I remember buying the tickets a year ago while I was getting ready for Star Wars Nite. I was so excited that day. I was on a major high. I don’t know how but I said to myself I’m going. Towards the last months, I kept changing my mind if I was going or not. In the end, I decided that regardless what’s going on in my life, I was going. I needed happiness and Star Wars is something that brings me so much joy. I wasn’t going to deny myself this. I earned it. So a month before the event took place, I booked my plane ticket and Airbnb. I don’t regret anything.

This was my first Star Wars Celebration so I had nothing to compare it to. I was beyond amazed that it was everything Star Wars, nothing else. I was eating it all up.

I didn’t book any major panels. I wasn’t upset though because the big events were being played on three big screens in the convention. There was so much to see and I didn’t want to miss anything.

Many stores did not hold back on their inventory. So if you weren’t there on Day 1 to get a certain item, more likely you were out of luck on Day 2. I bought a Star Wars hoodie and cap from Gap on Day 1 and when I passed by the booth on Day 2, all they had left were socks on their sales racks.

Did I buy a lot? I don’t think I did. I’m very happy with everything I got. I was a little bummed out I couldn’t score these small adorable lightsabers keychains. I walked right passed the store on Day 1 and when I went on Day 2, they were sold out.

Day 2 was a little bit more relaxed. Explored the exhibit hall again and checked out spots I might have missed on Day 1.

I completely forgot about the exclusive merch until the end of Day 1. I had no idea the wait time on Day 1 was 5 hours. On Day 2, it went down to 3 hours. There were a couple of things I really wanted to get but I wasn’t willing to wait in line for it. On top of that, there was no way of knowing if what I wanted was still in stock by the time I was in front of the line. I would have tried to get Lightspeed lane tickets to skip the wait. Attendees that have gone to previous SWCs’ have said that the line was never that long in the first place. Again, since it was my first SWC, I wouldn’t know. So I cut myself some slack. While I was having this conversation with another attendee, they did the 4+ hour lane to get merch that morning. In the end before parting ways, they gave me a ROTS 20th anniversary magnet. I couldn’t believe it. I thanked them and we parted ways.

Besides the exclusive merch mishap, I don’t have anything negative regarding the event. It was an amazing experience being surround by so many Star Wars fans, young and old. The Star Wars community can get ugly at times but there was no negative energy that weekend. So much excitement and so much love. Will I get tickets for the next Celebration? You bet I am. I’m so thrilled it’s going to be in Los Angeles. I’m aiming to get VIP tickets.

Never in my life did I imagine I’ll go to Japan again. And for a Star Wars Celebration! My inner child is beyond happy. This is definitely a memory I won’t ever forget.