I have learned to love the Winchester brothers (I belong to Team Dean), I have found great love for Nathan Fillion and Firefly, I have become a Joss Whedon fan.  I am still very loyal to JJ Abrams despite his success.  I am sooooooo much in like with Zachary Levi and am so addicted to his Nerd HQ panels.

I used to secretly laugh at those hardcore cosplaying fans I see in the media.  Look at me now - I bet a LOT of people are laughing at me now.  Hahaha!  But I don't care - I am proud to be a geek!  This is the BEST time to be a geek because of all the films, franchises and genres that are being made just for them.  Geeks RULE!  Woohooo!!   Hahaha..

So two weekends ago, I received an email that shocked me.  It was from the #SDCC2016 and it said that I was eligible to join the Attendee Open Registration.  I was excited, I was giddy - I can't exactly describe the joy I felt.  I was a very exciting time for me.  Hahaha!  It said that the open registration waiting room was to open on February 20 at 8:00am Pacific Standard Time.

What the hello?!?! was Pacific Standard Time?  I was so used to just following one time zone and forgot that in the US - there were different time zones.  I asked help on Twitter and my friend Kaye was able to give me the heads up that it was at 12mn.  Soooooo, this was what my family friend Stacey was telling me about - that he was up past midnight waiting to buy badges.

Okay, so I prepared for this being up passed midnight.  I slept in the afternoon and stocked up on sleep.  Hahaha!!  Little did I know that my siesta would NOT matter at all.

So 2 minutes before 12mn - I was on the laptop, preparing.  I clicked on the link and I was directed to a page that said I was still very early for the *Waiting Rom*.  But when the clock struck 12mn - the page automatically loaded and I saw this:

I was quite nervous because honestly, I didn't know what to expect.  I was a newbie.  What did I know?  I knew nothing.  So I just waited and waited.  Stacey, my family friend was also up - we were messaging one another.  My Panget on the other hand was telling me to quit it, simply because in case I get to buy a badge - he won't be able to come with me!  Hahaha!  I told him, that I can't let this opportunity pass.  It's a once in a lifetime chance!  Hahaha..  I learned after reading and reading through the FAQs that I can cancel my badge and have a refund - I told my Panget what every Filipino would normally say when in a bind *Bahala na si Batman!*  Hahaha..

So I just waited and stared at the screen.  I was impressed that there was a yellow dialogue box that kept on updating every 2 minutes.  I didn't need to refresh the page because it automatically does it on its own.  It had various messages saying that the system was moving people to the badge purchase, or that the Preview Night pass has sold out, and that Saturday badges were soon selling out.  It displayed reminder messages to everyone in the waiting room.

I was staring for the blue circle for a long time - and I was getting sleepy:

Stacey told me that they call this the BLUE CIRCLE OF DEATH.  Hahaha!!  Sort of like the blue screen of death!  So, imagine for a almost an hour, I was staring at it.

I was already losing hope because the yellow box that updated said that there were only Sunday badges that were on sale.

And then, the unexpected happened.

I GOT IN the page where they were selling the badges!  I was so excited!  I typed in my member ID and then my last name.  And then when I entered those details, this is what I saw:

I was confused.  I was really confused!  Hahaha..  I didn't understand why I couldn't check the boxes!  And then I saw it.. SOLD OUT.  Grrrr...

All the badges were SOLD OUT already.

I came THIS CLOSE!  This close to buying a badge.  I messaged Stacey and showed him the screen cap above.  And below is our discussion:

I didn't know that there are people in the EPIC waiting room that don't even get directed to the buying page.  I felt really lucky.  When I clicked the #SDCC2016 on Instagram - I saw this message:

Look at the message in the yellow box.

I have to say - I got really really lucky in a certain way.  I mean, at least I got passed the EPIC waiting room stage.

Next year - I will try again.

At least now, I know better - right?